OFFICE MANUAL

This manual is designed to guide and allow for constant improvement and refinement. The more posts the better to allow us all to contribute what we learn.
Notice Forms and Checklists in categories for guidance to specific issues and search box to find details.

The manual is a collection of information that serves as a central point for information and points to other specific areas of information such as google docs and Batchbook for specifics.

WHAT WE DO HERE:

• Legal work by Gene Beaty with help from Brian Bouffard (Tarrant county), Bob Wiley (Denton county) and Michelle Andelman (ALR).
• Para Professional. This is the job that Jeremy did in managing client files “case management” although his management more recently was primarily the administrative license suspension part, rather than the criminal. DWI cases have the administrative license  (ALR) suspension as well as criminal parts. The ALR hearings are generally subcontracted to a specialized attorney so there is a liaison function as well as client communication responsibility. The criminal business now has more of the same outsourcing but the client communication and collection task are primarily this office and most cases are still handled by our office. The plan is to use more outsourcing of the services in the future. It involves getting information and money from clients. The challenge of this responsibility is that it is necessary to care sincerely about the welfare and protection of these clients even though the only communication is over the phone and email. The less that attorney is required to manage this job, the more he can focus on the difficult cases and the other parts of the office. The office is almost completely digital [Googledocs, ect] so it is a bit of an adjustment for those of us trained before cloud technology. But bottom line, its the opportunity to really help some people get through a difficult time and attorney to work on difficult cases and business development.
• Sales and communications requires building and constantly improving the content of communications in direct mail and blog websites. Notice the emphasis on content over structure-pretty is secondary to good quality content communications that educate and inform persons about DWI [primarily].  Presentation does not have to be great, just professional and overall attractive [not ugly]. There is some diversity in topics but not much. The difference in the various materials is to customize the information to different geography and target demographics, for instance, the concerns of first time DWI accused [who generally have not gotten many tickets, much less any prior criminal] is very different from repeat offenders who have been through it at least once before. FW thinks it is really different than Dallas and thinks McKinney is in a foreign country. The challenge is living primarily in the clouds, on the computer and the internet and working with outsource providers such as the fellow handling our pay for click on Google and writers/internet experts like link exchange specialists to be hired. Really exciting stuff-not at the front of technology today because it is fairly mature technology, but not widely understood or practiced.