Category: Management

“Could you repeat the question?”

When I first read this headline, I thought the article was about trial tactics. But, alas, it’s not. (more…)

Embezzlement – again – in law firms

Tom Collins wonders out loud about how law firms can experience embezzlement. This is not the first time he has wondered about it. In fact, I commented about his earlier comment in my blog and my web-zine. He raises good questions … and we both wonder why lawyers don’t pay more attention to the processes needed to avoid such catastrophes.

Is your law firm management style a joke — or is this just April Fool’s Day?

Years ago, as a youngster, I saw a clip on television that I remember to this day. It was a short that demonstrated how spaghetti was harvested! Yes, harvested! Full grown spaghetti being taken off the vine. This made no sense to me, but there it was, on television; it must be true.

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Realization rates reexamined

Realization rate now has one more element to its definition. Tom Collins analyzes this management tool-metric for evaluating performance.

Lawyers need coaches, too!

According to Bob Pike, the guru of trainers’ training programs, a new study suggests as many as half of mid-level corporate managers have received coaching in the workplace in recent years.

Even lawyers are now getting coaching. Those who want to take their sucess to the next level engage a coach as an ally, just as athletes do.

Strategic planning is not set in stone

Tom Collins suggests that many consultants discredit the value of strategic planning.  And Larry Bodine bemoans the current "business" environment of law firms.

Law firms have always been seen by those law firms that have grown to the behemoths they are today, and those who would like to emulate those large law firms in the  AmLaw 100, as a business! (more…)

Time change — BEWARE

We prepared for Y2K. Nothing untoward happened. Apparently, no one prepared for the early time change. While I suspected that there was something awry in my Outlook calendar, I wasn’t sure until today when I missed an appointment. This recurring appointment was displayed one hour later than originally scheduled!

The real issue seems to be in the "recurring" events, those events that occur the same time on a daily or weekly basis.

I thought MS patch dealt with these Outlook issues. Apparently, for the three weeks involved, this didn’t happen. Check your "recurring" appointments. Manually set appointments do not seem to be affected. So, now, I’ve manually fixed all my appointments, even the recurring ones  … and may even rely on paper/pencil calendar for awhile. Be sure to check your system on a daily basis.  Again, check it when the three weeks are over and yet again in the Fall.

West LegalEdcenter

West LegalEdcenter features a teleseminar about business planning for the law firm:  The First Essential to Success: Creating a Business Plan.  Be sure to listen … the prgram is interactive … Should the time (Wednesday, 3/14/07, 11 a.m. PT) not be convenient for you, you can download the program at any time for later listening.

IF you’re reading this post, AND  you sign up for the program, feel free to call or email me for an answer to any question you may have arising from the program.

I hope to hear you online.

Warning! The time is a’changin’

Don’t forget, the time is changing this week-end. Not bad enough that most lawyers are already overworked, we’re "losing" an hour of billable (or sleep-able) time. While our bodies make the difficult adjustment (according to psychologists, we become moody and cranky until our bio-rhythms adjust, sometimes taking several weeks), what about our computers?

I’m told by MS that their service packs are not sufficient to make the complete adjustment for all of our programs. Thus, be careful, our computers (calendars, etc.) may have a difficult time as well making the adjustment this week-end.

Law firm management issues to be reviewed

Law Firm Leaders Forum in San Francisco today and tomorrow promises to highlight issues of importance to all lawyers by the leaders of some outstanding law firms. I look forward to hearing more about their comments from Adam Smith.

Tell me about the issues that face you and your firm.