Photo of Roger Hayse

Roger Hayse is a founding Director of Hayse LLC. For 30 years he has closely advised law firm management and legal industry service providers. His career is highlighted by consistently providing the counsel and leadership critical to successful law firm transitions. He is a frequent writer and speaker, and authored the 2002 book "Law Firm Strategy".

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle. – Napoleon Hill

As the economy begins to show signs of volatility, it may foreshadow risk for many law firms.   Additional market disruption may lead to challenges for firms of all sizes and in most practice disciplines.

In a Forbes article, Basha Rubin suggested that

I recently finished a review of the 2018 version of the Georgetown University Law Center’s Report on the State of the Legal Market. Although the report contains numerous quantitative facts reflecting continued struggles for the law firm services market (falling productivity, realization and profit margins), I was intrigued by the commentary regarding strategy.

Merger has continued to be a strategic choice for many law firms. Since 2009 the volume of transactions has continued to grow, with approximately 100 announced mergers last year.

Our expectation is that the number of law firms that choose merger as their go forward strategy will increase, dwarfed only by the number of firms

For years, we’ve known two things about personal health: ‘We are what we eat’ and ‘We need to move more.’

Specific admonitions and instructions change, but the theme is consistent. The human body needs a balance of nutrient rich foods with a compliment of vitamins and minerals. And there are the things to avoid

Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline.― Jim Collins


During a re-read of the Jim Collins classic “Good To Great”, I was struck by the profound difference discipline in decision making could have on law firms.

One of the glaring

Most firms are in the final stretch for this year, wrestling with collections, budgets, promotions and compensation decisions. All of these are important activities. But, while focused on wrapping up 2017 let me suggest one more subject that deserves attention — something that stands a chance of making a real long-term difference.

I suggest that