We are very proud of our latest Edge International Review.    For a complete downloadable version (or just the articles you want) click on the cover or go to EdgeInternationalReview.com

If you have any questions , comments or suggestions, please shoot me a note.

(You can also check out our Edge International web site at Edge-International.com)

The report contains:

• 115 pages of detailed factual competitive intelligence
• 126 charts, graphs and illustrations
• 8 States and 10 Metropolitan Areas
• Information on 215 law offices

Cities included:

• Chicago
• Milwaukee
• Detroit
• Indianapolis
• Cincinnati
• Minneapolis
• Columbus
• Buffalo
• Cleveland
• Pittsburgh

I think this is a fantastic deal.  If your firm tried to pull this together on your own, you’d spent months and tens of thousands worth of time doing your due diligence which would include analyzing the firms, clients and economics of the region.  I expected the price would be around $7,500 but it offered at $2,995

I was also impressed by the Guarantee of Satisfaction - if your firm is disappointed (you won't be) you can pull the trigger on the guarantee.

For many leaders, the most important and imponderable question relates to the timing of the recovery — one of the elements of this report is

• “Prognosis for timing and extent of legal market economic recovery”

My enthusiasm for The “2010 Legal Market Analysis Great Lakes Region” is based on these simple premises:

1. The team that created it has many decades of law firm experience
2. The sources of data are impeccable
3. Ed Wesemann (architect of this publication) is a truly gifted analyst and law specialist

The downloadable prospectus including full Table of Contents will give you an idea as to how well organized this work is.

At the very least, this analysis is an important reality check.  Many firms have skewed views of their own markets based on prejudices or outdated data that tends to stick in the minds of firm leaders.

Here is an excerpt from the free  downloadable prospectus showing the nature of the contents of the report:

A detailed competitive analysis for each city providing:

• Comparative reputation within the specific legal market
• Detailed descriptions of competitive situations
• 2010 depth counts of lawyers in the local office and firm-wide

An accurate and up-to-date economic analysis of each metro area including:

• Projections of the growth of key drivers that affect the legal market
• Prognosis for timing and extent of legal market economic recovery
• 2010 Assessment of stability of leading industries and top employers

Assessment of demographic, businesses and market data for each state and metro area including:

• Size of legal markets
• Business friendliness, job growth, cost of doing business and other important indicators
• Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) Analysis for large firm legal practice in each metro area

Download the prospectus and see for yourself.

Note:  I know the people behind this initiative very well but want to make it clear that I have absolutely no financial interest in their venture — I am posting this based on receiving a review copy. I believe this is an extraordinary offering and far more valuable than its price would reflect.




    

   
 

Friday, January 22, 2010  Noon EST

The Shifting World of Associates: Making Sense of New Models

Range of Topics:

Identifying the drivers of the shift in current associate models
Trends in client demands and law firm reactions
Models other firms have adopted or are considering
Risks and issues related to each model
Key indicators a firm should change…or not
Building buy-in within the firm for a new model
Keeping associates motivated and engaged throughout the process

Our Distinguished vPanelists:

Phil Donnelly, Chief People Officer, White & Case, London, UK
Liz Price, Professional Personnel Partner, Alston & Bird, Atlanta, GA
Gerry Riskin, Edge International
Pam Woldow, Principal, Altman-Weil, Newtown Square, PA

vModerator:

Paul Trout, CEO, Shift Worldwide, Chicago, IL
Schedule (all times in EST):

11:45 a.m. – Noon: Log on to vPanel
Noon – 12:05 p.m.: Introduction of vPanelists
12:05 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: vPanel Discussion
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.: Interactive Q&A session

(Fee Required) Registration

You do not need a web cam to participate in the vPanel.

Nearly three decades ago, in the early days of Edge International, there was only one writer in the area of managing a professional firm that commanded our unqualified respect and attention. That was David Maister.

“Managing the Professional Services Firm” is the Bible, according to many leaders of some of the largest professional service firms in the world. “True Professionals” spoke to the firms for whom dignity and quality service were the engines of success. And he wrote so much more in collaborations and articles.

In Edge, we were lucky enough to find ourselves presenting at a few conferences in common with David, in various places around the world and one day ended up having a very private informal retreat. This led to the creation of PracticeCoach®, an extraordinarily comprehensive video-based resource to help law firm leaders around the world. It stars David.  What a joy it was to create with him.

His philosophy was so in harmony with ours.  For example, we loved his guarantee of satisfaction (and were proud that we offered one as well even before we knew he did).

There were some very cool things I learned from David:

• David loves his wife, Kathy, with such passion and always treats her as his trusted advisor and coach. (She's the Guru's Guru.) With Kathy, David taught my wife, Bethany, and me how to travel for weeks internationally without checking luggage. “IMPOSSIBLE!” we said standing on the curb in front of their place one morning with four huge suitcases’s while David and Kathy had their little rollers behind them. “You just need to learn how to pack properly…” they replied, and during our next visit we got the tutorial. (Actually, David and Kathy, if you wrote a book based on that tutorial….) Bethany and I owe David and Kathy the moon for that advice.

• David exemplifies passion. He loves his wife and his music collection which is of a magnitude that makes it the 8th wonder of the world…and he’ll sing till dawn. :-)

• David has energized audience after audience…forcing thought about important issues and even more importantly, sometimes with the help of voting machines, making them actually decide on things.

I am not surprised by the awards and accolades* he has received… just delighted.

The good news is that this is not a eulogy (even if it sounds like one). David and Kathy’s infectious smiles will remain available to us for many many happy years to come.

If there is a sad note in this homage, it is that David's retirement represents a loss to my beloved legal profession and all the other professions he served so well.  However, his books and programs live on. As I write this, I am helping a prominent South American firm to use the study in his book, “Practice What You Preach,” to help them analyze and choose the most fruitful areas of focus for their continued improvement.

Maybe David’s and Kathy's retirements will be like some famous souls who preceded them who were coaxed back into the game for an important gig or two.

By the way, Kathy retired from one of the most incredible video enhanced blogs in history: startcooking.com where you can still experience valuable lessons - check it out !  This is not an amateur undertaking - you will find broadcast-quality production values.

David and Kathy, Bethany and I treasure you and I know if we gathered those of like mind we’d need a mighty big arena.

Retire in good health!! Well earned - BRAVO!

*awards and accolades

Nicole Auerbach is one of the adventurous Big Firm refugees that founded Valorem, a genuine "Alternative Billing Arrangements" firm.  Here's a quote from Nicole's bio:

The billable hour is an antiquated, inefficient and a potentially unethical measure of value provided.

To be named one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Illinois in the 2010 edition of Illinois Super Lawyers, Nicole was evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, including verdicts, settlements, representative clients, honors and awards, and other achievements. 

So the quality of the best alternate fee firm is unassailable and Nicole's objective recognition makes her a safe choice in addition to being a wise choice.

BRAVO Nicole - BRAVO Valorem !

Disclosure:  I proudly sit on Valorem's Advisory Board because I believe in what the firm is trying to achieve.

(The video is 8 minutes - watch at least the first full minute then more if it grabs you)

Law firm leaders

You don't need to embrace social media or love technology or even be a gadget freak to have a peak at how we'll all read magazines and papers soon… I thought a second reason to show you this was to have you think about the publications your firm produces from articles to brochures.

I am not suggesting you blaze the trail but you had better have your design team monitor the progress of this technology and make it available to you as soon as it is affordable.

Gerry

PS  I will be asking our own team to look hard at this for future versions or our Edge International Review which will be published soon.

SOURCE: Digital Magazines: Bonnier Mag+ Prototype excerpt:

This conceptual video is a corporate collaborative research project initiated by Bonnier R&D into the experience of reading magazines on handheld digital devices. It illustrates one possible vision for digital magazines in the near future, presented by our design partners at BERG.

So, law firm leaders, as you think about excellence in 2010, enjoy this message delivered by one of my heroes, Tom Peters (in under 2 minutes).

I hope you'll take hours to reflect on its meaning in your context.

Gerry

PS  If you have partners who won't look at the video , here's a transcript

May this New Year bring you peace, joy and prosperity…

Take a few moments at the beginning of your next (executive, practice group, industry group, client team) meeting and watch this piece from Australia's George and Margaret Beaton (Beaton research and Consulting).  They have been friends for a long time and not only built an amazing high end consultancy but have done it with panache and imagination.  You will see some data that will act as a catalyst for the thinking of your leadership team.

Enjoy:  The Big (Legal) Picture video

Punchline:  The legal Profession absolutely refuses to stay the same so don't let your partners treat it like it will.

Pat Lamb's added this commentary at his awesome Blog,  In Search of Perfect Client Service:   You'll like irrelevance even less

This is a private password protected copy of my Social Media slides for the Social Media Presentation to the LPM (Law Practice Management) Section of the American Bar Association in St. Maarten on Oct 19, 2009.  Those in attendance can obtain the password from Tom Grella.

Many thanks

Download Here

Patrick Lamb is synonymous with Valorem Law Group which is a driving force in changing how legal services are valued and acquired. After learning that Jordan Furlong was joining us, here's (an excerpt from) what he posted:

It's like adding Wayne Gretzky in his prime to the team that already was the best team in the league, or adding an all-star to a team of all-stars.  Great move, my friends.

Read the complete post here: WOW! Jordan Furlong joins Edge International!

If you lead a law firm and do not yet subscribe to Patrick's blog, In Search of Perfect Client Service, then go now and take care of that oversight.

If you want to learn more about Patrick, choose one if his bios:

In his own words

Pat's formal (boring) bio

Now as for Jordan Furlong, Jordan thanks again for joining us,  You are more like Gretzky than even Patrick may know.

I was practicing law in Edmonton during the Oiler dynasty and saw Gretzky informally as well as on the ice.   He was a young man of values and integrity… a great contributor to the community… and always selfless… ego-less… always doing his best… and his best, we all know in hindsight, was truly awesome. 

Having known Jordan Furlong personally and professionaly for many years, I can attest to the attributes that Patrick Lamb affords him and add that he is the kind of dream teammate we so much appreciate at Edge International.  In fact Jordan inhales and exhales integrity - it's the core of his DNA.  (Heck - he even comes from Ontario, Canada and brings endorsements - thanks to Patrick).

Jordan, (blame this on Patrick Lamb), I now pronounce your Edge International nickname to be "Gretz" from this day forward.   Welcome aboard, Gretz !

It is a proud day for all of us at Edge to add such a distinguished partner.  After law school, Jordan articled with one of Canada's leading law firms and then opted for a career in legal journalism culminating with more than 10 years as editor-in-chief of the Canadian Bar Associations distinguished well respected National magazine and executive editor of CCCA Magazine

Now Jordan joins us to offer both strategic and tactical advice to lawyers, law firms and legal organizations, centered around his very clear vision of a legal service marketplace undergoing massive and irreversible change.

Among his other accomplishments, Jordan is an award-winning blogger.  He has been writing since January 2008 at Law21: Dispatches From a Legal Profession on the Brink, where he chronicles the extraordinary changes underway in the legal profession. He is an Honourary Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management and Chair of the College's InnovAction Awards, which recognize and reward creativity and innovation in legal services delivery.

Welcome aboard Jordan !  (See his biography on our Edge International site)

I encourage you to assimilate the compelling evidence that increasing compensation in the hope of enhancing performance actually backfires.  Law firm leaders need to understand when money motivates and when it does not.   In fact, "too much" money demotivates.   Get an introduction to the science that supports this hypothesis in the Ted Talk below.

Once the basic compensation is right, there are better ways to motivate.  If not money, then what?  According to Dan Pink, the presenter in this Ted Talk, the three motivating elements for those who work with complexity, like lawyers, are:

• Autonomy
• Mastery
• Purpose

PUNCHLINE: Investing 18 minutes and 40 seconds may start you on the path to leading your firm to legendary performance, your lawyers staff and clients to legendary satisfaction and, last but not least,  your firm to legendary profits. 

Join me in a "Live Call-In, Online Radio Show"

I had the pleasure of presenting the keynote address at the “Get a Life.™ Conference” hosted by The Total Practice Management Association.

The Total Practice Management Association has now invited its members and interested non-members to join me for a live question and answer session on Blog Talk Radio at based on my keynote address called:  Bulletproofing® Your Clients and Your Joy of Life

Watch video highlights of the presentation here.

I look forward to chatting with you on Blog Talk Radio at 2 PM Chicago time, Wednesday July 24th.  Click here for particulars.

Miss the show?  Click here to listen to recording of full show (available after airing).

My good friend Arnie Herz (Lawyer and Consultant) was kind enough to interview me for his blog:

the legal sanity mentor: gerry riskin

Google is amazing…  Wolfram Alpha transcends it.  Try it out !

WATCH THIS DEMO - 13 minutes that will change your life.

(Thanks to my son Daniel Riskin, PhD for making me aware of this.)

 

Source:  ABA Journal Post referencing BTI PDF from which above image was extracted.

"In a press release, Michael Rynowecer, president of BTI Consulting, calls the findings “a big ray of sunshine in what has been a very stormy environment.” He cautions, however, that some law firms won’t benefit from the increase in spending."

From the Sacramento Business Journal today:

Law firm confidence index drops to record low

Excerpt:

Confidence in the economy among managing partners at large law firms nationwide hit new lows in the first quarter, according to the latest research from the Citi Private Bank Law Firm Group in New York City.

I recommend three priorities to Managing Partners:

1. Bulletproof existing clients (complacency is deadly in light of the predator-like behaviour you can expect from your competitors as their revenues diminish)
2. Concentrate Business Development training and strategic assistance on your best rainmakers (Train the rest later - for now, you need results)
3. Coach all partners on how to deal with fee resistance (Your partners will be divided and conquered unless you give them the tools and confidence to effectively deal with the inevitable fee resistance that accompanies a recession.)

PUNCHLINE: There is so much more to do, but I have seen these three initiatives making an immediate palpable difference. NOW is when you need these benefits most.