Articles

Personal security – Don’t be a victim!

For years, I have refused to sign the back of my credit card. The exemplar would give a thief my signature which could then be copied on other documents.

Today, I received a listing of tips from my bank about personal security … AND they agree with me. Don’t sign the back of your credit card. Instead, write “Photo ID Required.”

Other tips:
1. When you check out of a hotel that uses cards for room keys, do not return the “keys”! Take them with you and destroy them. Those key cards contain all of the information you gave the hotel, including address, credit card numbers and expiration dates! Someone with a card reader, or an employee of the hotel, can access all that informatin with no problem whatsoever!

2. When writing a check to pay for your credit card account, write only the last 4 digits on your check, not the complete account number.

3. Never put your social security number on a check. If anything, only the last 4 digits.

4. Make a copy of all documents and cards that are in your wallet; keep the copies in a safe place. Should you lose your wallet, you will know exactly what was lost and who to contact.

5. If credit cards or checks are stolen, do the following:
a. Cancel your cards or checks immediately;
b. File a police report in the jurisdiction where lost/stolen;
c. Call the 3 national credit reporting agencies to place “fraud alerts” on your name and social security number:

Equifax: (800) 525-6285
Experian: (888) 397-3742
TransUnion: (800) 680-7289
SS Admin
(fraud line) (800) 269-0271


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The Pinstripes seem to be getting healthier

In an article entitled, “There’s still gold in them there pinstripes,” USA Today reports on a recent American Lawyer survey.

The average profit per partner at the nation’s 100 largest law firms passed the $1 million mark for the first time last year, with the top 10 firms booking profit per partner of $2 million or more. (more…)


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Microsoft Enterprise

I had the pleasure of meeting one of the “big folks” from MS while at the ABA‘s TechShow in Chicago at a great dinner thrown by techie, RossKodner.

We were talking about some of MS’s new adventures … One of the items of discussion was their search engine efforts …. (more…)


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LawBiz Increases Revenues & Profits for South Carolina Lawyers

April 18, 2006
Venice, CA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Andrea Goldman said, “I walked away from Ed’s seminar (last year) with numerous new … ideas. I was energized and eager to start implementing his suggestions.”

Ed Poll is a leading authority in the field of law practice management and the Principal of LawBiz Management Co., a firm that consults with and coaches lawyers and law firms throughout the United States, Mexico, and England. Poll is a Board Approved (SAC��) Coach to the Legal Profession.

For more information, contact The South Carolina Bar Continuing Legal Education Division in Columbia, SC at www.scbar.org/clecalendar or call (803) 771-0333 or (800) 768-7787; Ed Poll at edpoll@lawbiz.com or call (800) 837-5880; also, please see http://www.lawbiz.com and http://www.lawbizblog.com. He is the author of several best-selling books on the topics of law practice management, including, Selling Your Law Practice (http://lawbiz.com) and the most recently released Business Competency for Lawyers: A LawBiz Management Special Report.

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Even “bad” law firms have goodwill

The case of Baker v Dorfman, 03 Civ 1168, as reported in the New York Law Journal of March 21, 2006, was interesting.

As I read the article, the case confirmed what I’ve been saying for years about the sale of law practices. (more…)


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