As this blog and many other law-related publications have reported, a 2016 study sponsored by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and the American Bar Association found that more than 20% of lawyers are problem drinkers – a rate that is higher than that of any other profession. The study also showed that those in private
Slicing and Dicing the Demographics of Law-Firm Surveys
As my clients and those who have listened to my presentations are well aware, I am an avid proponent of the use of demographics as an analytic tool by law firms.
I had the opportunity to expand on this stratagem in the most recent issue of Edge International Communique (EIC), in an article I entitled
Five Essential Articles: Depression and Substance Abuse among Lawyers
Rocket Matter has published a series of five excellent articles on depression and substance abuse among lawyers. They represent a valuable reminder that – given the competitive nature of our work, its heavy workloads, long hours, and limitless opportunities for stress – even some of the most successful lawyers in the world are prone to
Time-limited discount: Tackling Partner Underperformance, Second Edition, by Nick Jarrett-Kerr
A special note to readers:
My esteemed Edge International colleague Nick Jarrett-Kerr has arranged a substantial discount (effective only until March 28, 2018) for readers of Edge International Communique (EIC) who wish to purchase the second edition of his bestselling book, Tackling Partner Underperformance (Ark Group, 2018). So if you’ve been meaning to
Twelve Laws (Plus One!) for Law Firm Success
There are twelve laws in all (plus a bonus law, which is essentially a call to action). I was inspired to create them when I realized the struggle many
Change Can Be Easier than We Think
In my years as a managing partner, I believed that the most difficult challenge of a leader in a law firm was to inculcate change. This Harvard Business Review article – which indicates that such indices as ease of implementation and the careful deployment of friction are essential to successful change initiatives – would suggest
Nurture Effective Leadership Where You Need It the Most
I developed the “Stealth Discrimination Model” several years ago to assist managing partners and others responsible for leadership in law firms who (like most of us) simply
Lawyers or Business Experts: Who Should Be in Charge?
It is not a new debate, but the question is perhaps more relevant than it has ever been before: Should lawyers or business wizards manage law firms?
A recent article by Casey Sullivan in Bloomberg Big Law Business profiles chief operating officers at major US law firms that have chosen to put business and finance
Law Firm Senior Management Underrepresented at CLOC Conference
At its second annual conference in Las Vegas in May 2017, the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) offered professional development sessions on a range of topics to more than 1000 attendees – twice the turnout of its first conference, which was held a year ago.
Linklaters to Measure Teams Rather than Individuals: Exciting Model for Our Time
In a post at Legal Business, Matthew Field reports that Linklaters is about to “phase out individual partner metrics and annual assessments to focus on broader measures of team and firm performance.” The new performance-assessment strategy will focus on such areas as “client winning, business development, training and innovation,” Field says.
Based in London,