Stop Putting Out Fires

Have happier clients. Get better results. Make more money.

You can have a more efficient and profitable law practice by being a better manager of your clients, cases, and practice. When we are disorganized, we waste time and resources. Stop Putting Out Fires will help you build a more productive practice by focusing on three areas:

• Have happier clients by better understanding their needs and establishing strong relationships.
• Get better results through more effective case management and litigation strategies.
• Make more money -- not by working more hours -- but by setting goals and working more effectively.

Stop Putting Out Fires is an indispensable resource for any lawyer who wants to be more productive, capture more billable time, and learn from the hard-earned lessons of others.

PART I CLIENT MANAGEMENT
1. Survival of the Most Adaptable
2. Failure to Communicate Can Cost You Clients
3. How You Can Make Life Easier for Your Clients
4. Litigation Budgets Should Reflect Reality
5. Three Ways to Make Sure Your Case Evaluations Are Useful
6.My Website Getting Hacked Helped Me Relate to Clients
7. Who Holds the Reins to Your Confidence?
8. Law Firm Marketing Myths: Marketing Is for Extroverts
9. Law Firm Marketing Myths: Marketing Means Telling Clients How Great You Are
10. Law Firm Marketing Myths: “Just Do Great Work”
11. Where Law Firm WebsitesGo Wrong and How to Fix It
PART II CASE MANAGEMENT
12. Explore Solutions by Thinking Like a Child
13. Challenge Conventional Approaches
14. Frame Your Daily Tasks in a More Productive Light
15. Applying the WAIT Principle When Addressing the Jury
16. Voir Dire Is Hard
17. Should Your Opening Statements Be Planned Out or Extemporaneous?
18. A Discussion about Preparing for Opening Statements
19. Set the Tone for Trial with Your Opening Statement 
20. Using Your Opening Statement as a Roadmap for Trial
21. Can Your Opening Statement Be Used against You?
22. Should You Ask Judges If They Are Familiar with Your Case?
23. Choosing Money over Integrity
24. Using Auto-Correct Settings
PART III PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
25. Two Distinctions between Good Lawyers and Bad Lawyers
26. Have Something to Say but Not Sure You're Qualified?
27. What Do Associates Want from Their Firms?
28. Preparing for the Transition from Associate to Partner
29. Improving Your Writing
30. How to Argue with Opposing Counsel 
31. The Importance of Returning Phone Calls 
32. REPLY ALL Should Not BeYour Default Email Response
33. Keeping up with Time Entries and To-Do Lists 
34. Tracking the Value of Your Billable Hours 
35. How to Feel Comfortable in Your Practice but Avoid the Dunning-Kruger Effect
36. Leave the Job You Hate andLand the Job You Want (Part I)
37. Leave the Job You Hate and Land the Job You Want (Part II)
38. Should Lawyers Talk to Recruiters about Job Opportunities?
39. Find a Community to Help You Grow 
40. Being Smart Isn’t as Impressive as You Think 
41. Apologize When You Act Like a Jerk 
42. Everybody's Got a Side Hustle, but Should Lawyers? (Part 1)
43. Everybody's Got a Side Hustle, but Should Lawyers? (Part 2)
44. Pursuing Your Passion Projects 
45. Seek the Mission That Gives Your Life Meaning 
46. The Importance of Setting Goals 
47. Factors that Contribute to Your Success 
48. Bonus Chapter for New Lawyers: Character Traits, Not Skills 
Notes
Also by Jeremy W. Richter
Acknowledgments
About the Author