This article first appeared as an Edge International Communiqué at the Edge International website www.edge-international.com
Law firms do not change easily.
That is not because lawyers are unintelligent, stubborn, or indifferent to improvement. It is because human beings generally do not like change, and lawyers have especially good reasons to distrust it.
Doing things the
This article on non-billable hours by Carlos Quintana is well worth the read!
Continue Reading “Non-billable hours: Strategic investment or hidden cost?”
When faced with unexpected questions, it’s easy to stumble into rambling responses. Instead, stay calm, listen carefully, and use a three-point structure to keep your answer clear and confident. This approach helps avoid the pitfalls of thinking out loud, allowing you to respond with poise and precision.
Continue Reading The Dreaded Unexpected Question
Now 50 years since my law school graduation, I am filled with pride as my son, Matthew Riskin, steps into a significant new role as a Partner at the esteemed Canadian national law firm, Bennett Jones.
Matthew’s dedication and hard work have led him to this moment, embodying the qualities of a great lawyer. His
To win, your firm needs “peak performance” from all your people, which, in turn, requires that they be motivated and receive constructive coaching.
THE PROBLEM
In my experience, working with hundreds of firms globally, there is a common propensity for people to react negatively to even well-intentioned feedback. The person receiving the feedback often experiences
The passing of Mark Goulston is a very personal and private matter for me… we have been close friends for some time.
Mark was a celebrity, and therefore I share his loss with so many he touched.
I have been asked to share some memories which I am honored to do.
Dr. Mark Goulston is an eminent psychiatrist who for 35 years dedicated his practice to preventing suicide. In all of those years, he did not lose one patient to the outcome he worked so hard to prevent.
In addition, Mark trained hostage negotiators for the FBI and is the author of a number of bestselling
Do some things your clients say leave you speechless? Gerry Riskin has advice on how to respond in a way that helps build stronger lawyer-client relationships.
In situations involving you and your client, the adversarial system is your worst enemy. The only win is
Almost every leader experiences the same dilemma: are they pushing people too hard to get things done or are they too soft and empathetic such that people don’t perform up to par. This is Joseph Folkman’s Harvard Business Review article from May 2022 that I found quite provocative — it suggests that balance is
