Communication — the life blood of law departments but at times a hemorrhage of complaints. Who is told what and when makes a big difference to the effectiveness of a law department. This article describes a handful of the communication complaints that law departments often encounter and offers some ways to address them.
Before starting, note some broader points. Each of these communication challenges looms more significantly as law departments become larger, and even more so as they become geographically dispersed. Aside from structural aspects, how well information flows goes beyond up and down the ladder of authority; communication across levels deserves recognition. For example, paralegals and administrative assistants ought to exchange information, as they chronically feel left out. As will be seen, the tools that enable communication within the department run the gamut. Meetings always serve a good communicative purpose.
