Law Firm Management

Features

The two major challenges now facing lawyer management in many of these mid-size firms are: 1) how to motivate the non-entrepreneurial attorneys to achieve and to perform; and 2) how to retain the "over-achiever" attorneys so they will remain with the firm.

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Where law firm leaders' "gut judgement" was once sufficient, running the business well now requires solid intelligence (yes, Big Law is a business). Decisions must balance the demands of clients with those of the partnership. Law firms are awash in data, but harnessing it to support sound decision-making is a major challenge.

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<b><i>Traps for the Unwary or Lifesavers for the Unlucky?</b></i><p>The WARN Act contains several affirmative defenses that provide employers with a complete defense to liability under the statute when a company's exigent condition forces an immediate cessation of operations. This article identifies the key features (including the benefits and drawbacks) of each.

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The ransomware attack on June 27 on DLA Piper sounded an alarm for Big Law. The world's biggest firms are just as prone to ransomware attacks as any other company, and the potential ramifications of a network-crippling malware infection are wide-ranging for a service industry that holds the legal fate of corporations in its palm.

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When a seemingly happy and successful associate announces the decision to move on, his or her firm can be left feeling shocked and confused. This article provides insight behind these moves, and what law firms can do to make their top associates want to stay.

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The role of chief strategy officer (CSO) — increasingly common in corporate America — has been adopted by relatively few law firms. Consultants say perceptions of what the position entails and whether it's necessary vary widely throughout the legal industry.

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While the year-on-year trends look appealing, a longer-term analysis reveals that many key metrics are showing signs of pressure, and firm performance is growing increasingly erratic. The Am Law data reveals that the past year has been good to Big Law but it also shows growing signs of problems on the horizon.

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No longer are law firms the only option for clients with legal work; they now have a wider menu of providers from which to choose. But what are the contours of that Alternative Legal Services (ALS) market? How are these new providers being used by corporate clients and law firms? What's driving that usage? And what does it mean for traditional law firms?