KM, COVID-19 & the Water Cooler
How will we develop a sustainable way to gather and share knowledge given the potential blend of in-person and virtual exchanges over time?
What Happened @ the CLOC Institute: 2030 Edition
An article offering my short synopsis of the 2030 CLOC Institute, concluding with a summary of my favorite session from the 2030 Institute. Read the article.
Planning Your Next Legal IT Strategy Discussion (Part III): Focus on Talent
This is the final installment of a 3-part series offering a framework for law firm leaders to discuss and plan a sustainable IT strategy that enables internal and external digital clients of today and tomorrow. In this final installment, we focus on staffing and talent model disruption as an indispensable ingredient to enable a technology strategy that will drive successful future legal practices and business models. In brief, you need people who can see the forest for the trees AND people who can see the trees for the forest.
Planning Your Next Legal IT Strategy Discussion (Part II): Invest With Purpose
This article considers how law firm leaders can use the legal technology framework to invest intentionally in emerging systems focused on analyzing legal content and enabling legal service delivery.
Planning Your Next Legal IT Strategy Discussion: A Service Delivery Framework (Part I)
This 3-part series offers a framework for law firm leaders to discuss and plan a sustainable IT strategy that grows with internal and external digital clients of today and tomorrow. The framework also supports corporate law department (legal operations) leaders as the analyze and frame their technology roadmap.
Do More . . .
Facing the pressures to do “more for less,” legal professionals should shift the discourse to “more for value,” focusing on design, talent, technology and data.
Sorry Clients: Higher Law Firm Billing Rates Really Do Pay Off
A Citibank survey shows that the most successful law firm increase billing rates more consistently than the broader industry average.
Why Are Law Firms Growing So Slowly?
A discussion of the macro financial landscape in which law firms operate as backdrop to analyze law firm growth.
Institute for the Future of Law Practice
The Institute for the Future of Law Practice (IFLP) is a new nonprofit collaboration between law schools, law firms, corporate legal departments, legal service providers, and legal technology companies.
The End of the Beginning
An interesting discussion of the "alternative" legal service providers and their impacts.
Do More . . .
Facing the pressures to do “more for less,” legal professionals should shift the discourse to “more for value,” focusing on design, talent, technology and data.
The 5 Languages of Legal Operations
5 languages are needed to drive successful operational initiatives. These languages are not taught in (law) school. Speaking even one takes time to develop and master. When looking for talent, start by looking for linguists who can speak the necessary languages to drive and calibrate an astute legal service delivery strategy.
Lessons From My Recent AI Date
To implement a successful AI project, plan your journey, augment don’t replace, get the right talent, adapt, and iterate. I share some lessons learned.
Thinking About Security
Legal operations professionals are regularly reminded to consider security as they engage with outside counsel, vendors, and other third-party providers. Recently, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) published its [...]
Manage Change With EQ Skills
Change management is a demanding challenge for all participants in today’s legal ecosystem. Effective change management strategies are built on relationships. How do you frame a discussion, know what is actually going to change, understand different mindsets, inspire people, communicate value, and build reciprocity? You begin with conversations.
Share Time Lag Data to Improve Insight into the Cost of Legal Services
(or How to Lighten That Albatross Around Our Necks) God save thee, ancient Mariner! From the fiends, that plague thee thus! Why look'st thou so? With my cross-bow I [...]
I Am an AI Luddite (and Why You Should Be One Too)
This article discusses potential impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the legal profession. Specifically, I discuss (i) WHY you should care about AI, (ii) WHAT AI means, (iii) WHERE [...]
Outside Counsel Cost Management: A View Around The Corner
Outside counsel cost management initiatives are only one part of a legal service delivery strategy. Who should do the work: law firms, LPOs, or internal legal professionals?
Whimsical Mulling, 575 Operations Way
Spring, flowers planted, Diversity, in action, Data makes you smart. Summer in New York, Associates earning, more, AI is coming. The Fall, plant new shrubs, Shiny mahogany desks, [...]
Six Things Legal Professionals Could Care [More/Less] About
Reflections on value, purple people, (right)sourcing, change management, checklists, and Artificial Big Block Data Machines. The year comes to a close. Legal professionals in law firms and departments sprint [...]
KM, COVID-19 & the Water Cooler
How will we develop a sustainable way to gather and share knowledge given the potential blend of in-person and virtual exchanges over time?
What Happened @ the CLOC Institute: 2030 Edition
An article offering my short synopsis of the 2030 CLOC Institute, concluding with a summary of my favorite session from the 2030 Institute.
Planning Your Next Legal IT Strategy Discussion (Part III): Focus on Talent
This is the final installment of a 3-part series offering a framework for law firm leaders to discuss and plan a sustainable IT strategy that enables internal and external digital clients of today and tomorrow. In this final installment, we focus on staffing and talent model disruption as an indispensable ingredient to enable a technology strategy that will drive successful future legal practices and business models. In brief, you need people who can see the forest for the trees AND people who can see the trees for the forest.
Planning Your Next Legal IT Strategy Discussion (Part II): Invest With Purpose
This article considers how law firm leaders can use the legal technology framework to invest intentionally in emerging systems focused on analyzing legal content and enabling legal service delivery.
Planning Your Next Legal IT Strategy Discussion: A Service Delivery Framework (Part I)
This 3-part series offers a framework for law firm leaders to discuss and plan a sustainable IT strategy that grows with internal and external digital clients of today and tomorrow. The framework also supports corporate law department (legal operations) leaders as the analyze and frame their technology roadmap.
Sorry Clients: Higher Law Firm Billing Rates Really Do Pay Off
A Citibank survey shows that the most successful law firm increase billing rates more consistently than the broader industry average.
Why Are Law Firms Growing So Slowly?
A discussion of the macro financial landscape in which law firms operate as backdrop to analyze law firm growth.
Institute for the Future of Law Practice
The Institute for the Future of Law Practice (IFLP) is a new nonprofit collaboration between law schools, law firms, corporate legal departments, legal service providers, and legal technology companies.
The End of the Beginning
An interesting discussion of the "alternative" legal service providers and their impacts.
Examine KPIs on a Micro-Level to Boost Law Firm Profitability
A discussion of relevant KPIs for law firms to measure results and make more strategic decisions.
Essentials of Project Management
This online, self-paced PMI course will benefit anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of managing projects.
IACCM Contract Management Training
This IACCM program includes: (1) Skills Assessment: Identification of personal and/or team development needs against external benchmarks in the key areas of commercial skills and knowledge.; (2) Development Plan: A personal report with gap analysis, together with learning and experience recommendations. (3) Learning: A flexible yet structured online program with student and instructor interactions covering the full contract life-cycle; and (4) Certification: An internationally recognized certification in contract and commercial management at Practitioner, Advanced Practitioner or Expert level. Fees required.
8-Step Process for Leading Change
Kotter's 8-Step Process for Leading Change
ABA Diversity & Inclusion 360 Commission
ABA President Paulette Brown (2015-16) led the Diversity and Inclusion 360 Commission in its one-year inquiry into how to develop sustainable action plans that would advance diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, the judicial system and the ABA itself. This ABA site offers helpful diversity resources.
ACEDS E-Discovery Essentials
The E-Discovery Essentials Online Training is an introductory course for persons entering the e-discovery field and professionals who would like to broaden their knowledge of the e-discovery process. From preparation, to collection, to review of Electronically Stored Information (ESI), this course covers the entire e-discovery process. Throughout the 17 modules and tests, learners will progress through the basics of e-discovery preparation, best practices for ESI collection and, finally, the review process. E-Discovery Essentials will take approximately twelve hours to complete. From ACEDS and fees are required
How to Put On a Kick-Ass Legal Dept Offsite
CLOC offered a program at the 2016 CLOC Institute, "How to Put on a Kick-Ass Legal Department Offsite. If your department is growing or if your boss is asking you to "party plan" and organize a department-wide, multi-day meeting, this is the session for you. Come hear from our resident experts about what goes into planning a kick-ass legal conference. The session covered do's and don'ts, venues, speakers, best practices, war stories, budget gotchas and more. Available to CLOC members.
Change Management Reading
Change management related materials accessible by CLOC members
Competency Framework
Published by the University of Nottingham, this resource provides an excellent framework as you consider how to assess and manage competencies in 5 areas; 1) achieving and delivery, 2) Drive for Results, 3) Serving the Customer, 4) Quality Focus, and 5) Integrity.
CLOC Technology Reading
Technology-related content. Available to CLOC members.
HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Communication
A great compilation of Harvard Business Review (HBR) articles on Communication.