Lean Adviser Legal

January 05, 2022 | Lean Adviser

The legal industry is one of service, with nothing to sell but our people and how they apply their talent to solve client problems. For understandable reasons, law firms use legacy terms like 'capacity management' 'human capital' and 'human resources.' But if the talent wars have taught us anything, it's that humans aren't resources.

By Lean Adviser Legal

2 minute read

December 17, 2021 | Lean Adviser

The days of giving a young lawyer an assignment without any instructions and letting them sink or swim are gone. That's not exactly efficient, and associates who get thrown in at the deep end are likely to get out and go find a nicer pool, with warmer water and a lifeguard.

By Lean Adviser Legal

4 minute read

December 10, 2021 | Lean Adviser

Many will view the "talent wars" as a negative. But it isn't just a cue to re-visit hiring and promotion, it's also a prompt for reflection. Law firms can use this unique set of circumstances in the job market as an opportunity to examine some processes that can be improved upon — and get lean.

By Lean Adviser Legal

4 minute read

December 03, 2021 | Lean Adviser

Suppose law firms also looked at their attorneys with a different perspective. Suppose they looked at their daily work and their lives outside the firm. The same change in operating methods and mindset will go a long way to helping firms retain associates.

By Lean Adviser Legal

3 minute read

November 19, 2021 | Lean Adviser

Law firm leadership sees an entire community of lawyers across the firm all trying to be relevant, and lawyers try to be relevant in their own firm. Maybe that's what a law firm is. But it's not collaborative, nor is it client facing, and for these reasons it entirely misses the point of relevance.

By Lean Adviser Legal

3 minute read

November 12, 2021 | Lean Adviser

Your firm may ask you and your colleagues to meet billable hours targets and revenue targets. This is common, and you may be forgiven for thinking that it's up to the clients to make this happen. But it's the other way around. Clients don't exist to help law firms make budget; law firms exist to help clients make budget.

By Lean Adviser Legal

3 minute read

November 05, 2021 | Lean Adviser

The client who gets a good outcome, on time and on budget, without any unnecessary drama, has no reason to challenge the bill. Not just no reason, but no basis or incentive.

By Lean Adviser Legal

3 minute read

October 22, 2021 | Lean Adviser

Law firms have tools at the ready that can be used to truly identify what's on the horizon; they just have to understand what clients are looking for. Clients want business advice that is tailored to their business and industry. So use the tools at your disposal.

By Lean Adviser Legal

3 minute read

October 14, 2021 | Lean Adviser

We hear stories from very successful law firms and lawyers about how collaborating with other firms has allowed them to develop very trusted relationships with clients such that the business kept flowing. But collaborating with other suppliers drives business for reasons even beyond the building of trust.

By Lean Adviser Legal

3 minute read

October 08, 2021 | Lean Adviser

Most of us in private practice understand what collaboration is, and how keen clients are for us to engage in it. Most of us also recognize that clients give us opportunities to collaborate in several ways.

By Lean Adviser Legal

3 minute read