Category: Management

Seeking a job? Act like a client!

If you’re looking for a job, act like a client. See more. Yes, this may sound counter-intuitive, but read on! It works.

Law firms operate under a broken business model!

Each fall the new associate classes arrive at the nation’s large law firms. They come in humming the refrain from the John Fogarty song Centerfield: "Put me in coach, I’m ready to play – today." Their enthusiasm is built on summer associate classes filled with softball games, crab and shrimp buffets and amusement park outings. How hard can it all be? Then, of course, reality sets in.

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Who owns the copyright?

In an article I wrote for Lawyers Weekly Massachusetts, I asked the question, "Who owns the copyright to form files when a lawyer leaves the firm?"

There is more to this issue. In his blog, Ken Adams answers this question in great detail. (more…)

The cost of losing a lawyer

Managing partners of large law firms have told me that the firm incurs a loss of $200,000 to $400,000 for each lawyer that leaves the firm. This figure includes the cost of recruiting and training, among other costs.

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RO transforms Best Buy

I was listening to an interview of a Best Buy management person talking about their RO program. This Results Oriented program, started by Best Buy in 2002, has transformed the company’s performance.

The program is still in the experimental stage. But preliminary results are astonishing.

What is the program? Tell management teams that they no longer have to worry about hours; they will not be paid based on the hours they work. They can take off during the middle of the day to see their kid’s soccer game, go to a doctor, or contemplate their navel.

They will be paid based on performance! Is the job getting done? Have they fulfilled their commitment to the company and to the other members of their work community? These are the factors that are important to the company.

The person interviewed said that the performance has improved significantly as measured by any and every standard possible. People no longer look at the clock. They focus on the job, the quality of the job and the satisfaction of their "customers," the people for whom the work is being done.

When I heard this interview, I thought of "value billing" and client satisfaction.  We see more and more examples in industry how to improve the relationship between the company and the work environment, between the employee and the customer. Sooner or later, law firms will have to change their business model to reflect this advanced thinking in industry.

Chew ’em up and spit ’em out! The Flaw

Ashby Jones writes in the July 10th edition of the Wall Street Journal an article entitled, “Survey Says: How Three Law Firms Aim to Boost Associate Satisfaction.”

His article on law firms’ associates’ satisfaction was interesting. However, until the business model of the large law firms changes, there will be no change in the satisfaction of associates with their law firms. It really is irrelevant whether one large firm scores a little better than another. Very few associates from any of the large law firms is satisfied. (more…)

How can we know what is next?

See today’s commentary by Adam Smith.  He suggests that the entire firm, if the culture is trusting, has a collective antenna about how the practice of law, and particularly their practice, will change in the future. Then, the trick will be how the firm can prepare itself for that future. His major point, I think, is that too many firms practice in the moment and fail to prepare themselves for their future.

MCLE whining — Too many hours of CLE are required!

Some lawyers complain about being compelled to take continuing education programs. Lawyers generally are required to take 12 hours of continuing education per year. California now requires its lawyers take only 8 hours per year. Certified public accountants in California are required to take 12 hours. And doctors are required to take 25 hours per year!  Good thing we’re not doctors! <g>

But, wait, did you realize that plumbers are required to take education programs to retain their contractors license? Why should lawyers complain about education requirements? As I note below, the good lawyers don’t complain. They take the programs; they teach the programs. In a misguided perception of listening to its constituency, the Bar believes that including management programs in the MCLE curriculum is onerous and unprofessional!

In an OpEd piece I wrote in the current edition of Los Angeles Lawyer, I suggest that law practice management education can be used to help us learn how to run our practice more effectively and to address the issues that are of real concern to clients … and thereby reduce complaints filed be clients before our Disciplianry Boards across the country. (more…)

Can you commingle for a day and be safe?

Jonathan Stein suggested that he escaped an ethical problem because he had a few extra dollars in his clients’ trust account. Those few ($100) dollars assured him that his bank wouldn’t invade clients’ funds if they charged an expense item against the account. Jonathan does say to check your State’s rules of professional conduct if you want to consider doing this.

His suggestion brings to mind several experiences I have encountered with coaching clients of mine.

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Don’t lower your fee — Fee is not the issue!

Carolyn Elefant, in MyShingle, suggests that a new lawyer should compete on price. Perhaps to be more fair, she asks “why not?” (more…)