In August, Gerry Riskin wrote his prediction that Doom and Gloom was in our future. I asked Gerry if he would share the factors that informed his prediction. He listed these: Currency fluctuations Price of oil Price of precious metals Increase and decrease in “real” jobs Geographic location of… Continue Reading
Monthly Archives: March 2008
Client Service Insights Back For Season 2
Posted in People, Places and BlawgsI am happy to welcome Leo Bottary back to the blogosphere. Leo wrote, then retired from writing–and is now back writing!–the terrific Client Service Insights. His innaugural post for his "second season" explains what he’s been up to–lots of changes. Congratulations to Leo on completing his masters program at Seton Hall University and his new… Continue Reading
And So Should Lawyers (Treat Legal Fees The Same Way Executives Treat Business Issues)
Posted in Commentary, Hourly Rates and AlternativesMichael Maslanka, a lawyer from Texas, authored an article in Texas Lawyer that popped up on law.com today. The article advises GCs to treat legal fees the same way executives treat business issues. Beginning with the premise that increased associate salaries are akin to a rise in the company’s raw materials, Maslanka writes: Don’t belabor… Continue Reading
Problems–The Mother’s Milk of Innovation
Posted in CommentaryIn the post just below this one, I wrote about the associate turnover problem confronting BigLaw. As I was writing, I thought about the wonderful opportunity that problem creates for firms like Valorem. If you were thinking of purchasing a lamp, and were given a choice, would you rather pay $300 for the lamp or… Continue Reading
Lost Generation of Associates. Can We Count On Firms To Find A Solution?
Posted in CommentaryBy some measurements, 50% of new associates leave their high-paid jobs at AmLaw 200 firms within 4 years. Two-thirds of these departures of the associate’s choice, not the firm’s. And the reason for such departures, in the main, is that associates are given drudge work with no real responsibility. Training is not provided. Associates are… Continue Reading
Interested In Improving Your Business Development Skills?
Posted in People, Places and BlawgsJim Hassett, the author of the outstanding Legal Business Development blog, has a new product out (new to me at least) that really is worth your time. Appropriately named the Legal Business Development Success Kit, Jim has put together in audio course that combines anecdotes and data from a number of different sources in an… Continue Reading