LOMAS promotes professionalism.

Providing a broad range of practice management information services to members of the Bar, the Law Office Management Assistance Service plays an integral role in promoting professionalism.

LOMAS is a fees supported educational resource housed within the Bar's Programs Division.

"The teaching of practice management skills to lawyers has been haphazard over the years because most law schools do not consider it to be a part of their mandate to educate their students in these matters and no other effective teaching forum exists," said J.R. Phelps, LOMAS director.

The LOMAS department offers the membership an affordable way to obtain answers to questions regarding practice management and basic technology systems. Phelps said this is particularly important for sole practitioners and small firm members who may not be able to afford these services if they are not offered by the Bar.

"The phone rarely stops ringing in the LOMAS department as we log over 10,000 calls each year concerning a wide range of topics," Phelps said. "And with the advent of e-mail, each morning's listing of requests continues to grow."

From an initial staff of one full-time director in 1980, LOMAS now has three full-time practice management advisors and a full-time secretary. With the increase in telephone inquiries to the program, the staff is now spending the largest portion of available time in telephone consultations, Phelps said. Just as the numbers of members of the Bar have increased during this period of time, so has the complexity of issues faced by law firm managers.

"Technology, staffing shortages and labor law issues today are far more of a factor for law firms and correspondingly require more of the attention of LOMAS advisors," Phelps said.

The Florida Bar's LOMAS department was the first of the state bar-sponsored practice management advisory services, and has now been copied by 19 other state bars.

Phelps said the development of the LOMAS program occurred in response to the growing evidence that:

* Professionalism, sound management and effective leadership are inherently intertwined and dependent one upon the other

* Many, and perhaps most, complaints to discipline authorities and malpractice claims against lawyers are caused, in large part, by poor practice management.

* Improving practice management skills can play an important role in reducing the number and dollar value of malpractice claims and improving the public perception of lawyers.

* Solo and small...