Currently Browsing "Communication"
What your error message says about you
I read a humourous post last night, titled Oops! I ruined your life. :) that got me thinking about error messages. The post is about the cutesification of error messages from large technology companies, like Google, but I think the base message is important for any website: make sure your errors are helpful. Most common error messages a user… more »
Social media for law firm leaders
I recently had a conversation with Sean Larkan, my Australia-based colleague with Edge International, about what law firm leaders need to know about social media. That conversation led to a Q&A that Sean has now posted on his Legal Leaders Blog. It’s a lengthy post, so here are some of the highlights; if these look interesting, I encourage… more »
The good, the bad, and the better of legal writing
I take every opportunity that comes my way to speak to law students, and I always find it a gratifying experience, even when I have to spell out the challenges they’re going to face upon entering a legal marketplace in crisis. Last week, I had the chance to speak to a Legal Writing class at the University of Ottawa Faculty… more »
Thanksgiving and the art of strategic communication
Thanksgiving is only a few short weeks away here in Canada. Unlike our American friends, who mark the occasion on the fourth Thursday of November, we celebrate our earlier harvest on the second Monday in October. Either way, that leaves plenty of advance time to remind you of one of Matt Homann’s best marketing insights: send your clients… more »
Importance of Industry Participation
It’s National Biotechnology Week here in Canada, so it was good to see our clients at Gowlings participating. The firm has two free seminars coming up. The first is on Sept. 22nd in Toronto, where they’ve partnered with Marsh Canada, PwC and RBC Canada on Tools & Strategies for Canadian biotech companies to succeed. And the second… more »
Stop the press: news releases and rote communication
After my recent swipes at case law updates and voice mail, you might think I’m just spending my time beating up on the weakest members of the lawyer communication fraternity. If so, today’s entry on news releases likely will confirm that line of thought. But what I’m really trying to do is isolate and attack a… more »
Talk to me: putting an end to canned conversations
So, have you recently left a voice mail for someone under 30, never to have it returned or even acknowledged? A post at Legal Blog Watch might have the answer: it seems Millennials regard voice mails as unsolicited messages not much different than spam, and treat them accordingly. It’s an interesting idea, one I fact-checked with a friend… more »
Rethinking the case law update: Who are you talking to?
Take a moment to consider that staple of law firm newsletters (and now blogs) everywhere: the case law update. You know it well — chances are you’ve written and published at least one during your career. The purpose of the case law update, I think you’d agree, is to notify readers that a new court decision affects the law in… more »
