Firms often find themselves with too many non-equity partners whose performance could and should be better. But because of a long string of promotion decisions and/or lax management, the non-equity partner pool is bigger than desired and its overall contribution to the firm is, in a word, disappointing. Indeed, many equity partners see this middle
Law Firm Leadership
Five Steps for Law Firms Wanting a Good 2018
Five Reasons for Law Firms to Think About a Merger in 2018
There is much to do when a law firm closes out its year. Getting bills out, collecting receivables, paying bonuses, and distributing profits are but a few of the things that get the attention of leadership. As long as the firm’s year has moved along normally, finishing up strong often is the main focus of…
What Makes A Great Law Firm
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…
Five Steps to Making Your Law Firm More Dynamic
The legal services market is as competitive as ever-ask any law firm leader. More clients are bringing work in-house or turning to alternative providers. Law firms know that and fight fiercely over what is left. Lawyers thinking about starting their own firm see the robust competition as well. Whether established or just getting started, law…
It’s November – Create A Stronger Law Firm in 2018
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…
Five Exercises for Toning Up a Law Firm’s Large Middle Section
Law firms look around and see that the attorney pyramid structure is crumbling or gone. In its place is an indistinct shape that often includes an oversized group of experienced lawyers not worthy, at least yet, of ownership. Depending on the firm, the contribution of these lawyers can vary. Some firms enjoy great financial…
Two Keys to Effective Law Firm Leadership
If people like you, they’ll listen to you, but if they trust you, they’ll do business with you. – Zig Ziegler
A number of things can cause one to land in a law firm leadership position; such as success in building a legal practice, ability to build consensus and advance initiatives or even political…
Four Key Components to Law Firm Financial Health-Meeting the Universal Objective
Law firms come in all shapes and sizes. Some consciously specialize in distinct areas of the law while others are more reactionary-willing to do anything they feel generally competent to do. Firms can be local in scope, only serving a home town populace from its home town address. Geographically expansive law firms can have a…
Is Your Managing Partner Becoming More Effective?
To become more effective , to improve — in any position in any organization — begins with and is dependent on periodic feedback and performance evaluation. Without the objective assessment that comes with these two elements, attention to areas in need of focus is limited. Improvement is left to the realizations that arise…