Monthly Archives: May 2009

Tips from the Experts… Find Ideal Clients!

Posted in: "All, Business Development by Admin | No Comments Tuesday, May 12, 2009

I went to the Solo and Small Firm Expo last week (see my blog posted on May 10, 2009). Today I’d like to share with you some tips and tricks that I learned from two experts: Richard M. Brooks, a business lawyer from Toronto, and Sheila M. Blackford of the Oregon State Bar, Professional Liability Fund.

One thing I learned is that, before you can find ideal clients, you have to know what they look like. Although different lawyers may have different views what makes a client ideal, these experts pointed out a few common traits.

  1. Needs a lawyer like you
  2. Is able to afford your service
  3. Is willing to pay a retainer
  4. Has reasonable expectations
  5. Is ready to move forward
  6. Understands the value of services provided
  7. Has the ability to refer other ideal high caliber clients
  8. Creates goodwill for your firm

To be honest, generally I find a client ideal if he or she is able and willing to pay for my services; everything else on the list is a treat. Perhaps it’s time for me to look beyond the client’s willingness to pay.

Where do you find these ideal clients?

The experts suggested starting from existing clients.

A law firm should also periodically conduct productivity reviews and assess whether the files are moving forward. If a file is not, you should find out why and try to move ahead.

On the other hand, if a file is moving along nicely and the client exhibits traits of an ideal client, he or she might be a good lead for finding other ideal clients. Consider doing the following:

  • Ask, what else can we do for you?
  • Keep them satisfied; attend to their needs
  • Show them your appreciation – small gestures go a long way
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Solo and Small Firm Expo 2009 a Success!

Posted in: "All, Business Development by Admin | No Comments Sunday, May 10, 2009

On Thursday I had the pleasure of attending the 4th Annual Solo and Small Firm Conference and Expo, jointly presented by the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Ontario Bar Association. The conference was well-attended. I met several old friends from law school and had a good time.

The conference focused heavily on technology. Among the various offerings, I found the session “60 Tips in 60 Minutes” the most useful. I’d like to share my top 5 findings from this session:

  1. accept credit card to make collection easier
  2. install dual monitors at workstations to boost credibility
  3. use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology to lower your long distance phone bills
  4. be ware of free software - it can cost you more in the long run because of the lack of support provided
  5. back up, back up, and back up!

I’m pleased to say that I have implemented tips No. 2, 3, 4, and 5.

The dual monitor turns out to be very helpful when I cross-reference documents. After my first day of using two monitors, I’m convinced that it’s a productivity booster and I’ve been encouraging my colleagues to try it, too.

Regarding the credit and debit card payment processing, I’ve spoken to my account manager, and I should have it in a month or two, cost permitting.

The rest of the conference was also jam-packed with information. (The binder weights well over 5 pounds.) I will be sharing more tips and tricks that I learned from the conference in future blog posts. Stay tuned!

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Corporate Shares

Posted in: "All, Business Development, Legalese Dictionary by Admin | No Comments Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Today I’d like to discuss shares of corporations.

Generally speaking, there are two types of shares in a mid-sized corporation: common shares and preferred shares.

Common shares give shareholders the right to vote in the annual general meeting. If a group of shareholders holds the majority of the common shares, they have the power to appoint the board of directors and have certain control over the management. On the other hand, common shares often pay little or no dividend.

Preferred shares typically don’t come with voting rights, but they generally have prescribed annual dividends. That being said, it’s important to remember that the prescribed rate is only a promise to pay, and that the corporation is under no legal obligation to honour it. In other words, holders of preferred shares have little or no right to force the corporation to pay dividends as promised.

In reality, however, for publicly traded companies, any failure to pay dividends on preferred shares often sends the stock price for a nose-dive, as it signals financial distress of the company.

If you want to buy preferred shares, you should find out whether the dividends are cumulative or not. If a preferred share is said to be cumulative, it means that any missed dividend payments are carried over to the next payout. On the other hand, if it’s non-cumulative, the shareholders won’t have remedies on missed payments.

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PSWLaw to Be Featured on TV

Posted in: "All by Admin | No Comments Monday, May 4, 2009

Today I had the pleasure of being interviewed for Omni Television regarding my experience with the Summer Company Program. Apparently, the Ministry of Training, College and Education recommended me to speak about the program on air.

During the interview, I spoke about the training and support provided by the program. Particularly, I mentioned that the confidence I gained as a result of the program is invaluable. My experience with the Summer Company Program gave me the confidence to establish PSWLaw in 2008.

The interview is scheduled to be aired tonight at 9:00 pm Eastern time. You can view the episode online at Omni TV website by selecting Mandarin News. The link will be valid for a period of 24 hours.

I’ll try to come up with a clip for this website. No promises though.

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Duty Counsels

Posted in: "All, Administrative Law, Family Law, Legal Aid Ontario, Legalese Dictionary by Admin | No Comments Sunday, May 3, 2009

Please note: This article is provided solely for educational purposes. The author makes no representation and/or warranty for the services and availability of duty counsels. All inquiries should be directed to Legal Aid Ontario or its equivalents.

In Ontario duty counsels are lawyers provided by Legal Aid Ontario to assist unrepresented parties in legal proceedings, free of charge.

In family and criminal proceedings, duty counsels are generally available at the various court houses, including most Ontario Court of Justice and Ontario Superior Court of Justice locations.

For administrative law proceedings, duty counsels are only available at the various Landlord and Tenant Board locations at this moment, and are for tenants only.

Regardless of the nature of the proceedings – family law or otherwise – unrepresented parties sign up at the duty counsel’s office on a first-come-first-served basis. Depending on the number of individuals on the list, duty counsels sometimes are not able to see everyone.

Duty counsels provide summary advice to unrepresented individuals, including procedural information (e.g., how to fill out a form) and legal advice in broad strokes. Duty counsel may also refer clients to Legal Aid clinics or private bar members. Duty counsels are not part of the judiciary and are not affiliated with the respective courts and tribunals, although their offices are almost always located in the same building.

Depending on the circumstances, duty counsels may appear on behalf of clients.

In family law matters, duty counsels provide a broader range of services. Besides giving unrepresented individuals advice regarding their rights and obligations under the law, duty counsels may review documents or agreements, give procedural directions, and provide referrals. In specific circumstances,* duty counsels may appear on behalf of otherwise unrepresented parties for case conferences and motions. (*Financial eligibility requirements may apply.)

In landlord and tenant matters, duty counsels provide services only to tenants, and may appear for procedural or uncontentious matters (duty counsels in this area generally don’t represent individuals in contested matters).They may also consult tenants on settlement agreements.

If duty counsels provide free, independent legal advice to unrepresented parties, why hire a lawyer?

While not all proceedings require sophisticated representation, duty counsels can only do so much in the allotted time (usually less than 20 minutes) and often have time only to hear the most skeletal version of the facts.

Unfortunately, the devil is often in the details, and duty counsels may have a hard time finding it. If you want to finesse the details of your case, you’re better off with your own lawyer who can devote the time and effort required.

For more information on duty counsels, please visit Legal Aid Ontario online at: www.legalaid.on.ca/en/getting/help.asp

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