Category: Law Firm Management

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Law Firm Management

Big Law Does It Better

Book shelf with ladder in front of it.
Photo by Pixabay at Pexels.

I am willing to bet that you did not expect that headline from me!  And to be fair, I do not intend it as a general statement. What I am going to talk about is legal research, and it is a fact that Big Law does  that better than the rest of us.  While Big Law (and occasionally Medium Law) employs specialists to do their research, the rest of us  either do it ourselves or give the job to articling students, summer students, or  junior lawyers.

read more about doing research Poorly in Law Firms “Big Law Does It Better”
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Law Firm Management

Let’s Talk About Recruiters

Sign that says "this must be the place"
Photo by Timmossholder at Pexels.

Lawyers struggle to attract talent who are both capable and a good fit for a firm’s culture.

If only there were consultants who firms could retain and candidates could work with, who understand the market, the culture in different firms and practice groups, the current salaries being paid by firms of all sizes, and the expectations of law firms and candidates on a multitude of issues, including work from home, vacation entitlement, bonuses, and billable hour requirements.

read more about recruiters “Let’s Talk About Recruiters”
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Law Firm Management

Changing Law Firms for the Worse (Yet Again)

Woman working at computer.
Photo by Rdne at Pexels.

I was speaking to a recent retiree from a Canadian Big Law firm the other day, and she introduced a new law firm concept to me, being that of the “Practice Assistant.” Apparently at her firm they did away with the concept of Legal Assistants (formerly, a “secretary” for you very old folks) and replaced it with a Practice Assistant, or “PA.”

read more about charging clients even more “Changing Law Firms for the Worse (Yet Again)”
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Law Firm Management

Vacation Frustration

A lake at sunset with trees in the distance.

A junior Associate at a law firm  called me the other day to complain. There is nothing unusual about that. Associates complain a lot, often with good reason.

Her complaint this time was that she told H.R. that she needed to take a day off for a personal reason and was informed that she had only two choices. She could take the day as vacation or unpaid.

read more about dumb vacation policies at law firms “Vacation Frustration”
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Law Firm Management

Is it the Lazy Junior Lawyer’s Fault?

The words "Self Care Isn't Selfish."
Photo by Madison Inouye at Pexels.

Tali Green recently (sarcastically)asked the following question on LinkedIn: “Are lazy and sub-par juniors contributing to the mental health crisis in the legal profession?”

read more about blaming the victims “Is it the Lazy Junior Lawyer’s Fault?”
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Law Firm Management

Aren’t Non-Equity Partners Really Just Glorified Associates?

With a nod to the danger of generalizing, I would have to say that as a group, I like non-equity partners (“NEPs”) just as much, if not better, than I like equity partners. They are often people who are primarily interested in practicing law and doing well by their clients, as opposed to promoting themselves and reaching the top of the earnings heap.

On the other hand, I don’t think much of the whole concept of non-equity partnership.

read more about how law firms pull the wool over their clients’ eyes “Aren’t Non-Equity Partners Really Just Glorified Associates?”
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Law Firm Management

Another Law Firm Just Went Down

A large ship listing badly.
Photo by Irfan Rahat at Pexels.

“Write what you know.” 

Mark Twain

I know absolutely nothing about the collapse of Minden Gross LLP beyond what I have read in the Globe & Mail. However, I did hang around the legal profession for a long time, and I figure that qualifies me to comment.

read more about why law firms get into trouble “Another Law Firm Just Went Down”
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Law Firm Management

Reading Between The Lines

Man in front of computer screen which says that his services are no longer required.
Photo by Ron Lach at Pexels.

At my law firm, we had great human resources management. It was so good that information was hard to come by. In fact, it was just about impossible to get any really good gossip out of management until it had made its way down to the partners, after which it became more readily available.

Since we had some really smart people at our firm (as well as a few who were not so smart), it should not be surprising that we had to compensate for the lack of information flow by learning to read between the lines.

read more about human resources in lawfirms “Reading Between The Lines”
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Law Firm Management

Grilled Cheese, Please

Grilled cheese sandwich on a board with avocado and fries in the background.
Photo by Ahmed Rabea at Pexels.

There is a restaurant in Lakefield, Ontario called the Canoe & Paddle. On their regular menu is a panini called the “Ultimate Grilled Cheese” which comes with smoked bacon, cheddar, asiago, tomato, and garlic butter.

On their Kids & Seniors menu they offer a grilled cheese sandwich for which the ingredients are listed as “white loaf, cheddar.” They call this the “Grilled Cheese Please.”

read more about clear communication in law firms “Grilled Cheese, Please”
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Law Firm Management

Loose Lips and Sinking Ships

A foundering ship at sunset.
Photo by Alex Fawzy at Pexels.

Law firm partnerships like to project the image of a cohesive unit.  One strategy that they employ is to insist that although Partners may disagree with each other in a Partners’ meeting, once they leave the room, they all must support the group’s decision.

Another is to require that Partners act as though they like each other, especially when they don’t.

read more about law firm partnerships “Loose Lips and Sinking Ships”