I have long been intrigued by the concept of Six Sigma. Ever since reading “Jack Welch and the GE Way,” I’ve wondered how law firms could use the concept to improve their service. In this vein, I’ve also spent time with Lean Six Sigma For Service. I’ve always thought myself somewhat the loner in my… Continue Reading
Monthly Archives: November 2005
This Is Really Pathetic
Posted in Hourly Rates and Alternativeshttps://thebillablehour.com/clocks.php https://thebillablehour.com/watches.php Some people find these timepieces funny (checkhere). It strikes me as sad.
Four Realities Of Value-Based Pricing–The First Reality
Posted in Hourly Rates and AlternativesI clipped something to post about and when I went back I realized I had forgotten where I found the material. If you recognize it, please let me know so I can edit this post to provide proper attribution. I thought about not posting because of this problem, but the ideas are too valuable not… Continue Reading
Why Not Listening Training?
Posted in Client Communications, Leadership and ManagementI’ve written about listening before. But it is of fundamental importance that every good post on the topic needs to be highlighted. Tom Kane over The Legal Marketing Blog has just such a post. Some great thoughts on how to handle face to face client meetings: – Tell your staff person to hold all calls… Continue Reading
Say What You Mean. Mean What You Say.
Posted in Client CommunicationsI love finding examples of jargon-ese. You know what I mean. Its where a firm decides that it needs to use all of the big words some consultant suggested would be an excellent way for the firm to distinguish itself. Check out this post from Guerrilla Consulting. I need to write this carefully, because it… Continue Reading
You Get What You Pay For, But Only To A Point
Posted in CommentaryFrom Rees Morrison in his Law Department Management blawg, a reference to and old favorite of mine, the USF&G study showing money saved by using more expensive lawyers. The description: In 1992, the insurance company USF&G evaluated its 250 law firms and dropped 100 of them. It replaced those firms, not with more $80 average… Continue Reading
Another Problem Solved By Alternate Fee Arrangements
Posted in Hourly Rates and AlternativesRees Morrison has an interesting post reporting on law departments imposing staffing profiles on outside counsel (X% of work to be done by senior partners, this type of work to be done by junior lawyers, and so forth). Rees’ conclusion: “I have my doubts that someone can so precisely define the roles of law firm… Continue Reading
The Value Of Speaking To A Person
Posted in Leadership and ManagementI just read an interesting post on Michelle Golden’s Golden Practices weblog about voicemail message content. It made me wonder, however, about the best use of voicemail. In an age where secretaries are become scarcer or are working for 73 professionals at the same time, it is pretty common that you bypass humans when you… Continue Reading
It takes a Village
Posted in Leadership and ManagementWith due regard to the author of a book by the same name, I believe that in today’s corporate environment, one person cannot service a client alone. It takes a team. For example, while I am away on trial, my colleagues are doing yeoman work for “my” (really, our) clients and I am lucky to… Continue Reading
Peter Drucker
Posted in CommentaryI’ve been carrying around some information on Peter Drucker and intended to write an entry about his profound contributions to the business world. But I was catching up on some blawg reading and ran across Bruce MacEwen’s thoughtful comments in his Adam Smith, Esq. blawg and I realized I could not improvde on what he… Continue Reading
Can I introduce you to my partner (pssst–what’s your name?)?
Posted in Commentary, Leadership and ManagementVisiting recently with a former colleague, I was reminded of a scenario that plays out all too frequently in multi-office firms. Relationship lawyers, faced with pressure from above to “cross sell,” try to introduce their clients to partners in the firm’s new office in (pick a city) or the latest lateral hire in (pick a… Continue Reading
“What about Clients” Added To List Of My Favorite Blawgs
Posted in People, Places and BlawgsDan Hull launched his blawg this past August. While I don’t always agree with Dan, most of his posts are provocative-they make me (at least) think, and that’s a good thing. Belatedly, I have gotten around to updating my blawg (trials really get in the way of blawging!) and have added Dan’s blawg What About… Continue Reading