In this economy, many lawyers are facing an unanticipated fork in the road. Layoffs leave some lawyers contemplating an exit from the profession, others considering whether to launch a solo practice, and others still looking to shift practice areas in hopes of finding a new position. I recently watched a video of a presentation for… Continue Reading
Category Archives: The practice
Subscribe to The practice RSS FeedThe Law Firm Business Model
Posted in The practiceLegal management consultant Joel Henning concludes that the law firm business model is broken and that the currently-proposed fixes (such as alternative fees, offshoring, increased use of contract attorneys, etc.) are “insipid and inadequate.” For Henning’s proposal, which centers on a regulatory revolution that would permit outside investors who “would bring to bear a more… Continue Reading
Do you know the RULER for law firm economics?
Posted in For new lawyers, For summer associates, The practiceLaw as business vs. law as profession is a conversation that has largely lost its meaning and relevance, especially in today’s economy. Lawyers must understand some of the basic law firm economics from day 1, if not before. I happened across an article that presents these basics along with a handy acronym, RULER:
A host of great articles in the latest issue of The Complete Lawyer
Posted in Coaching for lawyers, Leaving the practice, The practice, Women and the law, Work/life balanceThe latest issue of The Complete Lawyer features the theme “What’s Your Exit Strategy?” and includes articles that discuss exits including retirement, job changes, leaving the law, setting up a plan to ensure that your clients will be protected if you’re suddenly unavailable, and more. Here are a few highlights: Rob Hockett offers simple advice on… Continue Reading
6 options for anger management
Posted in The practiceLawyers who are or aspire to be leaders must learn to self-manage. Especially when stressed or under pressure (and who isn’t, at least part of the time?) it’s easy to let self-management slide in the face of provocation. Some attorneys I know offer a blanket apology to staff and colleagues — something like, “I’m feeling… Continue Reading
Determining decision-making authority
Posted in For new lawyers, The practiceIn my experience, newer associates often have challenges in determining what they do and don’t have the authority to do. Some may take on too little authority, undermining their usefulness to more senior lawyers who need not be consulted about every decision, and others may too on too much, possibly compromising strategic decisions that should be… Continue Reading
What happens to work/life issues in a recession?
Posted in The practice, Work/life balanceThe economic forecasts seem to agree: we’re in a recession. Unlike past slowdowns, this recession seems poised to affect law firms as much as other businesses — not a pleasant thought for lawyers accustomed to growth and more growth. If you’re among those concerned (and if you aren’t, you probably should be), be sure to visit… Continue Reading
The client perspective
Posted in The practiceA couple of years ago, I was a party to some litigation, and I had the mind-shifting opportunity to be a client. I learned a tremendous amount about what it means to be a client. Because these lessons would have served me very well when I was in practice, I share them with you today. 1. Communication… Continue Reading
Is practicing law fun?
Posted in The practiceI’ve been having some interesting conversations lately with lawyers who demand a career that’s intellectually demanding, satisfying, financially successful, and fun. Fun? Can something as serious as practicing law be fun? These lawyers won’t settle for less. I’ve discovered 5 common attitudes and habits among these lawyers — how many do you share? But first, a… Continue Reading
Letter to a young lawyer
Posted in For new lawyers, Leadership, The practiceSome months ago, Stephanie West Allen requested that fellow bloggers write a “letter to a young lawyer.” Susan Carter Liebel has recently renewed the request and I am delighted to join in, at last. To the new attorney: Welcome to the practice! You’ve learned much over the last three years of law school, and you… Continue Reading
New issue of The Complete Lawyer: Dealing with the jerk at work
Posted in Coaching for lawyers, News, The practice“There have always been, and inevitably will be, a certain number of bullies, braggarts, brutes and bigots who manage to insinuate themselves into any assemblage of humans, the legal profession not excluded. In the past, these misfits have been dealt with by peer pressure and sanctions; however, as the rude, degrading behaviors creep ever… Continue Reading
You do it for your clients… Do you do it for yourself?
Posted in Coaching for lawyers, The practiceDuring my first conversation with a new client, we were talking about the goals she’d like to set. She said she’d like to make partner at her firm, and I asked what she needed to do to reach that goal. She answered that good work and maybe bringing in a few clients would get her… Continue Reading
“Managing up” in law firms
Posted in Leadership, The practiceOne of the interesting things about practicing law is that, until relatively recently, little discussion occurred about how to advance in practice beyond becoming a top-notch practitioner. While I have no doubt that other skills have always been required (the ability to communicate well, to lead well, etc.), it’s quite clear to me that more… Continue Reading
Law and the tightening economy
Posted in Coaching for lawyers, The practiceThis week’s article AmLaw 200 Managing Partners Issue Fog Advisory for 2008 provides a clear snapshot of some of the challenges facing law firms and lawyers these days. According to the article, a “substantial number” of managing partners (25% of those polled) are “uncertain” about their firms’ prospects in 2008, largely due to the slowing transactional market… Continue Reading
What’s the most important step you can take?
Posted in Billing time, Coaching for lawyers, Evaluations and feedback, The practice, Time management/productivity, Work/life balanceOnly 34 days remain in 2007, including weekends and holidays. Before we know it, the books will close and another year will have passed. What’s the most important step you can take today to ensure that you’re well-positioned as you move into 2008? Business development: Perhaps you could set aside a couple of hours to… Continue Reading
Change your mind, change your practice(s).
Posted in Coaching for lawyers, The practiceWe cannot solve problems with the same level of consciousness that created them. — Albert Einstein This is one of my favorite quotes. It is, at least for me, a truism that I must change my perspective, my way of thinking, my approach to a problem before I can possibly solve the problem. Another… Continue Reading
Relationship or one-night stand: How law firms view associates (and clients)
Posted in Client development, The practiceAs those who frequently reads this blog know, I’m a proponent of planned disengagement from work to facilitate full engagement while working. Tomorrow will be a regular working day (complete with client meetings and the regular Tuesday Shorts on the blog) but the rest of the week will find me cleaning, cooking, and spending time… Continue Reading
Law, leadership, and the brain
Posted in Coaching for lawyers, The practiceThanks to Stephanie West Allen’s Idealawg, I’ve been mulling over a couple of interesting articles that connect neuroscience with the law and with leadership. First up is a Wall Street Journal article titled, Except in One Career, Our Brains Seem Built for Optimism. Research suggests not only that the human brain is predisposed to an… Continue Reading
What would your clients say?
Posted in Coaching for lawyers, The practiceI’m out of town this week (as I have been most of the last month) and decided this morning to order room service for breakfast. I ordered scrambled eggs and rye toast. What I got was scrambled eggs (but no salt and pepper) and wheat toast. Mildly annoying, right? I noticed the error, of course,… Continue Reading
Bad clients and bad news
Posted in Quick hits, The practiceThere is such a thing as a bad client… Tom Kane’s Legal Marketing Blog inquires, Are Bad Clients Keeping You Up At Night? If you have bad clients (or wonder whether you do), the answer is surely yes. Tom draws from a post on the Bootstrapper blog to help identify bad client characteristics and to… Continue Reading
Law firm leadership notes
Posted in The practiceBruce MacEwen’s Adam Smith, Esq. offers Four Leaders on the State of the Profession — Make That, the “Industry,” a report from a panel discussion entitled Developing the Next Generation of Law Firm Leaders. The four speakers were leaders (firm chair/managing partner level) from O’Melveny & Myers, K&L/Gates, Dechert, and Paul Weiss. Their comments provide an interesting view… Continue Reading
Office Politics: excluded from the group
Posted in Coaching for lawyers, The practiceOne of the enduring challenges for any professional is navigating office politics. Regardless of the profession, office relationships can be extremely challenging and rewarding — sometimes even at the same time. Challenges can come from a variety of sources: simple misunderstandings, failure to appreciate different skills and approaches, resentment about coworker’s work habits, etc. Office conflict… Continue Reading
Practice skills: resilience (part 2 — the strategies)
Posted in Coaching for lawyers, The practiceAs promised in Wednesday’s post on resilience, today’s topic is how to be resilient in the face of challenges and adverse events. I recently worked with a client who tended to get stuck in things that had gone wrong or felt like slights to her. For instance, after opposing counsel accused her of acting in bad… Continue Reading
Practice skill: resilience (part 1)
Posted in Coaching for lawyers, The practiceI recently ran across a post by Ruthie on Ruthie’s Law inquiring, “Are you tough enough?” Ruthie suggests that: The most successful lawyers are the ones who can accept that occassionally making mistakes is the price of progression, pick themselves up, move on and vow not to make the same mistake again. The most successful of all… Continue Reading