Saturday, December 21, 2013
Understanding the Lawyers on Retainer Concept
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Law Firm SEO: Organic Search Results Win Over Paid Search!
New reports and studies have just come out to confirm what the law firm search engine optimization specialist here at Legal Marketing Advantage have been talking about for a while now; organic search results outperform paid searches. If you have been involved in law firm marketing (online) in a big market for the past year or so you may have also noticed this fact. Organic over paid search turns out to not only be true in the legal field, but in most fields now a days as well.
The new study was done by User Centric and proved without a doubt the increasing importance of SEO for not only Law Firms but all businesses that want to gain business online. User Centric used their eye tracking study technology to look at leading search engines Google and Bing through the eyes of their users. The study results found that one hundred percent of people in the study looked at the organic search results on both Google and Bing search engines. That was in comparison to the right-hand paid search ads where only 28% and 21% of participants glanced at these on Google and on Bing (respectively).
To top it off the users not only focused on organic search results more often, versus paid search results, the users spent significantly longer times viewing results of organic search versus the paid search results. This means that search engine users are learning to overlook the paid ads more and more as the majority of online users become more search savvy.
So how should this affect your online law firm marketing? Well first off it means your SEO efforts will be more important than ever and can gain more results for your firm. The fact is it takes longer and takes a more serious effort to rank well on the major search engines like Google and Bing through organic efforts but the pay off in the long run will be much more beneficial. Now does this mean that pay per click (PPC) is dead? Not even close.
Even with these results the top three paid ads can get a lot of action BUT the cost in the main legal areas can be outrageous. The cost and return on investment are going to vary greatly on what market you are after and what portion of law you want to focus on. Some PPC campaigns can still be very successful if a law firm online marketing company really knows what they are doing. The on the other hand if PPC prices are dirt cheap maybe consumers just are not looking for those particular terms.
So if your firm has not already done so, your online efforts need to focus on organic search results. It can take some time depending on where your site is at right now, but with a solid steady game plan, the time and effort put in your SEO can bring in huge results for your law firm.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Successful Law Firm Retreat Information
A law firm retreat is a valuable management and marketing tool even for the solo practitioner. I would say especially for the solo practitioner. The larger the firm the more imperative it becomes for at least an annual meeting to provide direction to the process of running your business. Spike Lee made a movie called "Get On The Bus" and that is what a retreat is about. Getting folks on the bus and moving in the same direction so the firm is moving with more velocity toward desired goals. It sends a message to the whole firm that you are leaders and mangers who plan and work the plan.
What are some of the reasons for having a law firm retreat? Well, that is an "it depends" type of question. You can use these meetings for proactive purposes or for reactive purposes. By proactive I mean you meet to determine what your management and/or marketing priorities are for the next year and who is accountable for each priority as well as by when each priority will be in place. The proactive retreat is usually held in the last three months of your current fiscal year. By reactive I mean a law firm retreat that is held usually as a reaction to some form of crisis like the need to deal with revenue short falls, partner conflicts or profit distribution issues. Naturally, the reactive type of retreat happens when they need to happen with probably less pre-planning. Training retreats can be either proactive or reactive. You can even mix in some training time with any type of retreat.
It is critical that you plan for the law firm retreat well in advance of the date you are holding it. As long as three or four months before the retreat is a good benchmark with a larger firm needing all that time and a smaller firm needing less time to plan and prepare for the retreat. In a larger firm you might have a committee of several partners and the top administrator of the firm that does the planning. In a small firm it might be one or two partners. The larger the firm the more important it is that you have a consultant involved who will help you to determine your needs; gather pre-retreat information; provide expert facilitation at the retreat (so a partner does not have to serve in that role and can be a participant); provide needed objectivity; ask questions that may be challenging for a participant to ask (like the potential "elephant in the room" that nobody wants to talk about); make recommendations; and bring knowledge of what is working in other firms to the law firm retreat. A smaller firm or solo firm might just use a consultant pre-retreat and not as a live facilitator since the major expense of a consultant is having them live at the retreat.
Naturally a retreat needs an agenda and that is part of the pre-planning process. The first question to ask yourself is what is the desired outcome from having the law firm retreat? Other questions to ask include:
1. What process will you use to reach the desired outcome with this retreat?
2. Who will be the note taker in the retreat so key information will be captured and results recorded?
3. Who will be the person in the retreat to assure that each task decided will be specific and measurable as well as someone accountable for that task with a "by when" date that this task will be completed?
4. If you don't have an outside facilitator who will fill that role?
5. Would it be useful to do a personality inventory process with the team before the retreat to increase emotional intelligence? Would this enhance your outcomes?
6. What information needs to be collected before the retreat so you can make intelligent decisions based on data (last year financials and YTD financials, marketing information, team survey, etc.)?
7. Once the law firm retreat is completed what and who will communicate the results to those members of the team that did not attend? Also, if you have team members who do not attend, how will they have input into the retreat process with their information, concerns, requests and recommendations (usually a survey vehicle works for this purpose)?
8. If you had a law firm retreat last year what were the top 5 or 10 strategic objectives? If this is your first retreat what would be a long laundry list of 5 or 10 potential strategic objectives for the firm that could be considered at the retreat (Note: this list would not be the only options discussed, just a beginning list usually developed from the pre-retreat survey)?
9. Where will you hold the retreat? Almost always it is best to be away from your offices even if it is a location in your city. Too many temptations to just step out for awhile to do email or return phone calls. No cell phones allowed being on by the way at the law firm retreat.
You might ask what would be a good "generic" although basic agenda for a law firm retreat look like. Here is one:
1. Welcome & Purpose of the Meeting
2. Review Mission Statement (make changes if appropriate)
3. Review Results of Last Year (what worked and what did not work)
4. SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats to the firm)
5. Generate 5 to 10 Strategic Goals (for the coming year) and major action plans that are needed to make the strategic goals real
These agenda items above need to be on a timeline. One caution here is don't allocate too much time to the review of the mission statement as that can get away from you if you are not careful. Also, the timeline for each agenda item can be adjusted as the law firm retreat unfolds so it is not totally rigid but more a guideline to keep you on track. Do know if you are doing your retreat correctly it is likely people will get too tired or in some cases, on edge with an 8 hour day of it. Consider a 6 or 7 hour day agenda and if you need more time, fine you can go longer if people are still energetic enough or have a two day or day and a half retreat. Finally, do consider having a working lunch catered in as opposed to eating out.
With the above information you are well on your way to having a law firm retreat that will make a difference for you. That said if you have a good plan from the retreat you still need to implement that plan over the next year. Having a plan that sits on the shelf is not going to enable you to reach your goals and that is one thing a coach can help you with as well as your pre-retreat planning or even facilitation of your law firm retreat.
Overwhelmed by the Complexity of Attorneys? This May Help
Lessons Learned About Injuries
Can I Make A Claim
The Essentials of Lawyers - Breaking Down the Basics
The first question sufferers of whiplash ask an Austin car wreck attorney is whether or not they have a claim. If they have beat the statute of limitations and can prove they have whiplash then they can move forward with a personal injury suit against the responsible party. They must remember that, that doesn't mean they will be victorious. The threshold for winning a claim however is not as low. Can I sue An Uninsured Driver? In nearly all accident cases, the person who is being sued is not the driver but their insurance companies. People who get into accidents don't know if they can even go forward when the negligent party has no insurance. They often feel like it would be a waste of time to pursue a case against someone who apparently couldn't even afford to keep their car insured. But still, they can be sued and should. Although they may be strapped for cash now, they could hit the lottery tomorrow so it is a good idea to get your claim on the books. And states often have ways of putting pressure on people to pay for damages. What If My Injuries Were Not Immediately Not all injuries are obvious right away; just ask any Austin car wreck attorney. Lots of people walk away from car crashes believing that they are uninjured when that is not the case. Individuals who have late-presenting injuries can be tentative about speaking to a lawyer about their case. They are afraid that people will think they are fabricating their injuries. But it doesn't matter if you discovered you whiplash at the accident site or a year later as long as you meet the statute of limitations as set forth by the state of Texas. The longer you wait, the harder it may be to prove your case because evidence may get lost but you can make a claim.
BD in NY
In terms of business developement New York is a place where hustlers rule. Opportunities to network are all around you if you are willing to look for them. They exist in the bars and restaurants that you frequent. They also exist in every person that you pass on the street. When you want to get great at business developement New York will afford you all of the best opportunities to do so. Often, all you have to do is keep your eyes open for that next person who might be able to help you get to where you need to be.
If you're into rainmaking new york is probably the best place you could be. There are lots of people in the city who have gobs of money, and those people are not afraid to spend it. Whether you are a young associate at a law firm who needs to attract business or you are a person in the financial industry who needs new accounts, you can make it rain when you put yourself out there. If you're interested in rainmaking New York just requires you to put yourself around people who have cash on hand.
Good business development skills do not pop up overnight. You have to work hard to make connections with people who can help your business grow. You might also use a hand up from someone who understands the basics of networking. Making it rain in New York is about more than just playing a round or two of golf. You need a legitimate approach that will get you inside the most exclusive places the city has to offer.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Turn to Law Firm Marketing in Order to Gain a Competitive Edge
Due to fierce competition in each and every sphere, there is a fight among contenders to gain top slot in their area of work. People look for lucrative advertising and marketing ways to stay ahead in the competition and make clients aware of their credentials. Today, litigators too have braced themselves and engage in online advertisement to make litigants conscious of the quality of their services. However, this was not the case earlier, as lawyer advertising was considered unethical and against the sanctity of the law. Bates v. State Bar of Arizona case in the year 1977 in the United States Supreme Court changed the scenario and allowed advertising for lawyers on the grounds of right to know for the public.
These days not only lawyers but even the law firms can advertise about their professional expertise and can showcase the advantages of their services. Law firm marketing aims at highlighting the prominent features of a firm, which may be its capability to handle complex civil or criminal cases, glorious past records or less cost of services as compared to their counterparts. Moreover, Law firm marketing may include advertising for lawyers, as they are the most important asset for any law firm. A reputed lawyer advertising about his litigation experience, history of cases handled that led client to victory and area of expertise is definitely bound to get may eyeballs online.
Commercials advertising for lawyers may be direct, subtle or aimed at providing them a distinctive edge that makes them stand out in the crowd. One of the most important requirement for such type of advertisements is that these should be professional and do not cross the boundary of law by painting others in a bad light. Moreover, these should be informative and give viewers a clear picture of what they are bound to receive.
Lawyer advertising and law firm marketing is in vogue, as it helps counsels and firms display their unique selling points and what they have to offer. It allows the clients to make an informed choice and decide which services can help them in getting a fair deal in the court.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Paperless Law Firms, Is It Possible? The Go Green Advocacy and LPO
Mother Earth is in danger of ruin and a strong campaign to save it from destruction has reached all four corners of the world. Every industry is trying its best to keep up with the global demands of concerned environmentalists and the Legal Industry is one with their endeavor of keeping the earth a suitable place for our children.
Law Practice Optimization or Legal Practice Optimization (LPO) as others refer to it is one of the responses of the legal industry to the heightened demands of the world to reduce the use of paper in offices. In the United States alone, approximately 100,000 sheets of paper every year is utilized by a single lawyer for research and documentation. This is equivalent to 12 forty foot trees cut in a year, or enough paper that could wrap the entire US Supreme Court Building sixty six times over. If this can be reduced then a lot of trees can be spared. If all law offices can go paperless and adopt LPO systems then the dream for a cleaner and better world for our children can very much become a reality.
The task of going paperless is quite unrealistic for now since it is inevitable for lawyers to submit case files, petitions, responses, pleas, memorandum, letters and billing statements to their clients, other attorneys, as well as to the Court. However, the challenge to reduce the use of paper in the work place is not an illusion but a reality. It has been practiced by a few law firms and helping save the earth is just one of the benefits they are reaping from LPO systems.
One of the common problems of law firms is efficient legal office management. Although paralegals are hired to assist lawyers with their daily tasks, it is still a common site in traditional law offices to see piles of folders and scattered papers on the floor and paralegals that are going round in circles in search for a particular folder case. At times, the task of finding a specific case required at a specific time becomes so frustrating it even leads to unnecessary conflicts and heated arguments amongst legal personnel which is a very unhealthy practice in the workplace.
Legal Practice Optimization provides an end to all of these office hassles. It is the best legal assistant any lawyer can dream of and is a solution offered by software developers to legal industries so they can work more efficiently inside their offices. It introduces modern technology to traditional offices and assists them in getting rid of unwanted clutters and useless paper files that only gets in the way of efficient productivity. Instead of the traditional paper and file system which is traditionally used in legal offices; it offers paralegals and lawyers a file and click system which will allow them to view the necessary information they need within seconds.
Law Practice Optimization compliant legal case management software allows its users to achieve desire results fast and efficiently with just a few clicks of a mouse. If you need to generate a letter then there are hundreds of letter templates stored in the system which will make letter writing a very easy task to accomplish. If you need to check the billing statements of a particular client then a simple click on the client's profile will reveal the remaining bills he needs to settle. Anything that you will need to accomplish your goal for the day will be provided to you fast and conveniently. Thus no more wasted time and effort just to go on and search for missing files and records.
Another positive benefit of Law Practice Optimization in the work place is the ability to receive your daily mails, reminders, and even court notifications electronically. It gives an assurance to lawyers that they will never miss an important appointment, court proceeding, petitions and responses because they will receive notifications wherever they will be. Even if you are not inside the office you can still easily monitor the work progress of your legal personnel.
In addition to these benefits, LPO provides smooth client-lawyer relationship since lawyers can now quickly and efficiently respond to the queries of their clients through electronic correspondences. Law Practice Optimization can see to it that important mails will easily be noticed by the lawyer and conveniently addressed through a simple user interface embedded in the designed software.
Law Practice Optimization may be relatively new for some but it is the most effective tool any lawyer can dream of. It will free you from additional pressure brought by forgotten deadlines and appointments. It will free you from stress brought by paper clutters inside the office. It will free you from concerns because of undelivered bill statements to clients. It will make your office work more convenient while providing you better online exposure and marketing that will guarantee increased revenue in the future.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Law Firm Internet Marketing - The Holy Grail
In the early centuries, the crusaders sought after one treasure. Finding the Lord's cup would be the secret to their success. With attorneys, there is one true treasure that will build your business, and that treasure is more clients. If you seek new clients, you should try law firm internet marketing - the Holy Grail.
There is a myth among many law firms that referrals are all that are needed to build the business.
The story can be told in various ways but the gist is always the same.
I have had my practice since before you started school. All that I need in new business comes from referrals from satisfied clients. Those referrals are free advertising.
Everyone agrees that referrals are a good source for new clients, but they should not be the only advertising that you do. Certainly, referrals should not be an excuse to exclude other strategies for growing a practice.
Referrals are not free advertising. While many attorneys think that a referral is incidental to his practice, this is not always true. The false thinking goes along the following lines: If I represent the client, when his friends or family will be referred to me in the future when they need an attorney.
Alternately, the thinking goes along this line: My other lawyer friends know about my competency or like me so they will refer clients to me. This is not an effective referral network.
Referrals come through building relationships. As with all relationships, this one takes nurturing. There is a cost to nurture a relationship. The cost may be money or it may be time, but to get the best referrals, an attorney must make the investment.
By depending only on referrals, your do not target your best clients. Face it; the people you represent are not attorneys. Without a thorough knowledge of law, they do not know about all your specialties. In addition, your other attorney friends, may only have a general idea of your fields, so they also cannot as effectively target the correct clients for you. In addition, if they are in a closely related law field, they are already taking the best clients for their own firm.
Lastly, there is only a low volume of clients that will be generated through referrals. Even the most extensive network cannot compare to the effect of a good marketing campaign.
Today, some of the most effective marketing in all fields, including law is being done online. By finding an internet-marketing guru, your firm can increase your flow of new clients almost immediately. This will result in a higher profit margin for both you and your partners.
Referrals cannot be the only place your firm looks for new clients. If internet marketing of your firm is not acceptable to you, then you need to find another effective source or finding new clients. Marketing will still cost money or time. However, the fee that you pay a marketer will have a high rate of return. It will most assuredly be higher than your referral network.
To market effectively, you need to know what strategy works in your market. Keep track of both the investment as well as the rate of return. For each new client that contacts your office, ask the question, "How did you hear about us?"
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
The Ultimate Guide to Surgeries
The Best Advice on Surgeries I've found
A particular method wherein a specific device is inserted into the vagina contain this specific hormone known as Mirena. Intrauterine devices are quite pricey but they can definitely last for a longer period of time reaching to about five years. Despite the high costs to pay, there are greater chances that you will get the effect you want since the chances reach to about ninety nine percent. The cost to pay for this device is actually cheaper since you will be using this kind of method for already five to ten years as compared to the others that it will cost a lot when the expenses are totaled. For whatever acts of play or sexual activity is engaged by both partners, they will certainly enjoy it since these Intrauterine devices will not be a hindrance to that activity by which this is a great feature. These intrauterine devices, based on studies, can be utilized while the mother is breastfeeding her child.
Where To Start with Complications and More
Aside from the high cost of these hormonal methods and the possibility of Mirena complications, another disadvantage of this is that the tablets should taken at the same time of the day every day. When you happen to miss a pill, this will immediately mean that the method was ineffective. Diseases that are transmitted sexually will not be prevented from passing to the woman unlike those other methods used that has a certain form of barrier when using this particular method. The other risk that this can give is that there may be some form of drug to drug interaction if taken with any other drugs. Because of this, couples should visit first licensed professional specializing in gynecology to know what drugs may bring such effect to the method. Presence of Barrier As A Method The use of this next method that serves as a barrier is known to have less effectiveness as compared to the method that hormones are controlled, wherein the possibility of Mirena complications will occur, is the most popularly used method by the younger generation. This particular method of controlling birth has devices that are under it which include condoms that are used by the males and diaphragms, cervical caps and sponges used by the females.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Debt Settlement Attorney As Part of a Law Firm
One thing you must understand is how a debt settlement attorney and his law firm will help you. The first thing to be aware of is that the purpose of they attorneys is to help you get out of debt as quickly as possible. The attorney's goal is to reduce your debt as much as possible as well as to reduce the interest rate so that you are able to climb out of your hole.
The unfortunate thing about this process is that you need to let your debt default in order for the creditors to be willing to negotiate with your attorney. The creditors want you to continue to pay only the minimum payment so that you pay all the interest, and that's where they make a ton of money. This is where the length of your debt just seems to add up to 30 years or more. So your attorney needs you to actually stop paying so that he is free to make an agreement with the lender and reduce your debt amount and interest rate.
Please be aware that this will hurt your credit score, but in the end it's worth it because you're going to be debt free. It may not make a difference anyways if your credit score has already been compromised. Your credit score will recover after a while, and it will recover even faster once you're out of debt, which is the ultimate goal. So don't be afraid to start this process now simply because your credit score may drop a bit.
When you stop your payments and your attorney is in the process of working out an agreement, your goal is to save up as much money as possible. This is going to help tremendously when an agreement has been reached and you're able to pay off a large portion of your debt right away. You will also be able to have some money to live off of.
The nasty collection calls will also stop once you hire a debt settlement attorney. If the calls don't stop, your attorney likely has the legal right to make them stop. Once you do stop your monthly payments and default on your bills, your creditors do have the right to take you to court, and your attorney will be able to help if that happens. It's very unlikely that they will because it is very costly and there's no guarantee that they'll get their money, even if they win. It's still nice to know that someone has your back.
Hopefully now you have a better understanding of what a debt settlement attorney can do for you, and I wish you best of luck as you try to become debt free!
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Background Checks
Naturally, you won't want to seek criminal records on a person on a whim; you won't use them to spy on your neighbors or harass people. But you will want to check out anyone who can affect your family or your job who you think might be suspicious. It's always a good idea to check the background of a prospective nanny or day care center, and you may also want to check out any online significant others before sending them any money.
A simpler form of finding free criminal records where you need them is in the case of registered sex offenders. By checking the sex offender list in your town, you can see who lives in your neighborhood who has been convicted of a sex crime, what that crime was, and how long ago that was. This way you can avoid allowing your kids over for trick-or-treating and teach them not to go in that person's house, assuming the charge was appropriate for that kind of action.
You can find free criminal records in a lot of different places on the Web, and often, they're instantaneous. They're not always perfectly accurate, so be wary of where you're going, but criminal histories are a matter of public record and it is your right to access them when you need to, and often you can get them for free. When your safety is on the line, it's worth checking out.
Law Firm Billing Software
Are you a law firm looking to maximize your returns on the hours you spend on every client? Are you tired of keeping tabs on how many hours you spend on researching, preparing and arguing a case? Well don't be. With law firm billing software you can now not just keep a tab of the time spent on a case, but also bill the client for that easily. No complications and no manual calculations!
Irrespective of the size of your law firm, you can now use law firm billing software and enjoy some robust features during the client billing process. Always considered critical processes, time and billing are some of the two most important activities in a company. Tracking time as well as expenses and managing them properly is not just a critical issue, but it reflects on your law firm's professionalism and internal management techniques, not to mention the reputation. When you use billing software made especially keeping in mind the requirements and expectations of law firms, the product is not just functional, but also customizable and flexible.
There are several top-of-the-line law billing software's that are available with automatic timers as well as capability to manually enter time on an hourly as well as project by project basis. Using cutting edge technology, these software's also offer all law and attorney firms an ideal Internet based billing software solution that is easy to use and easy to maintain. In fact, the company will handle all your hardware, software, as well as maintenance related issues offsite with the help of experienced professionals. Of course, in order to use the law firm billing software, you must have access to either online or wi-fi connection.
Why a law firm billing software
Law firm billing software is the perfect solution for lawyers, attorneys and other professionals in the field of law. There are several top-end legal time billing software solutions and they are being consistently used by several legal professionals. Here's a look at some of the salient features of a law firm billing software:
1. Voice codes for entering data as well as regularly used descriptions
2. More than one timer so that you can manage more than one client/process
3. Especial feature of conflict management that allows you to search for a related field
4. Ability to manage 3rd party accounts with ease and efficiency
5. The activities in the software are coded based on UTMBS or Uniform Task-Based Management System
6. Used Legal Electronic Data Exchange Standard for LEDES 98 for creating invoices
Other Attractive Features
1. Get more value for your time as you track time more accurately
2. Generate a quicker cash flow as you can bill your clients more quickly
3. Reduce the number of bill disputes you may have had with your clients
4. You can leverage the software to show off you professionalism as well as your financial muscles
5. Accept credit card payments and get paid faster than ever
6. Keep track of the time spent even offline
7. Since it's easy to use, anyone can use it easily
8. And lastly, the software is secure and uses 128bit SSL encryption to safe guard all information
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Law Firms Go Fishing
"Give a man to fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime." -- Lao TZU
BTI Consulting Group, a leader in legal industry research, recently released the results of a study that showed that despite deep budget cuts at large law firms, "business development is one of the few marketing areas where law firm executives are more willing to increase spending." Of the firms interviewed, including firms of all sizes, "[n]early 70 percent said they planned to provide more marketing coaching to lawyers." BTI's Benchmarking Law Firm Marketing and Business Development Strategies, 2009. It seems that even in a tough economy these firms are taking the old adage, "teach a man to fish..." very seriously.
But teaching your attorneys to fish for new business is not just about making them more capable of taking care of themselves; it's about maximizing the ability of the firm to generate business. No matter how great the few rainmakers at a firm are at generating business for the rest to feed on, the "two rainmaker business plan" will forever limit the growth of a firm by the talents, time, energy and health of those few rainmakers. This is not anything new. Most firms in this situation know it is a problem, but what are they doing about it?
To the rainmakers that built the firm, business development is second nature. Yes it takes time, but it's something so obvious and inherent to them that many just assume others should inherently know how to do it. They assume that the lack of business development is from a lack of motivated rather than know how. The associates are told they need to "network," to go to some association meetings, etc. but they are given very little direction on how to be effective in doing so. (i.e. how to determine the associations they should be joining; what they should do once they join; how they should go about getting noticed, etc.) Perhaps it is less a lack a motivation, and more a lack of knowledge and understanding of how to be effective. It's like Mozart expecting others to just sit down and play the piano because that's what he did. He looked at the piano and just knew how to play. But just because others can't do what Mozart did, does not mean that they can't be taught to play.
While coaching will not make someone the Mozart of rainmaking, it can make them pretty good at it, which can be enough to make a significant contribution to the firm as a whole. Apparently a good percentage of law firms realize this, given the increased dollars they are devoting to business development coaching. Is it a lack of motivation, or do they need to be taught how to fish? Either way, the right kind of coaching can provide the solution.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Choosing a Target Market For Law Firm Marketing
Choosing a target market for your law firm marketing will be determine by two factors and such factors include; The attractiveness of the market and your ability to serve that market as its legal representative. Market attractiveness aspect of lawyer advertising is determined by three main factors which include; size of the market, the cost of serving the market, the growth rate and how sensitive the market can be. Not all markets can be viable enough to be selected when these factors are used as the main criteria. It is therefore necessary for a law firm to make a list of the attractive things visible in all the markets discovered, such features must include their characteristic problems, their sizes as well as their prospects of survival in the wider market. This will help you fashion out how well they can be legally represented and accommodated in your own schedule.
Your ability to serve the market of your choice is another factor to be considered for your lawyer advertising techniques. Not all the segments of the market which you have found will be fit for you to handle, therefore it might become complicated if not problematic if an organization prefer a legal representative in an area which you have moderate or no experience at all. Therefore, you need to check their legal status and their future needs before you make further law firm marketing techniques as per such organization. You can refer an organization that your can't handle to another law firm or attorney.
You need to note that choosing a target audience has its own advantages. It increases a positive law firm marketing result. Focusing your law firm marketing tools towards the satisfaction of a smaller unit of the audience will help you address the common needs of such audience and give you're the strength to pursue such goals. It will also decrease your marketing costs in the sense that with a selected number of people or organization, you will not have to spend much money pursuing them, therefore you will be in charge of your marketing strategies and the number of finances spent on executing such marketing strategies.
With a selective target audience, you will lower your mailing costs and at the same time know where and how you will advertise. It is an excellent way to decide and project your career to the right places.
Monday, October 7, 2013
ADHD Treatment
ADHD treament can take on a range of types and methods. Sometimes, a patient can get by on just a few new breathing techniques or yoga practices. Other times, counseling or group therapy can do the trick. But sometimes, it because necessary for a person to revert to taking a prescription medication of some kind. The impairment associated with ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) warrants treatment. A clinical guideline clearly states that treatment should begin when a teacher, parent or patient at school detects impairment, work, while driving or during other activities.
Most of the treatments are the same in both children and adults. Two classes of drugs, stimulants and non-stimulants, are prescribed for treating ADHD. Stimulants are considered a first-line medication, which has a higher response rate. This is followed by second-line stimulants that have a lower response rate and lower effect size.
A number of scientific studies have demonstrated that the medications currently prescribed for ADHD work very well; however, on an experimental level, CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy is also being considered and will hopefully yield similar results. CBT is considered the therapy of choice for those ADHD patients who cannot tolerate chemical medications or other medications failed to produce results. However, since ADHD is considered a lifelong disorder, research hasn't yet reached a point where it can predict the necessary duration treatment needed to treat a patient.
Since treating an ADHD patient is always tricky for a clinician, the treatment is generally started after gaining a patient's confidence as to why treatment is necessary and what benefits will come from it.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Guerrilla Marketing For Law Firms
What is guerrilla marketing for law firms in particular? Now that you mention it, the term "guerrilla marketing" is used by many people. What does that term mean anyway? The father of this approach is Jay Conrad Levinson who wrote the original book on the subject in 1983. His books have sold in the tens of millions of copies, are now all over the globe in 37 languages and the approach is taught in many MBA programs worldwide. Much like the brand "Xerox" that became a generic name for making copies of something at one time, Jay's brand name became a generic term for inexpensive strategies that get maximum results. There is no reason guerrilla marketing for law firms can't work for you.
What does Jay say this approach is about? "The essence of guerrilla marketing is a blend of common sense, realistic expectations and dedication to a plan. It is hardly a miracle worker, but when done properly, does seem to work miracles for those with patience, aggressiveness and willingness to constantly learn." In one of Jay's many books he says "If you begin to use a low-cost but power-packed arsenal of marketing weapons, you can out market your competition before your competitors outsmart you."
To be successful in guerrilla marketing for law firms you need to create the correct mind set as well as keep you mind open, see yourself as in the "law business" as well as know what strategies/tactics will work for your personality in your practice areas. You also will need to make a plan and work the plan consistently, persistently and be well targeted over time. You can do this since it is much easier than what it took to become an attorney is my thinking and experience. Naturally the key issues are having the "right knowledge" and "implementation" of that right knowledge in guerrilla marketing for law firms.
Marketing knowledge is everywhere of course - articles, books, tapes, CDs, and seminars. The key thing here is the "right knowledge" in guerrilla marketing for law firms. Beyond that and even more important is the "implementation" part once you know the right knowledge. Coaching is all about implementation of the right knowledge, having a plan and working the plan.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Tinnitus- Basic Treatment and Therapy
Tinnitus is a disorder that affects millions of individuals all around the world. Commonly people suffering from tinnitus, also known as ringing ears, find it hard to concentrate and lead a normal life. The reason for this is that in some cases the ringing of the ears is so loud that people suffering from tinnitus often develop some sort of sleeping disturbance, most commonly insomnia.
In some cases tinnitus can be cured naturally without the need of any specific treatment, but for others treatment is the only way of ever curing it. Nowadays there are many effective treatments available that are successful for certain cases, but may not work for others, it all depends on the nature of the tinnitus.
Shown below is a list of some of the more commonly used tinnitus treatments used.
Tinnitus retraining therapy
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a treatment commonly known as, habituation therapy, whereby a patient uses a combination of tinnitus retraining and sound enrichment techniques to reduce the perception of the noises caused by the tinnitus. This method might take some time to master but because there is no official 100 percent effective way of treating tinnitus, many patients are whiling to give this method a try.
Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy is different approach to tinnitus treatment. Basically what's pretended is a change in the way the patients reacts to the tinnitus rather than trying to cure it. The therapy requires that the patient together with the doctor identify the negative impact of tinnitus.
Masking
Masking is a method utilized not to cure tinnitus but rather control its effects. A devise commonly resembling a hearing aid, that is designed to produce low-level sound, is introduced into the ear to eliminate the perception of noise.
Hearing Aids
Some patients with severe tinnitus may in some cases benefit from the use of a hearing aid. By using such a device, the sounds of speech are brought above background tinnitus noise, making it easier for the person to hear other people. Hearing aids could also be used as a means of introducing white noise for blocking chronic tinnitus when sleeping.
Medicines and vitamins
There are some vitamins and a wide range of medicines that can help cure tinnitus. Some of Vitamins include Niacin, Lecithin, Zinc and Magnesium. Medicines that could prove effective include Anti-Depressants, Tranquilizers, and Muscle Relaxants, Alprazolam (Xanax), Klonopin, Anti-Convulsants, Intravenous Lidocaine and Anti-Histamine. Before starting a treatment using any sort of pharmaceutical drugs it is always imperative that a specialized doctor be consulted first.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a therapy utilized to teach patients how to relax their muscles and automatic body functions. The main idea is to help people manage stress, which can worsen tinnitus, by changing the way the body responds to it. People using this method have reported that this method if done correctly can drastically decrease tinnitus noise.
Many other forms of treatment are available but because tinnitus can radically vary from person to person only an otolaryngologists can help decide which solution is best suited for each case.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Neurology - Disorders and Treatments
Neurology is the scientific study of the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of nerves and the nervous system. Our nervous system plays a vital role in controlling our actions and movements. The nervous system is a part of our body which co-ordinates the voluntary and involuntary actions and transmits signals to the various parts of our body. In most living orgasms, it consists of two main parts i.e. the Central nervous system (CNS) and Peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS consists of the brain and the spinal cord and the PNS mainly consists of nerves that connect the CNS (brain and spinal cord) to every part of the body.
Treating the disorders of the nervous system that includes the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles at the earliest is imperative. Some common neurological disorder treatments include Migraine Headache Treatments, Sleep disorders, Numbness and tingling, Epilepsy Treatment, Muscle diseases, Diseases of the spinal cord, Treatment for a Stroke and Alzheimer's etc. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in senior citizens. Dementia is a disease that affects memory, thinking, reasoning, and behavior of a person. There is still no cure that can be used as Alzheimer's Treatment. For an independent life for a longer duration there are four medications available, which can help in slowing down the effects of the disease. If need arises there are medications available to help with behavioral symptoms. Staying physically active, light aerobic exercise is advised at least for 20 minutes a day, keeping the brain engaged mentally stimulating activities like crossword puzzles, memory games, etc. Staying in touch with friends, social interactions are also mentally stimulating and eating a healthy Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and seafood.
Treatment of these diseases on time by a Neurology Specialist should be done, for a better recovery procedure and independence in performing small daily activities. Well-qualified and experienced Neurosurgeons should be appointed for these surgeries. Neurologists can recommend surgical treatment, but do not perform surgery. When treatment includes surgery, they will monitor the patients treated with surgery and will supervise their treatment. Neurosurgeons are medical doctors who specialize in performing surgical treatments of the brain or nervous system and hence they are the experts in their profession.
Physical therapy treatments are also very necessary. In most cases, there is loss of functioning of the body parts. Generally, this is due to injuries to the brain or spinal cord that causes death of cells which mainly has control over certain movements and sensations. Without proper physical therapy, a person will not be able to perform certain day-to-day activities. This may lead to other health issues like heart and lung problems, diabetes, increase in dependence, which will gradually affect and cause a poor quality of life.
There is a certain time span when cells in the brain and spinal cord can re-learn the affected functions. They can take charge of some of the functions. With proper treatment and therapy by Neurology Specialists many of the patients can learn to live independently again, which will make their life much easier and happier.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Resolving Disputes with an Expert Business Law Firm in California
In California, business disputes happen in one way or another. Especially when engaging into transactions with other companies, suppliers, clients and even partners, it is very possible that disagreements will arise.
With these problem occurrences, the business manager has to make an important decision to prevent losses and further damages to the company - whether to file a case in court or to engage in an out of court settlement such as arbitration.
What legal experts suggest
Because of the tremendous advantages of dealing with a corporate dispute, majority of the business law firms in California firmly recommend opposing parties to resolve the issue outside the court. In fact, arbitration is fast becoming a popular means of settling commercial and business disputes all over the country nowadays.
Mainly, the following are the reasons why most disputing companies enter into arbitration rather that a court litigation.
- A court case may take a lot of time to be resolved. Fast resolution of a case is important in many instances, especially if the issue is affecting the company operation. Unlike court litigations where pre-trial procedures are necessary, the arbitration process does not require these time consuming steps. Also, the non-application of court rules on evidence is an added factor that prevents unnecessary motions in arbitration.
- An arbitration maybe done privately at any time and place by both parties, preventing the public to identify the dispute. This means the arguing parties will have more control over their own argument. Besides, because some disputed matters should be held confidential for it may create bad image on either parties, it is advisable to inhibit others to know of the problem.
- Court litigation may cost both parties a large amount of money in paying for attorney's fees and attending the hearings. In corporate cases, many lawyers charge their clients per court appearance. Therefore, a speedy resolution of a business dispute will certainly lessen both parties' expenses.
Arbitration process
Arbitration is slightly similar to court litigation. This procedure is also carried out before a neutral party to make his decision for the disputed matters after both sides has been heard. The defendant should also be given a copy of the complaint and be given time to prepare his response. If both parties agree to settle the problem outside the court, it would only be then the arbitration procedure will push through.
Similarly, the plaintiffs should have to present their respective evidences to prove their cases while the defendants may also provide their counter-charges and/or explanations to contest the disputed issue. The arbitrator will then make his decision based on these presented evidences. Typically, the arbitrator's judgment is legally binding and final.
The need for representation
Notwithstanding the many benefits of arbitration in resolving a business dispute, still, the opposing parties must be properly represented by their respective business lawyers. This will ensure that all their rights will be well protected as suggested by the existing arbitration rules and regulations.
In addition, a competent lawyer coming from a reputable business law firm in California will lessen their burden of preparing the needed documents and evidences. An advocate will also explain to them all about the status of their case and make sure that they will end up in a fair settlement.
Get the help of competent and reliable attorney services in resolving business disputes.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Can Physical Therapy Help Heal?
Physical therapy, just on a very surface level could be considered an alternative type or natural treatment for certain conditions like back pain. Unlike aromatherapy, herbal remedies etc, physical therapy has been recognized as a legitimate treatment for many physical or bodily problems resulting from disease, accidents and other things that can affect our life.
It is different from Occupational therapy. Occupational therapists treat people who are considered to have much more permanent physical or developmental problems. The physical therapist however may be considered a shorter term solution for people in need of temporary assistance and treatments.
Much of the established medical community recognizes the benefits of physical therapy. Physical therapy is essentially the use of exercises and activities to help condition parts of the body. Through specialized activities, the part of the body being worked with gains, strength, coordination, conditioning, and movement.
Physical therapy is now considered an important part of most treatments for injuries or physical disorders. Exercises are designed to help patients gain the as much of the full range of motion as possible. This means that physical therapy is usually a lot of exhaustive work for the patients.
The appointments with the physical therapist is only part of the work that needs done however. The therapist will typically offer a daily exercise regimen and suggest other ways to help with your rehabilitation. They will often spend the time necessary through demonstration and teaching patients how to get the maximum benefit from those exercises. By following their direction, patients can expect over time to improve their health and gain additional functionality of the problem area.
Many doctors who treat pain will also actively use physical therapists to assist with relieving a painful condition depending on the reason for the problem. Therapists are not just physical education instructors but are skilled in helping patients recover the greatest amount of functionality possible.
Physical therapy plays a critical role in helping in the development of children with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy and many other conditions. This work may include years of effort to gain just a few precious benefits for the child but it's one of the benefits of becoming a physical therapist.
Therapists work to help maintain or improve the use of bones, muscles and joints through their specialized treatments and efforts. They are licensed professional who have done wonders with children and adults of all ages. As our society ages, physical therapy as a career will become increasingly more important.
Marketing a Plaintiff's Personal Injury Practice - The Pros and Cons of Law Firm Marketing Tactics
So, you recently won a major verdict, or settlement and are ready to take your plaintiff's personal injury firm to the next level. How do you put your limited law firm marketing budget to good use? Do you pay for a billboard on a local highway, buy television advertising, go on the Internet, target a niche community? There are many directions you can go in and this article objectively addresses the pros and cons of a number of the more popular law firm marketing tactics.
Network Referrals
Pros: Minimal cost - very high return on investment, relationships can be perpetual and provide a steady stream of business, can open new business opportunities, additional revenue source on referrals,
Cons: Can take considerable time and effort to build network, not all lawyers have the skill set to network effectively, fee sharing with another plaintiff's firm can reduce profit margins, ensuring accountability on cases you refer, may not always be a reliable source - circumstances change
Television
Pros: Can lead to high volumes of incoming cases, Low cost per qualified lead relative to other forms of traditional marketing, immediate results, measurable and controllable
Cons: Expenses of producing ads, expertise required to stand out and maximize response, may be less effective at lower frequencies, national firms can buy ads cheaper than local ones
Media Coverage
Pros: Exposure to huge numbers of consumers, Having a tv or radio legal program can help your firm dominate a market, can have sustained positive impact on firm's brand, You are always one case away from potential stardom
Cons: Hard for PR firms to deliver without truly newsworthy material, need to be very lucky, or very connected for homerun-type publicity, easy to get caught up in distracting and self-serving efforts that do not generate results
Yellow Pages
Pros: Once a powerful lead generation tool: measurable, consistent and predictable
Cons: Internet has greatly diminished its effectiveness, too many brands caused saturation, hard to compete with big spenders
Internet Search Engine Optimization
Pros: Can yield high return on investment, provides flexibility for focusing on niche, there is room for small budgets despite big spenders, investment can have positive long term lead benefits, measurable, highly qualified leads, consumers prefer organic search results
Cons: Requires several months of ramp-up time, vendor choice is absolutely critical in keeping cost per lead low, changes in algorithms require regular program to stay on top, if keywords are not in the top 5 results in Google, you do not exist, more challenging to use to target new torts, best results require more time / resource investment.
Pay Per Click
Pros: Immediate results, easily measurable, works with any budget, great for immediate response to toxic torts and product defects, small budget programs can be "do-it-yourself", no clickthrough - no pay, allows for very strategic niche marketing that other firms may not be aware of
Cons: High value keywords get bid up and return on investment goes down, can lose money until expertise is developed, pay for every lead, consumers prefer organic listings to pay per click ads.
There are many marketing options, but whatever you choose make sure to always monitor and measure impact to maximize the efficiency of your plaintiff's personal injury marketing program.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Is HRT Hormone Replacement Therapy Suitable for Me?
Even though there are a number of alternative therapies available today many women still turn to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help them to cope with their menopause symptoms. The majority of the common symptoms that are associated with the menopause are caused by falling levels of the hormone oestrogen and HRT acts to counteract this fall. Unfortunately, while there are obvious benefits to HRT there are also a number of risks and in some cases the risks outweigh the benefits. So who is at risk from HRT?
Women who have previously been diagnosed with breast cancer
HRT is now known to increase the risk of developing breast cancer and so any women who have previously been diagnosed and treated for the disease will more often than not be refused HRT. As yet there is no evidence to say that the risk of developing breast cancer for a second time is any higher than the risk of developing breast cancer for the first time however doctors generally assume there is and so rarely offer HRT to women who have previously beaten breast cancer.
Similarly, women who have a history of breast cancer in their immediate family i.e. in their mother or sisters may also have an increased risk of developing the disease should they be treated with HRT for their menopause symptoms. Breast cancer is thought to be related to a specific genetic mutation and so if the mutation is present in a family line then there is a much higher risk of developing the disease even without the added complication of HRT treatment.
Women who have circulatory problems
HRT can slightly increase the chances of a female developing either deep vein thrombosis or a pulmonary embolism, especially within the first 12 months of using the treatment. While this increase is very slight for most women, those who have previously been diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis or who suffer with other circulatory disorders such as blood clotting conditions should consult a doctor regularly and especially if they experience any adverse symptoms regarding their circulation.
Many doctors today will discourage women with circulatory disorders from using HRT, especially long term and if they do go ahead then they will undoubtedly be monitored closely for the first few years.
Women who had uterine or ovarian problems before menopause
In addition to breast cancer, oestrogen-only HRT is known to increase the risk of both uterine and ovarian cancer. Oestrogen-only HRT causes the lining of the womb to thicken and this can lead to cancer development in a few cases. This risk can be reduced by prescribing progesterone as well because this causes the womb to shed any excess lining either monthly or at more irregular intervals.
Your doctor should be able to give you much more information regarding HRT and from there you can decide together if this form of treatment is right for you. There are a number of side effects to HRT which may or may not affect you and you should ask your doctor about these as well. It is worth remembering that there are alternatives to HRT and a growing number of women are turning to these more natural forms of treatment each year. If it works for them then it may very well work for you, and without the side effects.
5 Uses For Attorneys
The Key Elements of Great Laws
To protect yourself from the risks associated with legal battles encompasses more than just the reading medical journals. All medical malpractices are as a result of a physician not following the set standards when it comes to treating their patients. This implies that these malpractices arises when one fails to perform a procedure or perform one that a careful physician would or would not have done it. Thus, to be able to manage this risk one has to avoid the malpractice claims by preventing patient injuries and learning how to handle lawsuits when they occur. To get you started on lawsuit free medical practice, here are some tips to follow.
The Path To Finding Better Attorneys
Always strive to provide timely diagnosis. Majority of malpractice litigation originate from delay in diagnosis of a disease. For instance, if your specialty is handling breast cancer patients, employ the use of different tools and not just falsely negative mammogram. Though a mammography is one of the best tools when it comes to screen for breast cancer, it is a very poor tool for diagnostic purpose. As such, if you want to reduce the chances of litigation, always invest in acquiring the appropriate tools to assist in providing correct and timely diagnosis for problems. Seek professional advice from your peers in time. Sometimes, when a patient pays the first visit to a physician on the first time, it is usually difficult to pinpoint what exactly is the problem. In this situation, it is advisable to have them pay at least three visits after which you should get somebody to help you in figuring out the problem. With the assistance and help of another person, you will be able to decrypt the problem and be able to provide the best care available. Conduct medical procedures when you are at your best. Wrongly performed procedures are one of the leading causes of legal litigation against physicians. These poorly done procedures are usually as a result of a medical practitioner not being at their best when performing them, not because they are not trained for them. As such, to avoid such situations from happening always be prepared for any procedure before performing it.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Auto Accident Law Firm Helps With the First Steps
There are many different kinds of vehicular catastrophe. They can happen because the roads are slick, because someone wasn't paying attention, or because of a car malfunction. The outcome can be a minor bump in a parking lot or a serious car pileup that cost some of the drivers, passengers and pedestrians their life or limbs. Regardless of the severity, you will always need to contact the police after an accident, but you may not always need to contact a lawyer. It is when you are involved in the cases of determinable fault that you will require the expertise of an auto accident law firm. The experienced attorneys therein will be thoroughly familiar with a variety of car incident cases and be aware of how to approach the proof of your case. No defense attorney likes to take a case that they can't prove, so when they offer their services, they must believe in the value of the evidence and witness testimonies of your state of mind, the way you were driving and the events of that moment. The first step is the find the best auto accident law firm to represent you and discover what they can do to help you during this difficult and possibly painful time.
The first and most basic way that an auto accident law firm attorney can help you is with advice concerning the first steps to take after an accident has occurred. You are likely to be in shock or in pain so it is important to already have in mind how to calmly move forward and protect yourself. First, attend to the normal safety precautions regarding surrounding traffic and receipt of medical attention so that you will preserve your life regardless of the condition of the vehicle. Second, fill out your police report. Third, exchange contact and insurance information with any other drivers involved. Speak with the other drivers, document the accident and speak with any witnesses about what they saw. Third, you will need to report the crash to your insurance company. If a company was to blame for a spill or you know that someone else is to blame for the incident then the final step is to seek legal advice and representation. The auto accident law firm can protect your rights during the filing of your claim and seeking of medical coverage. You don't want to be left to fend for yourself while in an inordinate amount of pain and without your main source of transportation.
Monday, September 16, 2013
The Advantages Of Cold Laser Therapy
Most people know what chiropractors do, but they don't always know the treatments they offer. Some chiropractors specialize in different treatments and it's important to know about each. Some treatments work better for each individual and offer something different that another treatment doesn't. Do your research, learn which chiropractic treatment will work best for your problem and find a chiropractor nearby who offers the treatment you want.
For the moment, let's consider cold laser therapy. The technology has been around for the last 30 years or so and is a noninvasive treatment that targets tissues in the body for stimulation and healing. The name describes exactly what the treatment is. With the use of lasers, a chiropractor can apply treatment to the source of the issue and stimulate cells within the tissues to begin the healing process.
The reason you are experiencing pain in certain area of your body is due to the cells in the specific region that are damaged. The good news is that they can be stimulated back to health with the use of lasers sending photonic energy to the cell directly.
Moving from the scientific terminology, the advantages of this treatment are numerous. Again, the treatment is noninvasive and does not require surgery. A surgery of any kind involves invasion that can cause complications and requires a time of recovery. Surgeries typically scare people and they have good reason to be scared. Not only are surgeries invasive, they are also expensive. Medical costs for surgeries are high because you pay for the treatment and the recovery, whether in the hospital or not.
Cold laser therapy doesn't require a recovery time or medication. Medication is another added cost that patients shouldn't pay. Also, you never know how certain medications will react within a patient's body and whether they are addictive or not.
Cold laser therapy targets areas of muscle pain, arthritis, tissue damage, ligament sprain and much more. You can see how this treatment is useful. It targets many areas of the body and stimulates these areas of injury to a better and healthier state. Sending photons of energy from lasers is easy and safe. After several cold laser treatments, patients begin to see a change and notice the healing process. Soon relief has returned and people can function normally on a day-to-day basis without chronic pain. Cold laser therapy may sound foreign to you, but it's a tested treatment and one that many patients use every year for recovery.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Retention Amounts of Auto Insurance in Dallas, TX
Find auto insurance in Dallas at www.txautoinsurancequotes.com.
Reserves. The size of the reserve fund is basically the purpose of the number and size expected claims. In any event, reserve funds should be isolated from the other working capital from the firm and committed to savings certificates, treasury bills or any other liquid money equivalents. Bank credit should be available in coming of need, and the self-insurer should know where other back-up financing can be obtained. Interest income is expected to be earned on the funds put aside to pay claims. Here time value of money can be substantial since claims against a fund aren't all paid at the same time.
Retention Levels. The criterion used to appraise the potential impact of a self-insurance loss is currently based upon some general rules of thumb. These rules include: 0.17 of annual revenues; 17 of working capital; 17 of shareholders equity, and 57 of pr e t ax earnings. Non-profit institutions, such as hospitals, often fix the limit of retained losses in a percentage of their annual budget, because the figure accurately relates to their yearly financial operation.
Another way of determining risk retention levels would be to select the auto insurance in Alabama program which minimizes the risk-adjusted cost. This requires quantifying a company's conservatism in a so-called "risk aversion level," that is according to a recognised theory known as the Risk Preference (Utility) Theory. A company's risk aversion level is related to its self-insurance capacity (SIC), that's, the quantity of unexpected aggregate loss it can absorb in one year, total exposures. A company's risk aversion level is decided based on the formula: r = 1/SIC. For example, in which a firm's self-insurance capacity is expressed in billion dollar units, a $100,000 SIC equals $0.A million, so r = 1/10 = 10 millionths.
When a risk manager has quantitatively determined a firm's willingness to deal with risk, it is then possible to evaluate the Risk Adjusted Cost of risk retention. Risk Adjusted Price is understood to be $ 1 quantity which measures just how much a company would be willing to pay to get rid of its risk exposure. This would be greater than the Expected Loss but under the Maximum Possible Loss, and includes unexpected losses to become paid, plus budgeted items like the expenses of loss settlement. In that sense, it's roughly comparable to a premium.15
Hiring a Bankruptcy Law Firm and Getting Your Value
With the economy variously in shambles or simply mediocre, many people are finding themselves in dire financial straits these days. If you are one of those people, debt could be your biggest concern. When it accumulates, it tends to hang over an individual's head like a dark storm cloud waiting to burst. There are a few ways to escape that cloud, however, and one of them is hiring a good bankruptcy law firm to take on your case. Not all such firms are created equal, however, so you need to be careful when making your final decision. Here is the key to getting the most value from your lawyers.
It isn't hard to imagine that money is definitely an object for most people when they talk about hiring a bankruptcy law firm. If money was no object, then they wouldn't be in the situation to begin with. Therefore, it only stands to reason that many people will choose an attorney based on price alone. This could be a major mistake, however. The way filing and other legal activities are done in this arena means certain fees and payments are nearly unavoidable.
Most lawyers should be in the same ballpark when it comes to how much they are charging their clients. If you find one that is charging a drastically reduced fee from the competition, something is probably wrong. Either you are going to wind up paying that gap in money at some point down the road or you will not be getting the value you deserve. It is not uncommon to find unscrupulous people in every profession, and unfortunately some choose to put their Juris Doctorates to bad use by misleading or preying on people who are inexperienced with the law. Do your homework and avoid these unsavory characters whenever possible.
So what is it that you should be getting from your bankruptcy law firm? In many area of life, that is a difficult question to answer. In this arena, however, it is a relatively simple one. All lawyers should be offering nearly the same package when they agree to take on your case. That package includes a full financial consultation, at which time they will analyze your financial situation and determine the best course of action. It should include preparing and filing the petition with the appropriate federal court. It should include being present at a meeting of the creditors and making any follow up appointments as necessary. If you are getting all of this for a standard price, you know you are getting good value from your attorneys.
Keep in mind that every situation is different. Your situation might call for additional representation beyond that basic package. For instance, if you see litigation in your future, it is clearly going to cost quite a bit more than that initial fee. And if you do foresee this kind of proceeding, you'll want to find a bankruptcy law firm that is experienced enough to go to battle for you in the trial arena.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Forms of Sciatica Treatment
A trip to the Doctor's Office
Doctors approach sciatica treatment by performing physical and neurological examinations in order to determine the cause of sciatica. If needed, they may request more involved tests such as a MRI scan to further investigate the cause. Once diagnosed, an effect sciatica treatment can be implemented. This will usually involve the use of different types of drugs such as NSAID's (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents), steroids and possibly opiate derived pain relievers. In rare cases, surgery may be suggested for sciatica treatment.
Chiropractic Sciatica Treatment
Chiropractors, through the use of manually induced spinal adjustments, can often help the symptoms of sciatica. The adjustments, usually quick and painless, can align the spine and reduce the pressure on the sciatic nerve. A sciatica treatment usually begins with some type of heat therapy to loosen up the muscles surrounding the affected area. The chiropractor then performs the adjustments and ice packs may then be used to reduce inflammation. One treatment, however, is usually not enough to permanently adjust the spine so multiple adjustments are often recommended.
Massage Therapy
When muscle spasms cause sciatica, massage therapy can relieve some of the discomfort and pain. As with all remedies for sciatica, treatment will vary by the individual. Some require deep kneading movements to relax stiff muscles while others see the most improvement from vibrating movements. Massage also releases endorphins which aid in pain relief. Clients also benefit from increased circulation and oxygenation, improving the health of the spine. Massage also can relieve the stress brought on by episodes of sciatica, making it an excellent sciatica treatment.
How Physical Therapy Works
Physical therapists employ many different tools for sciatica treatment. Heat compresses often are used at the beginning of a session to loosen tight muscles before further treatment. Depending on the severity of the pain, the therapist may use traction which decompresses the spine or apply gentle electrical currents via electrodes to help alleviate pain. Therapists often can show a patient how to sit properly, rise to a standing position with minimal discomfort and find comfortable positions for sleeping, making daily life much more manageable. A person in physical therapy will learn stretching and strengthening exercises they can perform at home to minimize and prevent sciatica episodes.
Home treatment
Home remedies for sciatica usually involve the use of heat and ice to bring about relief from sciatica pain. A heating pad, hot water bottle or warm baths can benefit the sufferer by loosening up tight muscles and easing pain. Applying heat before doing gentle stretches or exercises can allow more range of motion, making the movements more effective. Ice can be applied afterwards to decrease inflammation and to help numb pain created by increased circulation.
Holistic Remedies for Sciatica
Various herbal remedies have been used by different cultures to reduce inflammation. Ginger and turmeric, two common spices, have been studied for years for their anti-inflammatory properties and found to be effective. Acupuncture, a Chinese based sciatica treatment involving needles to stimulate healing, has been known to relieve many types of pain. Acupressure, a related therapy using pressure from the hands, palms and elbows along the same meridians or acupuncture points, can be just as effective. Diet is becoming more popular in sciatica treatment. Several well known nutrition experts have written about anti-inflammatory diets and how they can affect conditions such as arthritis, sciatica and other inflammation caused illnesses.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Understanding The Idea Of Human Rights Around The World
Although Human rights Peace democracy and tolerance might all seem to go together, they do not in the real world. Part of this is because the scope of what people consider to be human rights is different in various parts of the world. Some governments look at human rights as simply the freedom to avoid violence. This has resulted in some oppressive regimes that enforce police states but that do not allow citizens much freedom. Other countries are concerned about human rights for only a select few people. This has caused wars and violent actions to suppress entire populations who demand freedom.
Fortunately, some countries truly believe in human rights peace democracy and tolerance. These countries generally have legal systems in place that allow citizens to affect policies and society by fighting for human rights in a civil forum without violence. Citizens can file legal cases to help expand the rights of people who are being unfairly oppressed, discriminated against or even harmed. Unfortunately, a large number of countries do not have this type of system in place. Human rights are granted or taken away by authoritarian figures who do not listen to the citizens of the nation.
Many organizations around the world fight for peace human rights tolerance and democracy in countries without strong legal systems and freedoms for citizens. These organizations must work within the structure of each country. Fighting for human rights sometimes involves exposing injustices, leading non-violent marches and performing civil disobedience. These organizations have helped to make a difference in the world although change is very slow. The change comes when the rest of the world realizes the lack of human rights and starts to place economic, political and social pressure on the leaders. This can result in a slow turn towards freedom and better human rights.
The Right Law Firm Will Help You
When injured, many people fail to seek the right law firm to defend their legal rights. They just pick out of a classified ad or call the nearest injury lawyer. What happens if you do not get the right representation? You end up with tons of medical bills with no one to help you pay it, damages on your property (your car), and lost income from work, physical pains, mental troubles and so many more. As the victim, you have to be provided with benefits.
Personal Injury
Personal Injury happens when another person has hurt you physically or emotionally, intended or not. This is a careless disregard for the victims' well being. Even if the action was not planned or anticipated to cause pain to another person, with the action or non action of the other party, it does the damage. The right law firm will defend you and make sure that you will be compensated up to the extent of what you deserve.
Auto Accidents/Motorcycle Accidents
This is often a complex event because both parties will claim that the other one is at fault. Only then when the official investigation ends will the pointing stop. The insurance companies have their own insurance adjusters who will try their very best to protect their client from shedding too much.
Most often, these adjusters will offer you an amount within 24 hours from the accident. It will seem that the money is good but remember that these people will try to get out of the trouble as soon as they can and as cheaply as possible. With the right law firm, you do not have to rush into signing a waiver and collecting the measly amount they are proposing. You will get what is due for you 100%.
Tractor Trailer Accidents
These are big trucks or trailers which travel the road for commercial purposes. If you are or will be involved in this type of mishap, pray that you will make it out alive. Not many victims of truck crashes survive the ordeal. And if they do, victims end up with permanent disability - lost limbs, blindness, hearing impaired, facial distortion, among others.
If you become permanently disabled, what will happen to you and your family? That is why you need the right law firm to combat these trucking companies and their lawyers. Special laws regulate tractor trailers and you need to show that you were wronged in whatever possible way. Your lawyers will take care of that.
Wrongful Death
When a person dies because of another person's negligence or intentional action is the same thing. A wrongful death case can be formulated. If a father or mother is lost, children will become orphans. Who will take care of them? How will they be provided? Killing a person even if it was an accident is a civil offense. If by criminal action the defendant was absolved, a wrongful death civil suit can be recourse. If you have the right law firm to represent you in your criminal and civil lawsuits, both cases will be given full attention and eventual success.
There are fly by lawyers who will do anything to get a quick buck. Sure, they can help you with mediation and settlement but these "sharks" will just use you to earn money. If you want real help from real people who cares, you need to choose the right law firm with a reputable name and adequate experience. This is your life; give it the value it deserves by hiring the best lawyers.
Pick a Criminal Defense Attorney
2) Get a criminal lawyer who works on his practice in the area of protection which you will want. Several dui attorneys not simply handle schedule criminal defense situations however some completely focus inside a particular section of defense. Some target rape defense, severe crime protection, or other areas of specialised. No protection places absolutely demand a attorney who centers in your neighborhood, along with numerous places you can find very few lawyers that you get one that specializes in a certain crime is not possible. Get yourself a law firm who's inclined to put in lots of time to learn about your situation plus your protection and you will do okay.
3) General public defenders are often set aside for many who simply can't afford exclusive lawyers. However, general public defenders haven't much time and resources to work in your situation and cause significantly less the law, according to investigation made by the Justice Plan Institute1 .. Numerous community defenders try to handle over 200 circumstances or higher. That is certainly excess of the utmost number of instances recommended through the American Bar Association, which advises that any lawyer shouldn't manage over one hundred or so instances. Public defenders typically deal with above 300 circumstances in L . A . State, Ca. Community defenders may be very obsessed with their careers and also have the best motives. Nevertheless, they are often overwhelmed by the pure number of instances and put in danger their client's constitutional right to efficient portrayal in criminal court.
4) Determine what kind of features you require. Are you wanting a person youthful and that's willing to replace with a lack of expertise via hard work, or a person with well-established experience? Does your case need anyone who has special familiarity with a specific section of criminal regulation (like tax legislation or Businesses investigations), or law firm sufficient?
5) Question pals should they know (and have exposure to) a defense legal professional. This is simply not the time to engage your 3rd relative who once earned a speeding admission circumstance to your dad. If you are arrested for an offence that induce you to possess a criminal history, you need someone who understands precisely what they are performing.
6) Uncover what authorized companies the lawyer is associated with. At the minimum, he should participate in the State assuring Pub Links. If he is one of the Countrywide Association of Defense Attorneys (NACDL), his Point out Organization of Criminal Lawyers, or to the ABA's Offender Rights Section, that's a good sign she has more than a passing interest in defense.
7) See whether he has actually kept an office in most of the companies of which he could be an associate. Tavern organization routines are fantastic indications of how the attorney's fellow workers feel about him.
8) Make contact with Beverly Mountains Felony Lawyer
8) Check if he's got attained a Martindale-Hubbell score. In .AVIn . will be the maximum abilityPerhighest ethics ranking in line with the opinions of law firms and all judges who know him. InchesBacterial vaginosisInch and InchesResumeInches graded attorneys are fantastic also. Notice: not many criminal defense attorneys are ranked by Martindale-Hubbell and most of the best criminal lawyers do skip Martindale-Hubbell's index and standing program.
9) Don't be fooled by advertising catch phrases, including "former deputy daInches or Inchesambitious demo law firm.Inches Satisfy the legal professional and decide in case you have confidence in their expertise and understand their evaluation of your scenario.