New Assignment? Don't Dive in Yet

Why diligent planning is a crucial element of successful lawyering.

The Four Stages of Strategic Management (SM) are Plan, Execute, Monitor, and Improve. It seemed to me that if the legal process was analogous to a strategically managed project, then these four stages ought to be able to provide the basic structure. So, I set out four ‘buckets’ and called them Plan, Execute, Monitor, and Improve. I then placed each of my 15 components into what seemed to be the right one.

Surprisingly, a large number seemed to belong in the ‘Plan’ bucket. They certainly didn’t make sense anywhere else. That was unexpected because what I had been taught and observed was that when you get a new assignment you dive right in. I am a trial lawyer, and if the client said “sue those people” then that’s what I would do. If nothing else, this exercise of segregating components into stages highlighted the importance of planning a properly thought out legal project. Then came another surprise. Once each component was in a bucket, the sequencing of the contents of each bucket was quite easy.

This premium content is locked for
Lean Adviser Legal subscribers only.

  • Subscribe now to receive:

  • 100+ Think Lean Daily Messages
  • 100+ Lean Lessons
  • 27 Lean Routine Checklists
  • 15 Lean Adviser Videos
  • Conference Calls for Q&A with Lean Adviser Editors including
    what’s coming next from Lean Adviser
  • Quarterly Training Sessions

Already have an account?
Interested in customizing your subscription with Law.com access?
Contact our Sales Professionals at 1-855-808-4530 or send an email
to [email protected] to learn more.

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Lean Adviser Legal

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

LEARN MORE

Recommended Stories

More from ALM

 

ALM Legal Publication Newsletters

Sign Up Today and Never Miss Another Story.

As part of your digital membership, you can sign up for an unlimited number of a wide range of complimentary newsletters. Visit your My Account page to make your selections. Get the timely legal news and critical analysis you cannot afford to miss. Tailored just for you. In your inbox. Every day.

Privacy Policy

About Us / Contact Us / Site Map / Advertise With Us/ Customer Service / Terms of Service/ FAQ / Privacy Policy

Publications

Law Topics

Rankings

More

Law.com

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.