As law firms have grown larger and evolved over time, there is now recognition that they are in fact global organisations and need to be managed as such. Competition and the drive to increase profitability has resulted in a requirement for more professional, proactive and strategic leaders within firms, both on the legal side and on what has traditionally been labelled the ‘support departments’ side.
More power and greater expectations are now associated with the chief operating officers’ roles, the chief financial directors’ roles, and the chief information and technology officers’ roles. An ability to look beyond the day-to-day operations and focus instead on helping the firm to achieve its enterprise-wide business objectives is a clear characteristic of those who will be successful in law firm support department management.
