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Walk-In: Physical Data Security Is Back In Play

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While most law firms are almost entirely focused on cloud-based security, a recent warning from the FBI indicates that an organization called the Silent Ransom Group , has its members walking into law firms, convincing staff that the y are the law firm IT team , and plugging thumbdrives into computers, to steal sensitive data .  These in-person attempts often follow failed phishing attempts.     Now, it’s not like physical data security was ever not in play – it’s just that many law firm owners ignore it, instead of focusing on cloud security . . . at their peril.   Any data security program should have a component reflecting physical security.   If you’re wondering why, ask yourself whether you or your staff would appropriately vet the type of scheme described above?     If you haven’t yet drafted a data security program for your law firm, this would be a s good an incentive to do so as any .   That need not be a long docum...
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Inquire Within: How to Hire Inexperienced Staff

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Job seekers , who are new to the game , often make the complaint that every job requires experience . . . and yet, one needs a job in th e space, to acquire the requisite experience .   It’s a ‘Catch-22’ for them, for sure.     But, it’s also no walk in the park for employers .   If a business owner wants to hire someone who lacks specific experience for the job, what exactly is the criteria one can use to judge between candidates ?   You, quite literally, can’t know whether this person can do the job – until you give them the chance to do it .     That all being said, there are some things that you can do, to suss out whether somebody , who’s effectively a noob , can work for you.     One thing to look for is characteristics, or personality attributes .   These show up on traditional job postings, all the time .    This is when you’re trying to determine whether someone is a ‘self-starter ’...
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Launch Angle: How Do You Fund a New Law Firm?

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When you’re starting a new law firm, the big question is how you afford it; and, you don’t want to guess.     At the very least, you want to understand what your runaway is: If I don’t make any money doing this, how long until I run out of money to support myself?     That answer’s different for everybody; and, it helps if you have a life partner, who can keep the wheels moving, while you’re a start - up.     The related question is: How long does it take the new business to become self-supporting ?   In other words, when you do make enough money from it to pay for (1) a salary/your personal expenses; and then, (2) ongoing business expenses.     Once you get there, you can breath a sigh of relief, and start focusing on profit.     But, if you don’t have a spouse, or a significant amount of savings to tap into, or even a book of business to port over from another law firm – you’ve got to grind to make it work, because, ...
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