As we face a challenging 2012, it is obvious that among the critical tools each law firm must master is the art of collaboration. For law firms to survive what will be a bumpy road, collaboration and full engagement at every level is critical. Just like “plastics” was the magic word in 1967 and .com in the early 90’s, collaboration is the magic word for the months to come.
Clients continue to place pressure on outside counsel on pricing and efficiency. More work is done in house and by alternate vendors. More work is outsourced and sent offshore. More work is downsourced.
The key to being relevant and prosperous is to develop a culture of collaboration and engagement.
This collaboration must be vertical, lateral and horizontal. Full collaboration and engagement with the client is essential. Full collaboration with alternate vendors and other law firms representing the same client is equally critical.
At the same time, the law firm partnership itself must be fully engaged in a fully collaborative mode.
Thus, we present the essential primer of collaboration on the new playing field in which the legal profession finds itself.
Learn the art of collaboration and thrive. Ignore it at your peril.
Filed under: Alternative fee Arrangements, Downsourcing legal services, Electronic Document Discovery, Hiring and training lawyers, Lateral law firm partner, Lateral law firm partner movement, Lateral Partner, Law firm associate efficiency, Law firm management, Law firm management strategies, law firm project management, Law Firm Risk Management, lawyer training, Legal Project management, Legal Project Outsourcing, Navigating the Perfect Storm: Recruiting, Outsourcing legal services, Project management for law firms, Retaining and Training Lawyers in the Coming Decade, The Law Firm of the Twenty-first Century | Tagged: Alternative Fee Arrangements, Law, Law firm, Law Practice Support, LPO | 14 Comments »
