Welcome to the 360 Legal Group newsletter.

In this Issue

	Resolutions for 2009
	Predicting Staffing Levels
	Final Seminars of 2008
	First Seminars of 2009
	Top Tips for Your Christmas Party
	'Unreal’ Directors Have to Go

In Other News

WINTER SEMINAR PROGRAMME

For news and information about our Winter seminar programme please use this link to go to our website.

Structure, Succession and Exit Planning
12.12.08 AM London
10.03.09 AM Bristol

How to Successfully Manage a Law Firm
12.12.08 PM London
6.03.09 AM E Mids
11.03.09 AM Bristol / Cardiff
12.03.09 AM B'ham

Buying, Selling or Merging a Law Firm
6.04.09 PM E Mids
11.03.09 PM Bristol / Cardiff

Creating the Law Firm of the Future
13.01.09 AM London
14.01.09 AM B'ham
15.01.09 AM Cardiff
20.01.09 AM Manch
22.01.09 AM Leeds

Day to Day Management of a Law Firm
13.01.09 PM London
14.01.09 PM B’ham
15.01.09 PM Cardiff
20.01.09 PM Manch
22.01.09 PM Leeds

For further information or to book a place please click on the title of the relevant seminar, email using this link or call us on 01275 465540.

Resolutions for 2009

What New Year resolutions will you make for 2009?

What services will you be offering and how will you deliver them?

Starting the process of improving your relationship with your customers and creating loyalty will be the most important resolution I would urge you to make. We are in the process of launching “loyalty card schemes” with a number of progressive firms that recognise the only way to avoid losing your customers to the competition is to deliver world class service and maintain true customer loyalty.

We have devised a scheme that will help build staff morale and build your relationship with your customers. This scheme will also reduce your marketing spend!

Interested? If, you wish to kick start 2009 then this scheme is for you! We will only work with one firm per location on this project and we will work on a first come, first served basis.

If you make one resolution for 2009, make it this one!! Click here to contact Claire Merrick or call 01275 465540.

Predicting Staffing Levels

We are now well into the December slowdown for the Christmas holidays, in particular, the continuing depression in the housing sector.

Many firms have predicated their staffing requirements based on the new instructions taken on some three months ago – predicting staffing levels is proving even harder when December and probably January will seehouse sales grind to a virtual standstill.

Even with interest rates now down to 2% we are still failing to see any improvement in the conveyancing market, therefore predicting your staff requirements for March and April will be even tougher.

We do not predict any improvement in this market until well into the 2nd quarter of 2009!

I know it’s a tough call but 2009 will be the survival of the strongest!!

Final Seminars of 2008

Our final two seminars of the year will take place on Friday 12 December at The Thistle Westminster Hotel in London. Chris Frederiksen, Chairman of the 2020 Group, is once again in the country and will be leading both sessions.

Structure Succession and Exit Planning, 9:30am – 1:00pm
Getting your Firm’s structure right is essential. Should you continue in the traditional form of Partnership or is it time to consider becoming an LLP or a Limited company? Please click here to read more or to download a seminar booking form.

Many Firms have Partners who are coming up to retirement – but they have no effective plan to deal with succession, retirement pay-out or client retention. This seminar will deal with all of these critical issues.

How to Successfully Manage a Law Firm,  2:00pm – 5:30pm
This half day seminar is designed specifically to ensure you make more money. Most lawyers don’t make enough......are you one of them? We will give you lots of ideas on how to increase revenue, cut costs and improve profitability. Please click here to read more or to download a seminar booking form.

All of these seminars carry 3 SRA CPD points and cost £99 plus VAT or £79 plus VAT for members of The 360 Legal Group. If you would like further information or to book then please email Louise using this link.

First Seminars of 2009

We kick off the New Year with 2 topical seminars to help your Firm soar to success in 2009.

Creating the Law Firm of the Future
There is still time to change the way that you run your Firm so that not only do you survive, but prosper through the current challenging conditions. There are opportunities out there but you will only be able to seize them with significant effort, determination and robust planning.

This seminar will review how to make your Law Firm more profitable by finding new and innovative ways to deliver legal services.

Day to Day Management of a Law Firm
Are you focusing enough time on the basics and regularly reviewing and improving your Firm’s performance? It is important that any business has sound management processes, procedures and systems in place. This seminar will discuss tried and tested ways of doing this.

Both of these seminars will be held on the following dates in the morning and afternoon respectively:

Tuesday 13 January London
Wednesday 14 January Birmingham
Thursday 15 January Cardiff
Tuesday 20 January Manchester
Thursday 22 January Leeds

Top Tips for Your Christmas Party

This year the whole issue of the staff Christmas party is proving a headache for many Law Firms. Should there still be a party if bonuses are being axed, pay cuts are being enforced or worse still redundancies have had to be made?

Then, if the party does get started, how do you ensure staff are not too busy enjoying themselves to remember their responsibilities as employers and employees and avoid the prospect of New Year tribunals as well as hangovers? Here are some top tips from Sue Tumelty, Managing Director of The HR Dept. 

1. Bah Humbug or a Christmas Celebration?
Even if you have had to make staff redundant you still have employees working for you and we could all do with a bit of festive cheer after the Chancellor has been spending on our credit cards! It does not need to be lavish, but a budget Christmas party can motivate the team and get them on side for next year's challenges. Do not insist that all staff attend the Christmas party. Christmas is a Christian holiday – so respect differences.
Secret Santa gifts are another cost-effective idea but do insist that all gifts are inoffensive. Some gifts are definitely inappropriate and will cause complaints, i.e. sexy knickers and sex toys!

2. Where to have the party
Going to an expensive hotel would be insensitive but a party at the office with everyone contributing would be acceptable. Take some sensible precautions - over 1,000 people are injured by Christmas trees each year so make sure they are secure and won't be knocked over by people dancing. Make it a team effort with everyone bringing something such as an item of food and drink and have a wide range of music to suit all ages.

3. Alcohol
Always provide soft drinks and remind everyone of drink drive limits. Before the event send a note around reminding people that it is a work event.

 4. Age limits
Keep an eye out for the office junior. Bosses cannot allow under-18s to drink. There has been a case where an employer was found responsible for the death of a girl at the office party due to alcohol poisoning.

5. Tables and photocopiers
Photocopying of body parts is definitely out of order! Make it clear that such activities will not be tolerated or that certain parts of the office and the body are out of bounds on the night of the party.

6. Mistletoe and wine
A fatal combination. Harassment claims triple after Christmas. Employers can find that they end up paying for unwanted advances between colleagues, particularly when a tribunal decides the behaviour demonstrated a culture of harassment. Managers should think how their partners would react to the statements made by employees about their advances. It all seemed innocent fun on the night but in the cold light of day….

7. Don't ignore drugs
Under the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971, it is an offence for an employer to knowingly permit or even to ignore the use, production or supply of any controlled drugs, from cannabis to cocaine, taking place on their premises.

8. Manage expectations
The fact that you are holding a Christmas party does not mean that all is well with the world. Ensure everyone knows we are facing challenging times and the whole team needs to pull together to make it work. Sometimes Bosses have, under the influence, promised unrealistic bonuses and ended up with tribunal claims.

9. Getting home
If a member of staff has clearly drunk too much at the party despite your warnings and plans to drive home, you need to take responsibility. Consider ending the party before public transport stops running or provide the phone numbers for local cab companies and encourage staff to use them.

10. The morning after the night before!
If the party is mid-week and people are expected in work the next day make sure they realise it is business as usual. Ensure that all staff know that disciplinary action could be taken if they fail to turn up for work because of over-indulging.

For more information or advice contact The HR Dept on 0870 240 1919 or visit the website using this link.

'Unreal’ Directors Have to Go

Clients who have groups of companies should be reminded that under the 2006 Companies Act they will need to appoint real people as directors to the boards of their companies. A concession allows most companies in breach of this rule on 8 November 2008 (when the relevant section of the Act came into force) until 1 October 2010 to remedy the breach. A fine of up to £5,000 can be levied on the company and any director in breach (plus daily fines where appropriate). Use this link for more information.

The 360 Legal Group
The Clock Tower, Farleigh Court
Old Weston Road, Flax Bourton
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T 01275 465540 F 01275 462076
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W www.360legalgroup.co.uk
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