Law Firm Management

Management: Instant rapport

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | November 5, 2008

What is it that separates the excellent advocate from the average one, where both were called to the Bar at the same time and have similar academic track records? My background of working as a communications consultant to the legal profession, coupled with my interest in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), led me to explore some of the answers to these questions.

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Lucid language

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | October 29, 2008

Plain language need not mean dumbing down. Clear, well-drafted advice makes things easier for clients, raising the chance that they will call on you more frequently.The moment you become overly reliant on a thesaurus or get carried away with archaic terms is the moment you risk losing your reader. This is not to say you cannot use technical language or clarify your points, it just means thinking of your reader at all times and making sure you communicate difficult or complex topics clearly. It is all about readability, not just the vocabulary you use. That means organising the structure so that it is logical and straightforward.

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The online brief

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | October 22, 2008

During the past 12 months there have been numerous articles in the legal press concerning the growing discontent over the levels of private practice lawyers' fees. However, driven by the greed that has gripped the City over the last 10 years, the majority of City law firms have failed to take any notice. While most in-house lawyers would agree that high quality specialist legal advice doesn't come cheap, many City law firms are charging clients top whack rates (of anything between £275 to £550) for general commercial or transactional overflow work.

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What's in a name?

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | October 22, 2008

There is a rise in alternatives to partnership in the UK legal market. Colette Llewellyn takes a closer look at what it means to be 'of counsel' In recent years, as part of a strategy to attract and retain the best lawyers, law firms have been developing more formalised career structures. These new structures offer clearer staging posts as lawyers progress through their careers either to partner, or in many law firms, to new roles which offer a genuine alternative to partnership. As part of this, the role of 'of counsel' has become increasingly common in the UK legal market.

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The power of networking

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | October 22, 2008

As the business world becomes increasingly reliant on technology for communication, the legal profession is also noticing a shift. This has been seen not only in document transfer and communication, such as email or efiling, but also with knowledge sharing and networking.The 2008 Networks for Counsel Survey, commissioned by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, has revealed that almost 50% of lawyers are members of online social networks, and more than 40% believe professional networking has the potential to change the business and practice of law over the next five years.

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Route to the top

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | October 15, 2008

For many lawyers, reaching partnership is the realisation of an ambition harboured since law school, if not even earlier. It cements years of hard work and underlines a dedication to the firm. Partnership also brings kudos and attractive financial rewards.Yet before opening the champagne, there is the small matter of the selection process to get through - one which many lawyers, despite their sharp technical skills, often fail to get right.

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New spaces

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | October 8, 2008

In stark contrast to the trading floors of banks or the quirky workspaces of the creative industries, the offices of law firms are often perceived to be fusty and outmoded places.However, the need to present a modern image which distinguishes a firm from its competitors - both in the eyes of clients and potential new recruits - has never been stronger.People associate modern offices with openness and equality, where communication flows easily and the hierarchy within the space is broken down. But lawyers need quiet spaces where confidential conversations and work that demands high levels of concentration can take place. Designers need to be wary of undermining those aspects of law firm offices that have made them effective workplaces for hundreds of years. This was the challenge facing Swanke Hayden Connell Architects (SHCA), which was chosen to design interior spaces for Kennedys - at 25 Fenchurch Avenue, a Sir Norman Foster-designed office building in the City - and Bristows, which has taken space in the revamped Unilever Building, now known as 100 Victoria Embankment, next to Blackfriars Station."Designing offices for law firms is about creating an atmosphere that is studious and collegiate, while also ensuring that you are building active spaces that do not feel dead and lifeless," says Angela Sasso, a senior associate at SHCA.

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You're fired

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | October 1, 2008

When dealing with underperforming partners, emotions can run high. The remaining partners may resent carrying dead weight, the outgoing partner may feel betrayed. However, in a difficult market, weeding out underperforming partners could be vital for survival. How painful and disruptive the process is depends upon the skill of the lawyers advising the partnership and the ability of those in charge to manage the outgoing partner's exit with dignity.Before going down the route of expulsion, it is worth considering other options, such as reduced profit share or de-equitisation. If expelling an equity partner, the remaining partners will have to work out if they can afford to repay the outgoing partner's equity share.

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Profit prophecies

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | September 24, 2008

Gaining business intelligence (BI) can be likened to lifting the lid off your business and seeing its internal mechanics. It is not a new idea - BI has its roots in decision support systems (DSS), which began in the mid-1990s. However, the legal sector has been relatively slow to absorb such techniques.Business intelligence is an umbrella term used to describe a set of concepts and methods designed to improve business decision-making. It uses fact-based support systems that provide law firms with a higher quality of information than they can get from their standard financial systems. Gaining business intelligence enables a law firm to access, interact with and analyse data to manage their operations, improve performance and generally function more efficiently.

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How insurers and clients can make sure they click

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | September 17, 2008

Time-consuming quibbles over insurance contracts may soon be obsolete as more people turn to online digital database facilities. Andy Bellinger explains Historically, the insurance industry has provided protection for business customers without finalising the precise contract details until a much later date after a formal agreement has been struck. Unsurprisingly, this practice led to disputes over what precisely had been agreed.

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Law.com

Why Does the Gender Wage Gap Persist in Law?

By Mark A. Cohen | April 3, 2018

The reports of the old boy network's death are greatly exaggerated.

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The American Lawyer

Cyber Attack Doesn't Stop DLA Piper From Big Gains in Revenue, Profit

By Anna Ward | April 3, 2018

DLA Piper grew revenue and profits in 2017 as the firms international arms performed strongly and it rebuilt from the cyber attack that downed its systems last summer.

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International Edition

Legacy BLP partners to hold six positions on 15-strong Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner board

By Joseph Evans | April 3, 2018

Transatlantic firm pulls together first combined board and management committee

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The American Lawyer

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner Brings Together 2 Leaders, 2 Firms

By Roy Strom | April 3, 2018

Bryan Cave and Berwin Leighton Paisner's transatlantic merger was notable for achieving financial integration. Its formation was aided greatly by the two women who led their respective firms and will now co-lead the combined entity.

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The American Lawyer

Law Firms Are Getting Caught Up in the Gun-Control Debate

By Miriam Rozen | April 2, 2018

Whether they represent gun companies or plaintiffs suing those companies, law firms are increasingly finding themselves caught in the crosshairs.

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New Jersey Law Journal

The Intersection of Law 2.0 and the Lawyer as Trusted Adviser

By Laurence M. Smith | April 2, 2018

Blind reliance upon cost-savings solutions conceived by technologists, who may have never practiced law, is fraught with danger.

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National Law Journal

Howard Protests; Conway's Missing Tweets; More Trump Churn

By Ryan Lovelace | March 30, 2018

Washington Wrap is a weekly look at the biggest legal industry news and Big Law moves shaping the legal business in Washington, D.C.

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The American Lawyer

How Boston Became a Beacon on the Hill to Big Law

By Meghan Tribe | March 30, 2018

As Boston undergoes a renaissance, law firms are being drawn to its shores, ready to capitalize on a booming market.

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Pro Mid Market

Midsize Firms Better Positioned Than Big Law to Attract, Develop Diverse Lawyers

By Zack Needles | March 30, 2018

The opportunities to quickly get into the fold when it comes to hands-on legal work is one of the many factors giving midsize firms an edge in retaining diverse talent.

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Pro Mid Market

Packing a 'Big Punch' Key for Midsize Firms, Becker & Poliakoff's Rosen Says

By David Gialanella | March 30, 2018

Managing shareholder Gary Rosen talks about how the firm has "benefited from the post-recession trend and seen a growing number of large clients coming to us who can no longer justify paying Big Law rates."

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