Question for clients. How would you feel if your law firms hiked their hourly rates by 3% today? That’s right, you get the same work output and pay 3% more. Okay, show of hands. Ummm, any body want that 3% increase? Is there a single hand to be raised? Of course not. You would think… Continue Reading
Monthly Archives: March 2009
Earthshattering News: Layoffs Increase Likelihood Of Padding Timesheets
Posted in CommentaryYou’re a young associate. Several of your friends have been "laid off" (most non-law firm types call it being fired). They are struggling with their loans, losing their apartments, having to move home. Then you look down at the assignment given to you by the one partner not hoarding the work to himself. You think… Continue Reading
The Importance of Exchanging Ideas
Posted in CommentaryThere are many law firms that apply the Hippocratic oath to their public expressions–first do no harm. An in the course of "doing no harm," they become milquetoast and merge into background, just like elevator music. No one hears it. No one cares about it. But no one is harmed. Mission accomplished. Those who have… Continue Reading
Innovation During The Downturn? BigLaw Apparently Says No
Posted in Commentary, Leadership and ManagementThere is a fascinating discussion going on in a Legal On Ramp forum under the same title as this post. I am taking the liberty of quoting in its entirety a post by Fred Bartlit of Bartlit Beck, because it is so incredibly indicative of BigLaw’s attitude about the current state of things: Re:Innovation during… Continue Reading
Virtual Law Firms v. Face-to-Face Collaboration
Posted in CommentaryYesterday’s online version of the Washington Post contains an interest article, Recession Sends Lawyers Home, that discusses the growing number of virtual law firms. The article discusses Virtual Law Partners and others. One of my partners wondered whether our true competition would come from virtual firms rather than BigLaw. It’s interesting to note that Virtual Law… Continue Reading
Congrats to Nicole Auerbach, Superwoman JD
Posted in People, Places and BlawgsI’ve written before about my partners. They are amongst the finest people I know, and they are damn fine lawyers. One of the things I’ve never been able to convey in this blog is how much I learn from them and enjoy our encounters. In so many respects, their views on the issues I cover in… Continue Reading
Desperate Times Cause Outbreak Of Stupidity: Anatomy Of A Lost Customer
Posted in CommentaryDesperate times apparently cause companies desperate for cash to do really stupid things. And the results are never good for the stupid company. One of my partners is a million-mile flyer on an unnamed airline, but I wouldn’t deny it if you suggested their skies were not as friendly as their ads claim. This partner… Continue Reading
Eliminating Coffee. That’ll Fix Things.
Posted in CommentaryToday’s Chicago Tribune reports that in response to the economic crisis, one Chicago law firm has eliminated free coffee in one of its lobbies. In fairness to the "leadership" of this firm, they could not have read my post from yesterday, Who Is Accountable For The Lack Of Vision?, but you can think of a… Continue Reading
Who Is Accountable For The Lack Of Vision?
Posted in Commentary, Leadership and ManagementAs I drove home from my morning Starbucks run, I was listening to an NPR story about the auto industry. One President of Local Union in Pontiac, Michigan was saying that his local used to have 20,000 members, but now had only 1800. "We went from counting our overtime hours to wondering whether we would… Continue Reading