PR and reputation management

Expert papers: how giving free advice could win you business

Clients want a lawyer's expertise – that's why they hire you. But while scouring your firm's website will give them some insight into the legal knowledge that you hold, there are more effective ways to highlight the fact that you can provide exactly what they are looking for. We're not talking...


Insurers everywhere, but where are the lawyers?

The Lord Chancellor's decision this week to cut the discount rate used to calculate lump-sum payouts in personal injury (PI) claims from 2.5 percent to minus 0.75 percent was bad news for insurers but good news for those injured through no fault of their own. But it was the Association of British Insurers...


My lunch date with a journalist and a cockroach

Throughout my career I have frequently had breakfast, lunch and dinner with journalists to build relationships. On one occasion my journo lunch date became an actual date and there was a short romance for a couple of months. Not that I'm saying that's a bad idea - it's perhaps cheaper...


Feedback – sometimes it hurts but it’s essential

How do you feel about feedback? Honestly now. Does it fill you with horror? Do you instantly reject anything that seems remotely like a criticism? Don't worry, if you do then you're not alone. Of course, the thing about feedback is that it's not just good for the person who is giving it but...


Phil Shiner’s fall from grace

Few lawyers would want to be in lawyer Phil Shiner's shoes right now. This paragraph from the Daily Telegraph is one of the more measured written about him since the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal struck him off the roll last week. 'Far from advancing his own ends, he implied, he was serving...


Media training – can you afford to skip it?

In this social media age, we fire off a tweet – expressing sadness at the death of a pop star or concern about an incoming American president's views – hoping a few people will see it; knowing there's a chance it gets very widely picked up. You release it, hoping it's good enough. Maybe...


Why KWM’s collapse could threaten YOUR firm’s reputation

Today's headlines confirm the sad news that King & Wood Mallesons LLP is finally filing for administration. Remaining London staff at 10 Queen Street Place are currently being doorstopped by journalists whose colleagues back in the newsroom are phoning round banks, creditors and ex-partners trying to glean any further gossip on...


Protecting your firm’s reputation after a high-profile exit

If you take an interest in law and politics, then the first week back at work was a treat – Law Society chief executive Catherine Dixon resigned in a letter to Chancery Lane’s 100-strong governing council. The next day, Sir Roger Ivans, UK ambassador to the EU, resigned. The human interest...


Reputation matters – just ask the Law Society

What do you love about being a solicitor? Email us! Maybe add a picture of yourself running a marathon or learning to fly. These are some of the new year exhortations from the Law Society, as Chancery Lane sets about helping members make...


Tips for the festive season: protecting a professional reputation

In the run up to Christmas, one of the fun parts of working so hard throughout the year is getting invited to all the festive parties. From the annual bash at your own organisation, to client events and industry dos, there are so many opportunities to share a glass of...