The survival guide to implementing effective law firm management strategies

Successful management and culture need to go hand in hand. A firm's culture is the result of attitudes, personalities, policies, and decisions that ultimately creates the building block for the success of the firm. The Survival Guide to Implementing Effective Law Firm Management Strategies provides you with the groundwork and policies to create a positive law firm environment and business success. Divided into five parts on culture, planning, partnerships, management, and finances, this guide will help you: understand why the culture in the firm is important to its success; develop a plan and vision for the future of the firm; construct marketing plans to recruit and retain new clients; devise a plan to build healthy partnerships in the firm and with your clients; outline delegation strategies and techniques for partners and associates; build a strong recruitment and retention plan for associates; formulate a system for compensation of partners, associates, and paralegals; and determine how to improve revenue.

• About the Authors p. vii
• Acknowledgments p. ix
• Part I It's All about the Culture p. 1
• Chapter 1 Why Cultures Matter p. 3
• Part II Planning: Why Do It? p. 9
• Chapter 2 Core Values, Mission, and Vision p. 11
• Chapter 3 Strategic Planning p. 17
• Chapter 4 Marketing Plans p. 23
• Chapter 5 Lawyer Annual Practice Plans p. 33
• Chapter 6 Succession Planning p. 37
• Part III Healthy Partnerships p. 45
• Chapter 7 Protecting the Firm p. 47
• Chapter 8 Partnership Agreement Provisions p. 57
• Chapter 9 Partners, Associates, and Other Lawyers p. 65
• Chapter 10 Lawyer Compensation p. 71
• Part IV Management p. 83
• Chapter 11 Effective Management p. 85
• Chapter 12 The Law Firm Administrator p. 93
• Chapter 13 Practice Groups p. 99
• Chapter 14 Delegation Strategies and Techniques p. 109
• Chapter 15 Associate Recruitment and Training p. 113
• Part V Financial Management p. 121
• Chapter 16 Reporting Financial Data p. 123
• Chapter 17 Paralegal Profitability p. 129
• Chapter 18 Partner, Associate, and Paralegal Accountability p. 141
• Chapter 19 Improving Revenue p. 149
• Appendices p. 159
• Appendix A Individual Lawyer Marketing Program p. 161
• Appendix B Individual Lawyer Annual Practice Plan p. 165
• Appendix C Model Partnership Agreement-Short Form p. 167
• Appendix D Model Partnership Agreement-Long Form p. 173
• Appendix E Criteria for Partnership p. 185
• Appendix F Non-Equity Partner Criteria p. 187
• Appendix G Associate Lawyer Guidelines p. 189
• Appendix H Formula Compensation System p. 193
• Appendix I Subjective Compensation System p. 195
• Appendix J First Combination Compensation System p. 197
• Appendix K Second Combination Compensation System p. 199
• Appendix L Compensation System Study Memo p. 201
• Appendix M Compensation Study Committee Outline of Questions p. 203
• Appendix N Table of Contents for Compensation Study Report p. 205
• Appendix O Compensation Study Committee Retreat Agenda p. 207
• Appendix P The Management Committee: Roles and Responsibilities p. 209
• Appendix P-1 Financial Partner p. 211
• Appendix P-2 Professional Personnel Partner p. 213
• Appendix P-3 Marketing Partner p. 215
• Appendix Q Managing Partner Job Description p. 217
• Appendix R Legal Administrator-Small Firm p. 219
• Appendix S Legal Administrator-Large Firm p. 221
• Appendix T Practice Group Chair p. 225
• Appendix U Practice Group Agenda p. 227
• Appendix V Associate Orientation Program p. 229
• Appendix W Litigation Associate Task Performance List p. 231
• Appendix X Associate Mentoring Program p. 233
• Appendix Y Associate Training Policy p. 235
• Appendix Z Monthly Summary of Financial Indicators p. 237
• Appendix AA Monthly Summary Memo of Financial Data p. 239
• Appendix BB Associate Evaluation Form p. 241
• Appendix CC Associate Self-Evaluation p. 245
• Appendix DD Paralegal Performance Review Form p. 247
• Appendix EE Partner Peer Review Evaluation Form p. 251
• Index p. 255