Leadership for Lawyers

Alternative Fees = Alternative Delivery

The Denver Business Journal quoted me in an article on ACC's Value Challenge and alternative fees,Law field seeks alternatives to billable-hours system.  I'm glad that the reporter got the idea that alternative fees mean changing how firms deliver service:

“The question is which firms are more agile and flexible to come up with fee systems that best meet the needs of their clients,” Beese said. “It’s not easy; it’s a huge cultural change. And there are questions on how it affects compensation and profitability. If it’s done well, it’s not just a change in how you bill for the service; it’s also how you provide the service.”

A Client's Poem

April is National Poetry Month, so I thought I'd share one of my favorite client service poems by Felice Wagner, former consultant, now CMO of Sutherland.

A Client's Poem

If only you'd ask, I'd be happy to say
I wish you would do things more often my way.

If only you'd ask, I'd be happy to say
I don't like that new partner that calls everyday.

If only you'd ask, I'd be happy to say
I'd like you to bill me in an alternative way.

If only you'd ask, I'd be happy to say
We have four new matters that came in just today.

If only you'd ask, I'd be happy to say
Being responsive to me means you call back the same day.

If only you'd ask, I'd be happy to say
There are three other law firms we're considering today.

If only you'd ask, I'd be happy to say
I expect your budget to reflect what I'll pay.

If only you'd ask, I'd be happy to say
When you go over budget, I see my career slip away.

If only you'd ask, I'd be happy to say
I wish you would do things more often my way.

by Felice C. Wagner
October 2003

HR.Com: Growing Law Firm Leaders

Here's an interesting article based on a recent survey of law firms' approach to leadership development.  Some high (low) lights:

• There is no consistent process among law firms on how emerging leaders are identified. Executive Committees, Practice Group Leaders and Managing Partners may all have a role in identifying potential talent. In nearly a quarter of firms, no individual or group formally takes on that responsibility.  While in comparison to other industries, the CPP study reported that 53% of companies surveyed globally (and 60% in North America) have a formal leadership development process in place.

• By far, the preferred choice for developing leaders in law firms include “on-the-job leadership experience” and the use of “internal mentors.” Though these methods have become the norm in many firms, they remain, now more than ever, incomplete. In relying on basic, default methods, firms continue to miss the bigger picture in developing more evolved leaders.

• There can be costly mistakes or missed opportunities from learning-on-the-job. If those emerging leaders are not given ongoing, concrete support, they may miss vital opportunities to reflect on their learning, enhance their skills and gain new insights – all of which help to accelerate an individual’s readiness in assuming a key leadership role.

• With outside guidance from a trained executive coach, this support is reinforced with fresh perspective. Executive coaching is still a rather new phenomenon in law firms; yet, in the CPP global HR survey, over 40% indicated their companies have a formal executive coaching program in place, trumping most law firms who fall behind in this proven approach to developing leadership talent.

Alltop Leadership

I want to thank Guy Kawasaki and Neenz Faleafine for including Leadership for Lawyers on their "Alltop Leadership" page.  Alltop is a aggregation of top news and blog sites, fed by RSS feeds.  Guy, Neenz and have created pages focusing on topics from Africa to Zoology.  Alltop Leadership has feeds from some of the best web sites on leadership.  If you are interested in leadership topics, I'd encourage you to visit http://leadership.alltop.com/ daily. Thanks Guy and Neenz!

COLPM Futures Conference

For the first time (that I know of) the College of Law Practice Management is opening part of their annual meet to non-members.  The "Futures Conference" will be held September 25 & 26, 2009 in Denver.  

The Futures Program will feature leaders in our profession interacting with Fellows of the College in thought-provoking dialogue. As the name implies, conference attendees will address how changes from outside and within the legal profession might unfold to impact the future of the profession, and the resulting challenges to law firm leadership and management.

Watch their website (www.colpm.org) for more information.

InnovAction 2009 Deadline is June 1, 2009

The College of Law Practice Management has opened is call for entries for the 2009 InnovAction Awards.  InnovAction recognizes law firms world wide for implementing truly new ideas in the practice of law.  Here's COLPM's description:

"The InnovAction Awards is a worldwide search for lawyers, law firms, and other deliverers of legal services who are currently engaged in some extraordinarily innovative efforts. The goal is to demonstrate to the legal community what can be created when passionate professionals, with big ideas and strong convictions, are determined to make a difference. Each year, we present the coveted InnovAction Awards to those unsung heroes and rising stars within the legal profession who dare to think differently and succeed by doing so."

The 2009 InnovAction Awards (NoVa, for short) will be awarded at the College's annual meeting in Denver in September.  For more information, go to:  www.innovactionaward.com.  Visit the web site to read about some of their past winners and read their innovation e-zine (worth the download and read!)

Leadership in Law Firms - LMA September Program

I will also be speaking at the Legal Marketing Association meeting in Denver on September 8th at 11:30 am.  The topic is leadership in law firms.   Here's the blurb: 

Being the Leader You Would Want to Follow

 

Why is it hard to lead lawyers?  How can I get lawyers to act, instead of just talk?  How can I be a leader when I lack authority (and I don’t have a J.D.?)  How can I help lawyers lead effective teams?  How can I turn conflict into opportunity for positive change?  How do you build consensus and commitment for projects?

Visit RockyMountainLMA.Com for registration information. 

Speaking at LegalTech West 2009

 I will be speaking at LegalTech West Coast on June 25th with Vanessa DiMauro on the topic of leveraging Web 2.0 tools like blogging, linkedin, facebook and twitter for business development purposes.  If you are planning on attending, drop me a note or "tweet" me at http://twitter.com/mbeese.