This wiki is a collaboration of time-saving tips and crucial business advice for solo attorneys and anyone who's in the business of running a small law firm. As this portal grows over time, it's contents will include tips on cash...
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This wiki is a collaboration of time-saving tips and crucial business advice for solo attorneys and anyone who's in the business of running a small law firm. As this portal grows over time, it's contents will include tips on cash management, law firm marketing, client billing procedures, staff management and business strategy in the context of a law practice. Feel free to add your advice - based on experience - to this public resource.
Wow. And here I just filed a post about nothing happening during these 'dog days' of summer in the blawgosphere, and I tumbled upon a great post by new blogger David Bilinsky of Thoughtful Legal Management . David reviews a National Geographic article about bees, swarm theory, and the implications for business (and other human) management. Fascinating stuff. David also mentioned a recent Cornell University study that speaks to the issue. Birds and Bees I'm not sure I can do justice to the... Read Full Story
You gotta' love the "Ferengi". You don't remember them? One of the more memorable "alien" species on the now-defunct "Star-Trek Voyager" series (maybe they were on DS9, too, but I never liked that one). Anyway, the Ferengi. They were the greatest capitalists in the galaxy (at least in our quadrant). Not only were they skilled capitalists, but they had created an entire all-consuming philosophy centered around maximizing wealth. They were shameless. (God! I love those guys!) Anyway, the... Read Full Story
I am sick and tired of hearing partners and associates alike bemoaning the difficulties, unfairness and over-all messiness of law firm "politics". Many otherwise highly intelligent, well-read and forthright professionals start sounding like 7-year-old boys (I ought to know, I have two of the creatures at home) when they start gabbing about machinations in their respective offices--and usually it all starts sounding like an elaborate and just plain wishy-washy excuse for mediocrity. "But... Read Full Story
Bourne Ultimatum—An Old Paradigm Comes Out of the Closet I just caught “Bourne Ultimatum” last night (opening night in San Francisco)—the third installment of the amazing film franchise staring Matt Damon. Don’t worry: no spoilers within. I have to say, the action is riveting, the tension unrelenting, the premise compelling. Most action films engage only your adrenal gland—adrenaline is pumped into your system while the ridiculous plot turns and transparent appeal to emotion coax your brain... Read Full Story
A short note on partner metrics. I always enjoy reading MacEwen's thoughts on law and economics, but I have to say I have a bone to pick with him on his post back in May about partner metrics . He opines there, quite rightly, that firms are looking for alot more than just the "size of the book". They also want someone who is going to add something to their practice in terms of substantive practice that expands their reach. It is not enough to just bring immediate profits (as bringing over a... Read Full Story
We in San Francisco have a tendency to turn every three-day holiday into a four-day extravaganza--even our run-of-the-mill weekends are usually about 2.6 days all told. However this week, we aren't the only ones, I'll wager, feeling the "dog days of summer." I diligently checked all my "RSS" feeds today, and there wasn't a single new post among the glitterati of blawg writers--there is definitely something in--or absent from--the air today. The "ancient" Romans called these days--the hottest... Read Full Story
I "grew up" as a litigator. I always thought that was what you were supposed to do if you liked speaking in public and had a nasty little aggressive streak. Indeed, once I got into law-firm life, I noticed that nearly all the successful litigators had very overt hyper-aggressive tendencies. Even the more "mellow" litigation partners were eventually found out to be ruthless--once you scratched the surface. One fallacy that I have discovered now that I am a headhunter is that transactional... Read Full Story
I mentioned in an earlier blog the huge opportunities and challenges facing law firms with the impending baby boomer exodus from the leadership ranks. I thought I would expand on that theme here. That's right, you heard me--the long-standing complaint among senior associates and junior partners that they have no role in leading firms is going to radically change in the next few years. Take a look at the bios of the leaders in firms--that grey should be telling you something. That, coupled... Read Full Story
My wife just sent me a great article about incorporating Zen practice into the practice of law. Click here to take a look. I really resonated with the piece. Although I always advocate a hard-boiled, non-nonsense, pro-capitalist approach to the practice, life and everything else, I do believe that incorporating some sort of meditative (read: introspective) practice into one's life can add real value--and even save your life! What with the high incidence of suicide, substance-abuse and burn... Read Full Story
Just read an interesting post at the WSJ law blog (congrats, Rupert, on the new 'property'?). I found a review there of a new (as yet unreleased?) survey by the American Lawyer on associate happiness. As usual, it is abysmal. Congrats to Dickstein in NY for coming out on top. Of course, even the vaulted ratings they received doesn't mean they don't lose associates. Most interestingly, a little tidbit about law firm economics. It turns out that some firms will spend a whopping $250K to... Read Full Story
