Articles Posted in Uncategorized

DEAR MAM: How do you determine compensation for a sales and marketing staff? Sincerely yours, TJ, Reading, PA

DEAR TJ: I’ve recently discussed appropriate compensation at a number of firms in the Northeast. I assume your question is in regard to sales and marketing staff at a law firm. For starters, I will divide the answer into “sales” and “marketing”.

In regard to the traditional marketing team, a major factor is geography. For example, without disclosing any confidential client information, the same marketing manager position salary in Philadelphia is significantly higher than the same type of firm in Pittsburgh. I know some relatively inexperienced marketing folks with midlevel jobs that pay close to $100k. In the same market, the exact same CMO job at similarly-situated firms can range from $150-400k, depending on the makeup of the firm and its seriousness and approach to the department. I can tell you that when a headhunter calls me about a CMO gig and says the salary is under 250, I hang up the phone. In other markets, that same 250 would be at the top of the scale.

DEAR MAM: Are their legal restrictions as what lawyers can claim in an Internet video commercial? I’ve launched a site at http://www.AttorneyVideos.com but would like to know if there are legal quagmires I should be considering as the producer. Thank you, GR, Tampa, FL

DEAR GR: I hate to start my answer with a lawyer-like response, but just a reminder that this is not legal advice, we are not establishing an attorney-client relationship, and you should consult an attorney. Having now disclaimed myself, I have to say that you ask a very interesting and intriguing question. Not to mention an interesting and intriguing entrepreneurial venture in the world of attorney advertising.

To start, I hate to inform you that the rules (and interpretations) will DEFINITELY vary from state to state. Secondly, those states may interpret these videos as pertaining to its web site rules, television advertising rules, and most certainly the general advertising rules. You will probably inform your customers that they should consult with the relevant state bars. Many will likely make an ethics inquiry with the disciplinary board.

Dear MAM: I recently caught your marketing ethics program in Pittsburgh. And it was excellent. Do you have a list of where your programs take place? Sincerely yours, H.L., Pittsburgh, PA

Dear HL: Obviously, I was going to answer this totally self-serving letter. You are correct. My programs are excellent, and I’m often a delight. In recent years, I’ve cut back on my “shows” (as I call them at home) and usually provide most programs to private audiences (i.e. in-house at law firms). However, I am active and participate in most of the ABA Law Practice Management meetings and programs-which include Annual (recently completed in Atlanta), Mid-Year (in Salt Lake City), and the section’s outstanding Fall (upcoming in Colorado Springs) and Spring (May in Orlando) meetings. I am also a regular on the Pennsylvania Bar Institute circuit (in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh), where I will present an all-new internet marketing ethics program this December. You can also catch the old version of the internet program (and get an ethics CLE credit) online from PBI Online. Thanks for the nice note. Sincerely yours, THE MARKETING ATTORNEY

In case you missed it, today’s edition of the National Law Journal features a front page article on “State bars revamping ad rules” by Leigh Jones. The article includes opinions from Micah, along with examples from his ABA Annual Meeting CLE on advertising ethics, and colleague Tom Spahn, the McGuireWoods and Virginia state ethics guru.