Law Firm Strategy Execs Wield Uneven Clout
July 02, 2017
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.
The Business Intelligence to Competitive Intelligence Continuum
July 01, 2017
Not too many years ago, good decisions made by smart lawyers were sufficient. Law firms were raising their fees substantially every year and attorney incomes were soaring. Now, corporate buyers are largely calling the shots, and excellent decision-making by law firm leaders is required as firms work to maintain their profitability.
Alternative Legal Services Providers: Changing Buyer Perceptions
June 02, 2017
A common perception of today's legal services industry is that buyers of legal services have many more choices because legal services are disaggregating and unbundling. 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.
The Arrival of Justice Gorsuch May Bring Opportunity to Reform the Collective Entity Doctrine
June 02, 2017
Recognizing a Fifth Amendment privilege for corporations — whether through wholesale abolition of the collective entity doctrine or by recognizing some limited exception for custodians of smaller corporations — would not foreclose meaningful white-collar prosecutions, but it would restore protection of the Fifth Amendment rights of individuals who are sacrificed under the current bright-line rule. Will Justice Gorsuch help in this endeavor?
'I Can't Get No Satisfaction' — Or Can I?
June 02, 2017
<b><I>How Lawyers Can Maximize Job Satisfaction</I></b><p>Multiple studies suggest that lawyers are among the least satisfied of all professionals. What many lawyers fail to realize, however, is that satisfaction is not as elusive as it seems. If you are among the majority of attorneys who fall somewhere below 85% on the satisfaction scale, you can do something about it.
Enhancing Lateral Partner Opportunities and Compensation
June 02, 2017
You are a partner in a law firm and you have decided to make a lateral move. You want it to be the right move to a better platform. Where do you start and how do you maximize the likelihood of a successful outcome? The more you are prepared to answer and ask questions, the greater the likelihood this next move will be an optimal one for you and the firm you are joining.
The Role of Mindfulness in Effective and Ethical Lawyering
June 02, 2017
<b><I>Beyond Knowledge and Good Intentions</I></b><p>A 2015 Harvard Business Review article, "Mindfulness Actually Changes the Brain," concludes that "Mindfulness should no longer be considered a "nice-to-have" for executives. It's a "must-have": a way to keep our brains healthy, to support self-regulation and effective decision-making capabilities, and to protect ourselves from toxic stress."