Tag: lawfirmmanagement

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Law Firm Management

Tales of Fundamentally Flawed Founders

Damaged vintage car with men standing around it.
Photo by Pixabay at Pexels

I have decided not to pick on Big Law today for a change. Let’s talk about smaller firms with entrepreneurial founders instead.

Sometimes lawyers call me and tell me about how they feel about their law firms. They don’t call me if they are happy. They call me when they want out. Out of the firm, out of their practice area, out of private practice, out of the practice of law altogether. Out of something.

I have heard a good number of tales of woe. One interesting theme is around the flaws of law firm founders. Serious flaws. The type of flaws that drive good people to head for the exits. I have termed this Founder Deficiency Syndrome. It sort of has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

read more about founder deficiency syndrome “Tales of Fundamentally Flawed Founders”
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The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

Knowing Your Audience

Speaker in front of audience.
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My father used to tell a story about when he was a young man with a young family.  Unlike many people of his age at that time, he had an automobile since his job was travelling the countryside selling stuff. One day he was pulled over for speeding. He tried to talk himself out of a ticket which he could not afford, explaining that he struggled to support his wife and children on his pitifully small salary, the amount of which he disclosed to the officer. The wise old cop let him off the hook but took the opportunity to teach him a lesson. The police officer said: “Always remember who you are speaking to. I earn less than you do.”

read more about the Soft STuff “Knowing Your Audience”
Categories
Legal Ethics

Truth In Advertising Part Two

Two men in suits standing over a woman at a computer.
vlada karpovich at Pexels

I have written before about how lawyers are usually fairly good at dealing with their clients in a truthful manner in the course of providing legal services, but not quite as accomplished when it comes to their marketing. Let’s look at this in the context of the most basic element of law firm marketing – how law firms identify their lawyers to the public.

read more about how law firms mislead clients as to who is a real partner “Truth In Advertising Part Two”
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Law Firm Management

Timeless Wisdom (Or Get Out of the Way Grandpa)

Lady holding finger over her mouth indicating quiet is required.
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I became a partner of a law firm and attended my first partners meeting many years ago. Since my firm was a medium sized firm, partners meetings were important since the participants actually made decisions (as opposed to what happens in large firms where an executive committee makes most decisions.)  Each partner had an equal vote.

read more about whether newcomers to the partnership should hold their tongue “Timeless Wisdom (Or Get Out of the Way Grandpa)”
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Law Firm Management

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

Teddy bear with bandages.
Photo by Pixabay at Pexels

There was once a medium-sized law firm in Ontario which had two bright, young, industrious associates. Both of these associates were being considered for partnership, back in the day when all young lawyers wanted to become partners. One of the two associates, who I will call Richard, was a shoe-in. The other associate, who I will call Cynthia, was not.

read more about why decisions made for short term reasons suck “It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time”
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Law Firm Management

The Best Article Ever Written (by me) About Retiring from Law Firms

Football fans watching a game.
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Let’s say that a partner at a law firm has been there for quite a while and is getting older, a situation in which I once found myself.

And let’s say that the partner is done with working lots and lots of hours and wants out. Perhaps the partner has become tired or has had a health scare or no longer deals with stress as well as he or she or they once did or finally realizes that there is more to life, or whatever.

read more about how law firms should handle retiring partners “The Best Article Ever Written (by me) About Retiring from Law Firms”
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People I Met Practicing Law

People I Met Practicing Law Episode One: Tough Love

An owl perched in a tree looking wise.

They say that the Americans are tougher than we are when it comes to business.  I think that it is probably true. 

I met John in the early 90’s, shortly after he had arrived in Toronto to set up a Canadian branch of his large Buffalo law firm.  John was a very senior lawyer by then and he was the managing partner of the Toronto branch office of his firm, and in charge of the firm’s cross-border practice. 

read more about what i learned about tough management techniques from a senior american lawyer “People I Met Practicing Law Episode One: Tough Love”
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Law Firm Management

We Are All in This Together (Except When We Are Not)

People with musical instruments in a canoes at sunset

In law firms, partners are represented by two separate yet equally significant groups.  The innovative partners who drive the firms forward, and the old guard who advocate for the status quo to protect their incomes. These are their stories.

Lawyers are not generally known for their accounting expertise.

It is not that accounting concepts are too difficult for lawyers to learn.  In fact, a lawyer can be a very quick study when working with accounting concepts which are relevant to their files.

The problem arises when it comes to matters which affect their own income. In these cases, lawyers tend to apply their creative talents and their persuasive skills to cloud the issues in their favour.

read more about the tendency of lawyers to advocate for the status quo when their income is at risk “We Are All in This Together (Except When We Are Not)”