We recently launched our new member benefit, Practice HQ. Organized by the lifecycle of a law practice, this one-stop microsite houses together high-quality practice information in one place.

As a lawyer at a small firm — or perhaps someone who recently opened your own practice — there is a lot to think about when it comes to growing your practice. Clients are what keep us in business, and in today's competitive legal market, it is important to have the tools to market your practice to find new business and cultivate long-term, meaningful relationships with clients, while also providing the valuable services that retain them. For members who are focused on finding leads and converting them into clients, Practice HQ offers many resources to help you build a practice. 

To generate new leads, marketing your practice is a must. In today's technologically-driven world, a healthy online presence is a necessity to effectively demonstrate your expertise, sell your services, and remain competitive. After all, first impressions matter and studies show it takes less than 30 seconds for a casual browser of your website to turn into a purposeful visitor. The whitepapers, free online CLE, and articles housed on Practice HQ are designed to help you create your online marketing strategy from the ground up. It covers everything from the basics, such as how to make sure your website has a clean and professional look and feel, to more advanced topics, such as how to determine what type of content is right for your area of specialization or how to ensure that your website is accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Once you have generated many new leads, however, it is critical to understand how to effectively turn these prospective clients into paying clients — and how to satisfy them to ensure they come back. The wealth of information on Practice HQ can guide you through this process.

The Ethics section of the Build A Practice page will help attorneys at all stages of their careers stay in compliance with professional conduct rules as they grow their practices. The most relevant Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct can be found at-a-glance to help you quickly understand topics such as the duty owed to prospective clients, the rules governing communication about a lawyer's services, and more. In addition, for all attorneys hoping to build their book of business, it is important to be up-to-date on the ethics requirements regarding lawyer advertising and commercial speech, particularly as they relate to newer technology and marketing practices, such as social media and blogging. 

To benefit from these and other resources, log in to the ISBA website and visit Practice HQ today.