Susan Raridon Lambreth

Law firm practice group leadership is not for the faint hearted. As firms compete increasingly at practice group level, leaders are being asked to run their groups like business units; to develop and implement a strategic plan that supports the goals and competitiveness of the firm; and to coordinate and lead their partners to enhance the efficiency, performance, and profitability of their groups. Many firm leaders complain that some of their group heads are not producing the results they want to see. But how many practice group leaders receive the tools and support they need to succeed in this critical role? How many are selected for demonstrable leadership skills? And how often are they held accountable for how well – or otherwise – they perform in the role? With contributions from a wide range of experts, this second edition of Effective Practice Group Leadership explores these key questions and more, building on the first edition with new insights and thought leadership. The book examines the position of the practice group leader (PGL) in law firms today, the challenges of the role, and the changes to it, innovations and how modern practice groups are changing, and demonstrates the enormous contribution PGLs can make to the profitability and performance of their law firms, when armed with the tools and the authority.

This exhaustive reference will provide any lawyer with a complete and comprehensive review and discussion of legal project management (LPM), including the business case, the definitions and application, ethical considerations and the issues and constraints in implementation. You'll discover a simple, easy-to-use framework that can be applied from start to finish in any firm or practice area. The book also functions as a complete desk reference for anyone implementing LPM by offering helpful examples, case studies, tools and methodologies. The book can be read cover to cover to get the full picture for how legal project management is applied in legal organizations, or the reader can skip to specific chapters for useful tips to improve their practice and client relationships, or to implement a particular part of LPM such as planning or budgeting. The book is organized into four sections: Continued Evolution of the Legal Ecosystem Current Trends in the Delivery of Legal Services Legal Project Management in the Post-COVID-19 Era Legal Project Management Framework Introduction to Legal Project Management Engaging with the Client Planning the Matter Budgeting for the Matter From Budgeting to Pricing the Matter Executing the Matter Communication Management Evaluating and Closing the Matter Legal Project Management in Operation Establishing a Project Management Function in your Legal Organization Creation of a New Era of Legal Professional Using Legal Project Management to Drive Client Growth and Retention Proving the Value of LPM The Role of Knowledge Management in Legal Project Management Considerations for Lawyers Implementing LPM Satisfying Ethical Obligations and Protecting Against Malpractice through Legal Project Management Lawyer Personality Traits and Legal Project Management Roles

As law firms have grown larger and client problems have become increasingly complex, effective practice management has become the primary vehicle through which firms seek to deliver value to clients and differentiate themselves in a competitive market. Optimizing Practice Management: Driving Profitability and Market Position is intended to help firm leadership work through all the critical aspects of structuring and implementing an effective and optimized practice management system. The book is divided into five main sections, covering: The business case for practice management; Building the essential foundation; Developing the structure; Keys to successful implementation; and The role of the practice leader. This book will help law firm leaders to: Gain clarity on how to improve their market position and enhance the value perception of their services; Establish the optimal practice management structure to facilitate achievement of the firm’s strategy and market position; Focus on particular practice specialties and subspecialties, and on clients or industries, where the firm can establish a sustainable competitive advantage; Define clearly the role of business unit leaders and members; and Align incentives to encourage the level of collaboration that clients are demanding. Detailed appendices contain the results of original research on practice management in the largest US law firms, and sample job descriptions for practice group leaders/members, based on the authors’ experiences working with over half of the Am Law 200 law firms.