Stealth Discrimination: A model for choosing and managing your leaders
If you find yourself responsible for the leadership of a law firm of a significant size, then you need no convincing to realize that you have far too little time to accomplish even a small portion of your objectives. In many cases, you still carry a client load that most mere mortals would find overwhelming. […]
Secure Email for Law Firms during Cyber Attacks
At the time of writing this, I have just survived a Category 5 hurricane that directly hit the island upon which my wife and I reside. It was life-threatening but we are safe and sound. Nonetheless, there are many things we now know that we should have done to prepare in advance, in order to […]
Important alert regarding India
For decades, I have spoken about India with the senior leaders of major law firms around the world. Because India was closed to the idea of foreign law firms practicing within its borders, the subject was academic to many. This is changing now. My fellow Edge principal, Bithika Anand – founder of Legal League, India’s […]
The Cultural Lenses through which We Examine Law Firms
Cultural differences define and influence every aspect of law firms’ operations, reputations and financial success. Describing a law firm’s culture is difficult, even for people who know the organization intimately. When asked to describe a culture, people typically resort to words like “collegial” or “democratic.” While terms like this may convey a general sense of […]
Drive Law Firm Success by Helping Each Lawyer Succeed
(This article was originally published in the February 2017 edition of TLOMA Today, the newsletter of The Law Office Management Association of Ontario.) In my many years of consultation with law firms around the globe, I have learned that the most successful firms are those that offer the best leadership for their individual lawyers. One of […]
Don’t Manage Expectations. Modify Expectations
The conventional wisdom about “managing expectations” is that you should determine what someone’s expectations are, and then surpass them. Theoretically this is supposed to please them. It’s an interesting approach but I believe it is misguided. Why? Because the client’s expectations are often flawed in the first place. If you contemplate the origin of expectations, […]
In Memory of John Plank
It is with great sadness that I must report that on October 19, 2016, our colleague John Stewart Plank passed away after a valiant fight against illness. John was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and during the 1970s and 1980s he worked as a director of Shakespearean theatre in Stratford and Peterborough, Ontario. In subsequent years, […]
You Will Have It in the Morning
I am often asked to submit a proposal which will describe how my team and I might approach a problem and what our services might cost. The person requesting the proposal often intends to share it with others inside their firm. The question is, when should the proposal arrive on their desk (metaphorically speaking)? In […]
Five Things Lawyers Hate to Hear Clients Say
In situations involving you and your client, the adversarial system is your worst enemy. The only win is a long-term client relationship that is sustainable, and a short-term victory gained by your legal swordsmanship almost guarantees a failure on that score. Although certain things clients say are sure to get your dander up, I respectfully […]
Hunting in Packs: Group Meetings with Prospective Clients
If you have decided it will be advantageous for you to visit prospective clients as a pair or threesome, you need to follow certain steps carefully in order to optimize your effectiveness and minimize mistakes that can cost you a relationship before you even have one. The selection of the team who will visit the prospective client should […]