Tag: lawfirms

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Law Firm Management

Reading Between The Lines

Man in front of computer screen which says that his services are no longer required.
Photo by Ron Lach at Pexels.

At my law firm, we had great human resources management. It was so good that information was hard to come by. In fact, it was just about impossible to get any really good gossip out of management until it had made its way down to the partners, after which it became more readily available.

Since we had some really smart people at our firm (as well as a few who were not so smart), it should not be surprising that we had to compensate for the lack of information flow by learning to read between the lines.

read more about human resources in lawfirms “Reading Between The Lines”
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Firm Culture

How Strong Are Your Roots?

A large tree which has been uprooted.

The image that accompanies this post is of a massive tree in the forest behind my house which came down in a storm, bringing down another tree, which brought down a third. As you can see, the root system was wide, but shallow.

These trees might have looked majestic, but when force was applied, their roots proved to be too weak to hold up their weight.

read more about the roots supporting your law firm “How Strong Are Your Roots?”
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Firm Culture

When The Time Comes, Get The Hell Out

Man sitting in a jail cell.
Photo by Ron Lach at Pexels.

The worst partners meeting that I ever attended ended with me storming out, telling one of my partners to fuddle-duddle off (not in those exact words), and threatening to leave the firm. I was the managing partner and highest earning partner at the time. You would think that I should have been happy.

read more about getting out when the firm culture does not support you “When The Time Comes, Get The Hell Out”
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Firm Culture

A Sweeter World?

An older woman and younger man sitting together and drinking wine.
Photo by Ron Lach at Pexels.

I was speaking to a university student the other day who I will call Lara.  Lara told me that she occasionally has a super nice dinner at her friend Kim’s expense.

It seems that sometimes Kim meets a Sugar Daddy who treats her to a nice meal at a fine restaurant. Kim is just a little bit nervous about meeting strange men for dinner, so she has Lara come to the restaurant, sit at a nearby table, and keep an eye on her.

read more about loneliness “A Sweeter World?”
Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

Emily Two – A Tale about Sun Visors, Money, and Ego

Woman in car looking at mirror on sunvisor.
Photo by Gustavo Fring at Pexels.

When automobile manufacturers first put vanity mirrors on sun visors, they only put them on the passenger side. Their reasoning was that the passenger was usually a woman who had makeup to apply. The car was being driven by a man and men did not wear makeup.

Why do you figure that the manufacturers eventually started putting vanity mirrors over the driver’s seat? Did they come to believe that men also like to look at themselves in the mirror? Or was it that they suddenly discovered that women also drive cars?

read more about why there is now a mirror over the driver’s seat and what that has to do with Law Firms “Emily Two – A Tale about Sun Visors, Money, and Ego”
Categories
Retirement

Math at the End of Days

A caution sign with the word "End" against a background of palm trees and an evening sky.
Photo by Ana Arantes at Pexels.

Let’s say that Michael is a partner at his firm.  He stays for many years and builds up a substantial client base.

And while we are making things up, let’s assume that Michael has been a team player and introduced his clients to his Partners and Associates, so as Mike comes close to retirement age, much of his work is being done by other Partners, Associates and Law Clerks.

read more about attitudes of partners upon retirement “Math at the End of Days”
Categories
Legal Tech

Somebody Hates Chat GPT

A computer screen displaying the words "Introducing Chat GPT."
Photo by Hatice Baran at Pexels.

The more seditious and outrageous stuff that I write usually originates in my own tiny little brain. 

Occasionally the creative spark comes from another lawyer. This is one of those times. 

This particular lawyer sent me a rant about Chat GPT which I have edited slightly. For context, this lawyer’s firm loves Chat GPT, and this particular lawyer does not, but they have to pretend that they do so as not to anger the Partner Gods. They would rather go uncredited because they don’t want to be fired.

Read a rant about chat Gpt. “Somebody Hates Chat GPT”
Categories
Firm Culture

Is Someone Out to Get You?

Woman walking on the sidewalk and being followed by a man.
Photo by RDNE Stock project at Pexels.

“Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.”

      Joseph Heller

In some law firms there are politics among the Partners. Someone wants to be the managing partner or to win the compensation committee contest, and they need to win friends and influence people to get what they want.

I know, I know. You cannot believe it. This may be true in other firms, but certainly not in your firm.

In your firm, all of the Partners respect each other and support each other. They never talk behind each other’s back. They are hard on the issues and soft on the people. They certainly do not form cliques, count votes, or solicit support between meetings to win votes at the Compensation Committee or the Executive Committee.

read more about paranoia in law firms “Is Someone Out to Get You?”
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People I Met Practicing Law

Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Seven: The Supervising Lawyer

A lawyer looking at a book while standing over another lawyer who is seated at his desk.
Photo by Sora Shimazak at Pexels.

This is the last in a series about the questions which Articling Students and new Associates should figure out about their firms when deciding whether to stay there over the long-term.

This time, I will speak about supervising lawyers (“SL”).

read more about your supervisor – the key to whether you love or hate your job “Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Seven: The Supervising Lawyer”
Categories
Law Firm Management

Grilled Cheese, Please

Grilled cheese sandwich on a board with avocado and fries in the background.
Photo by Ahmed Rabea at Pexels.

There is a restaurant in Lakefield, Ontario called the Canoe & Paddle. On their regular menu is a panini called the “Ultimate Grilled Cheese” which comes with smoked bacon, cheddar, asiago, tomato, and garlic butter.

On their Kids & Seniors menu they offer a grilled cheese sandwich for which the ingredients are listed as “white loaf, cheddar.” They call this the “Grilled Cheese Please.”

read more about clear communication in law firms “Grilled Cheese, Please”