Most Law Firms are not good at adapting. Â Perhaps you have noticed?
In fact, I would go so far as to say that most Law Firms are terrible at adapting. Â The proof of this is in the current state of law firms now and how they compare to the way law firms functioned 20 years ago. Â Guess what? Â Most of them are pretty similar.
Sure, there are new computers and technology, but the fundamentals of the firms are the same. Â They approach clients the same, marketing the same, media the same, practice the same. Â In all – the issues faced by law firms now are similar to those in the past. Â They have identified the issues but for whatever reason few of them have successfully confronted those issues.
However, an individual lawyer has an advantage over a law firm here – we can be adaptive. Â We do not need to embrace torpor the way that many firms do, and as such can be more nimble when it comes to our own personal development. Â Adaption allows us to learn more quickly from mistakes, to improve and excel in areas where previously we did not. Â Adaption gives us the ability to constantly improve and to deliberately and strategically outpace the improvements being made around us. Â Sounds selfish? Â Well it’s not – as you’ll see, this adaptation allows us really to do one thing better: serve clients, and teach others.
With that in mind, I encourage you to embrace adaption. Â How, you might ask? Â Here are some thoughts to get you started:
- Actively and deliberately listen to your clients, and the feedback from other lawyers about theirs – and USE that information to your advantage. Â Does your colleague in litigation know about a business that is about to go under? Â Perhaps that business is one that your distressed business financier might be interested in? Â Obviously you can’t act in breach of your confidentiality, but by knowing what’s going on you can put A in touch with B swiftly when the information goes public. Â More broadly, however, knowing more about your clients is simply good business. Â Social media gives lawyers a prime opportunity to listen to their clients and their target markets. Â Are you using that information to your benefit? Â Remember it’s not just about knowing the information – it’s about acting upon it.
- Embrace innovation in your personal approach to your practice. Â Sure, the firm has a precedent for document X, but if it is terrible then don’t use it! Â Fix it, re-write it, submit it to the relevant person, and by doing so encourage an ongoing process of review and improvement. Â Continuing to use useless documents is just one example of course. Â How can you innovate, modify, improve the systems or approaches that others simply take for granted?
- Constant personal growth. Â I’ve mentioned this as a positive side effect of wide reading, but it’s also an important deliberate component of legal practice. Â By consistently improving your knowledge, your skills and your practice you are a valuable contributor to your firm and to the legal profession generally. Â Make sure you are on an upward trend, not one that plateaued after you were admitted.
- Connected with your personal growth: Â share what you know and what you learn. Â There’s little point in you being a knowledgeable, skillful but silent island of legal brilliance. Â Grow your team (doesn’t really matter where you fall in the pecking order – it’s still your team). Â That could include your secretary, the admin staff, your boss, other lawyers, law clerks. Â Openly and generously share what you know – especially if it’s helping you provide better service to clients and you know that your recommendations or suggestions are sound. Â How do I do this? Â Well, you’re reading it now…
- Measure what you’re doing. Â Are your efforts seeing results? Â If they’re not, and you see no potential for them to do so, then why are you wasting your time? Â Sure, there might be a long term plan and that’s possibly worth sticking to. Â But don’t just keep flapping about for the sake of perceived productivity – you need to measure your efforts and adapt accordingly. Â Turf the practices that are not helping, and acquire new habits which will. Â Don’t let pride get in the way of an idea that seemed good at the time being abandoned in favour of a better one.
- With all of this, make sure your goal is clear. Â As a trusted advisor, I hope that you utilise these processes to benefit your clients and your colleagues. Â If you’re not using them for that purpose, then what, exactly, are you doing in a legal career?
These are just my suggestions of course. Â The overall picture is this: Â constantly learn, analyse, and grow. Â Don’t fall into the trap of standing still, because that’s both boring for you, and unhelpful to your clients. Â I’m not advocating change for the sake of change – but if improvements can be made, then get on it!
So how are you going to do it? Â How do you adapt to change in your practice now? Â Let me know in the comments.
Happy Lawyering!