Archive for December, 2005

Managing young talent

Published 23 December 05 HR , Law firm management 0 Comments

Managing talent clearly isn’t easy in law firms. The headlines in the trade media are often about stars leaving one firm and joining another or law firms upping their salaries to stop Associates leaving. Our conversations with Senior Associates continue to reveal that many of them are not happy with their lot and would like more challenge, more feedback (particularly about partnership prospects) and more reward.

But what about the talented younger lawyers? Evidence suggests this is where things are starting to go wrong. What do they need, or seek, from their bosses to allow their talents to flourish? This was the question put to a group of talented young people at a conference at Clare College, organised and chaired by Dennis Sherwood, MD of the Silver Bullet Machine Manufacturing Company.

Dennis writes…. Continue reading ‘Managing young talent’

So, what’s the most interesting thing about coaching?

Published 22 December 05 Coaching 0 Comments

Here are four aspects of coaching that I find particularly interesting.

1. Selecting the topic

Coaching begins with the client choosing a topic to work on. Often the client comes prepared: Continue reading ‘So, what’s the most interesting thing about coaching?’

Coaching - Soviet style

Published 22 December 05 Coaching , Humour 0 Comments

Recent discoveries in the state archives of the former Soviet Union give a fascinating insight into the development of coaching behind the Iron Curtain. Are we only now beginning to catch up? We are indebted to Professor Natasha Pushemova for permission to use her translation. Continue reading ‘Coaching - Soviet style’

Making pitches less speculative

Published 22 December 05 Business development , Marketing 0 Comments

The smart firms are deciding not to wait for clients to invite them to pitch for work – they’re going out there to present their credentials. Not only can this speed up the process of winning instructions, but it can also cut out competitors as well as save the firm the time costs of going through a potentially more rigorous formal pitch. Continue reading ‘Making pitches less speculative’

Pricing: a response

Published 22 December 05 Fees , Finance , Guest contributors 0 Comments

We always welcome responses to our newsletters. Here, Stephen Gillespie of Allen & Overy LLP, the former co-head of banking who now supervises the firm’s strategy, comments on our previous articles on pricing Continue reading ‘Pricing: a response’

Knowledge management in barristers’ chambers?

Published 22 December 05 Bar , Knowledge management 0 Comments

That’s the reaction from many barristers: that knowledge management has no place at the Bar. But, as Barry Dean argues, they couldn’t be more wrong. Continue reading ‘Knowledge management in barristers’ chambers?’

Barristers FC

Published 2 December 05 Bar , Humour Closed

Simon McCall’s brief management and philosophical investigation into the lives of barristers and professional footballers Continue reading ‘Barristers FC’

In-house: paying the price - and getting the value

Published 2 December 05 Fees , In-house , Managing the in-house legal department Closed

Part 1 – How in-house lawyers can use more (or should that be less?) than fees to get a good deal from their law firms

Law firms want other things from you, in addition to – or sometimes instead of – the maximum fees they can charge. If you can identify what they want, you may be able to give it to them in a way that makes it a good deal for you.

Sometimes negotiations with law firms about fees look like the traditional zero-sum game. Every extra dollar that goes into their pockets comes out of yours, and vice versa. But for many buyers of legal services and many law firms, the picture is a lot more complicated. Firms are seeking more than the most dollars for the least work. Continue reading ‘In-house: paying the price - and getting the value’

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