♫ Taking all of my energy, energy, energy
Taking all of my energy…♫
Lyrics and Music by: Louis Biancaniello, Rico Love, Sam Watters, Wayne Wilkins; recorded by: Keri Hilson.
Energizer Bunny
This guest post is courtesy of Beth Flynn of the Ohio State University Leadership Center and is one of her “Leadership Moments” emails. The OSU Leadership Center is inspiring others to take a leadership role that empowers the world.
In theory, every person on your team is a source of energy for your organization. But in reality, some team members create energy while others sap or destroy energy. If you know your team well, you already know which team members are sappers and which ones are the energizers.
High-energy performers test the limits and spur themselves and others on to even greater results. These are the people who will push you up and add energy to your reservoir. They spark others to perform. It’s fun to watch them in action. A team full of energized people is typically easy to motivate but challenging to manage because their high energy level requires constant direction and focus. (more…)
♫ Stand by your belief and have faith in this sound
You know that you can always turn it around
Feel the rhythm and its healing remedy
Listen to the sweet melody
Feel the rhythm and its healing remedy
RISE TO THE CHALLENGE! ♫
Bob Denney
Once again it is time for Bob Denny of Robert Denney Associates, Inc. [bob@robertdenney.com] to report on What’s Hot and What’s Not in the Legal Profession. With Bob’s kind permission, we are reproducing his latest report here:
In our 2009 year-end report, we said 2010 “will be a year of continued challenge and change.” It is proving to be so although the challenges may be greater than the changes. We cannot cover all the developments in this Update. These are the ones we believe are the most significant – or interesting.
PRACTICE AREAS
Hot
- Health Care. Of course, involving many areas: regulatory, transactional, employment, et all.
- Bankruptcy. Still. Pre-packaged bankruptcies are raising the temperature even more.
- Trusts & Estates. The temporary lifting of the “death tax” is raising the temperature here too.
- Regulatory. In many industries, not just health care, banking and finance.
- Commercial Litigation. Particularly “bet the company” cases, patents and labor.
- Employment Law. That’s why major L&E firms are opening new offices.
- Emerging Companies. It is surprising but the number of former big company executives starting new businesses hit a four-year high in 2009 and continues to increase. (more…)
♫ I know his journey ends never.
His Star Trek will go on forever…♫
Music by: Alexander Courage, lyrics by: Gene Roddenberry.
Sooner or later, every firm must deal with the issue of succession planning. Given that the ‘boomers’ are all nearing retirement age, this is a looming – and lurking – issue for most firms.
This issue can arise in several ways. One major way this issue comes to the forefront is the lease for the office is coming up for renewal. At that time the partners who really don’t wish to keep practising for another 5 years refuse to sign onto the lease. This throws the partnership into a crises and most likely leads to the firm going ‘supernova’ – the firm explodes and a group of partners leave (usually the ones with the biggest book of business) and the remaining ones are left to try to pick up the pieces (or most often, simply close the doors and turn off the lights on their way out).
More subtle ways of this occurring happens as major keystone partners start to leave – one by one – until what is left is a shell of the former firm. This is death by a thousand cuts as the major income earning assets of the firm depart leaving only the liabilities of the old firm in the hands of those remaining. (more…)
♬ With bits of memories scattered here and there
I look around and don’t know where to start…♬
Lyrics and Music by: Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Johnny Mandel.
My good friend Robert (Bob) Denney has just issued his April 2010 Legal Communique: Addressing Challenges and Making Changes Requires a Thoughtful Approach.
Aside from the use of the word “thoughtful” (which I always appreciate!) the advice that he has packed into his Communique is top notch and timed for firms coming out of the current economic malaise. With his permission, here is Bob’s latest advice:
“Now that the economy is in the process of recovering, forward-thinking law firms are shifting from survival tactics to strategic planning as they begin to address, not only the challenges they face, but also the changes they may have to make. However, as discussed in our February Communique, the list can be long and there are few, if any, precedents for addressing many of the issues. (more…)
♫ If we put our heads together our hearts will tell us what to do…♫
Lyrics and Music by Lorene Allen, Loretta Lynn, recorded by Loretta Lynn and Ernest Tubb.
Now that the 2010 Olympics and Para-Olympics in Vancouver are over and ABA TECHSHOW in Chicago is concluded for another year, it is back to business!
My overview of Techshow 2010 is being published concurrently by the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia in their manazine “The Verdict” as well as here, so there will be a short delay while the print version comes out. That post will cover the themes and tips that I garnered from ABA Techshow this year. It was a fabulous program and kudos to all who had a hand in organizing it. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, I thought I would try to highlight one theme that struck me when talking to the lawyers and others who were at Techshow this year. One factor that became apparent was the openness of some lawyers to bring in consultants to assist in the tweaking of the management of their firms versus the (apparent) reluctance of others to do the same. (more…)
♫ We are the champions
No time for losers
Cause we are the champions
of the world… ♫
Music and lyrics by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by Queen.
When thinking of the Olympics, an image of a breathless young person comes to mind who is standing on a podium, smiling the smile of a lifetime as someone places a ribbon-bound medal around his or her neck. While lawyering may not be an Olympic sport, there are no shortage of awards and recognition that lawyers and law firms may win in the international, national, provincial and community levels, aside from the coveted QC.
There is the Gruber Prize for Justice. The Gruber Foundation Justice Prize is presented to individuals or organizations for contributions that have advanced the cause of justice as delivered through the legal system. The award is intended to acknowledge individual efforts, as well as to encourage further advancements in the field and progress toward bringing about a fundamentally just world. In 2003, Madam Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella and Madam Justice Bertha Wilson, both of Canada, were recipients (okay, they are judges but they were lawyers at one point too).
(more…)
♫ What are you doing the rest of your life?
North and south
and east and west of your life? ♫
Lyrics and music by: Alan Bergman, Michel Legrand, Marilyn Bergman, recorded by Barbara Streisand.
Robert (Bob) Denney of Robert Denney Associates, Inc. has just released the February 2010 Communique on What Firm Leaders Should Focus on Now.
With Bob’s permission, here is his communique, which I think is excellent in terms of strategic planning and vision for the year to come:
The economy is recovering although not as rapidly or steadily as we would all like. It is already apparent that this recession will have a far greater impact on the legal profession than any previous recession. Now it is time for firm leaders to shift from survival management to recovery and strategic management. Firms face challenges they have never faced before and for which there are few, if any, precedents. These are some of the areas where these challenges will occur and where firm leaders should now focus their attention.
Leadership and Management: Managers have a short-range perspective. Leaders, on the other hand, need to have a long-range perspective and a vision. They also need to build consensus throughout the firm for achieving that vision. Leadership is different from management. Right now both are critical.
Firm and Practice Management structure: The Managing Partner/President/CEO should focus on strategic issues and external factors – especially clients. But, in BigLaw firms and in many MidLaw firms, this top level manager should focus solely on running the firm and should not have any personal client responsibilities. There should be a senior management team including an Executive Committee, a Chief Operating Officer (or co-Managing Partner) and Practice Group Leaders. All positions should have job descriptions and the partners in these positions need to be given sufficient non-billable time to fulfill their management responsibilities. (more…)
♫ A moment of despair
That forces you to say that life’s unfair
It makes you scared of what tomorrow may bring
But don’t go giving into fear ..♫
Lyrics and music by: Stone, Greenberg, Daniel Pierre, recorded by Joss Stone.
This is a post on Slaw.ca today:
You may wonder what human rights has to do with Internet Explorer. Prior to the earthquake in Haiti, the news was filled with the cyber-attacks on Google. The latest attacks on Google’s network appear to have originated in China, reported ComputerWorld in a post dated Jan 12, 2010 and were directed at the Google accounts of human rights activists in China. ComputerWorld stated:
In a blog post Tuesday, David Drummond, Google’s chief legal officer, said that attacks have forced the company to “review the feasibility of our business operations in China.” Google, continued Drummond, is “no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all.”
Read more here: http://www.slaw.ca/2010/01/19/human-rights-google-and-internet-explorer/
♫ Baby, baby, I’m out on a limb
I’m giving in to you again…♫
Lyrics, music and recorded by Teena Marie.
I wanted to say a most gracious thanks to Steve Matthews and his crew at Stem Legal (Jordan Furlong, Emma Durand-Wood, and Laurel Fulford) for my 2009 Clawbie in the area of Practice Management (tied with Avoid A Claim Blog – Dan Pinnington the Director of PracticePro’s new risk management blog). I also wanted to say a hearty “Congratulations” to all those who won and who were nominated (a complete list of winners can be found here). Well Done!
I didn’t want this to be a typical acceptance speech (which can be rather boring) so I am giving into the urge to go out on a limb (which usually means someone comes after me with a chainsaw….but I digress…) and make some predictions for what will be seen in the 2010 ClawBies and legal blogs in general.
First of all, I think 2010 will be the year of the collective blog. www.slaw.ca is one shining example of what can be achieved by a powerful group of bloggers who have multiple eyes and ears and who are watching the world. Slaw has been recognized internationally for the quality of its work. Frankly I don’t know how a Canadian lawyer can practice today without following it – it is a great way to stay on top of current developments not only across Canada but in the international legal world as well. Hats off to Simon Fodden for herding this particular group of legal cats!
Another great group blog is Lawrence Gridin and Omar Ha-Redeye’s Law is Cool.
Second, individual bloggers will make more extensive use of guest bloggers on their sites. This adds variety and new voices to the mix (and also helps create cross-links). It also builds on the social aspect of blogging.
Third, 2010 will also be the year that legal organizations recognize the value of a blog. The Stream, a collective blog hosted by the BC Courthouse Library Society, illustrates what happens when an organization recognizes the informational value in hosting a blog and looks at how it can provide information differently. Johanne Blenkin and Mandy Ostick are leading the way here. Lang Michener LLP, Davis LLP, Clark Wilson LLP and other law firms fall into this emerging category.
Fourth, I would like to mention a few people to watch in the Canadian legal blogging community:
Doug Jasinki’s new blog: http://legalmarketing.ca/ is one to keep an eye on (disclaimer: Doug and his team designed my blog for which I am eternally grateful). Doug is a very bright light when it comes to online legal marketing and he and his company Skunkworks Creative Group Inc. are doing some truly innovative things in the legal marketplace (see his list of clients here).
Individual bloggers that I find particularly inspiring: Erik Mcgraken, Donna Seale and Jordan Furlong are three to watch, in my humble opinion.
Lastly, there is Steve Matthews. He is a true Canadian visionary when it comes to understanding the entire online social matrix in which lawyers and law firms are working. His work is international in scope and light-years ahead of the competition. He senses oncoming transformation from the briefest puff in the winds of change.
So there they are…baby, baby I am out on a limb again…
♫ It takes two, baby,
It takes two…♫
Music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman.
A couple of updates:
One: OnPoint Legal Research’s Take Five Newsletter is now up for November, summarizing the 5 most interesting cases for BC: November Take Five
Of course you can access past issues on their website as well as sign up for their newsletter by email.
Two: Bob Denney’s November 2009 Legal Communique has now been released:
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING MAXIMS
‘Maxim: General truth or rule of conduct expressed in a sentence.”
The Oxford Dictionary
1. Be the best lawyer you can be.
2. Be afraid. Fear of failure guarantees success.
3. Don’t sell. Educate. No one wants to be sold legal services. Ask clients and
prospects what their problems are, then educate them on how you can help them.
4. Focus. Specialize. You can’t be all things to all people.
5. Have a marketing plan and follow it. Hell is paved with good intentions – and
marketing plans that were never implemented.
6. Market like you were a sole practitioner. If you don’t, you may become one –and
then you’ll have to.
7. Everyone in the firm must be a marketer, from the Managing Partner all the way
down to the messenger.
8. Current clients are your best sales agents.
9. Word-of-mouth is still the best form of marketing and business development.
10. Your friends may not become clients, but your clients can become friends.
11. Your next client may be across the table.
12. To get and keep your client’s business, know his or her business.
13. Treat every client as if he or she were your only client.
14. The three keys to delighted clients:
• Listen and communicate
• Listen and communicate
• Listen and communicate
15. Under-promise. Over-deliver.
16. Don’t be afraid to say “yes” – but have the courage to say “no”. The
magic words to a client are: “Yes, if . . .” or “No, but . . .”
17. Be a problem-solver, not a problem-maker.
18. Give the client alternatives but don’t stop there. Say, “It’s your decision but
I think this is what you should do and these are the reasons.”
19. Know your competition. It’s just as important as knowing your client.
20. Ask for the business.
Robert Denney Associates Inc. has provided strategic management and marketing counsel to law
firms throughout the United States and parts of Canada for over 30 years. Reports and discussions of
other timely issues are posted on his web site, www.robertdenney.com. His annual report on “What’s Hot and What’s Not in the Legal Profession” will be coming in December…visit his website to sign up for his newsletters.
When it comes to this post, it takes two!