LPM Tip
Focus on your strengths: Hire for your weaknesses
According to Ann Guinn of G&P Associates, a lawyer must be
an entrepreneur, a manager and a technician. This is particularly
true in a small firm or solo practice.
Many lawyers are very comfortable in the role of technician (in
essence, practicing law). But not every lawyer is comfortable in
the other two essential roles (i.e. the entrepreneur who generates
the work or the manager who figures out the best way to run the
office efficiently).
The reason is simple: most of us have natural strengths and
weaknesses. Furthermore, because management and marketing are
generally not addressed in law school, most of us have a skills
gap.
Being successful, therefore, requires that you figure out
what you do well. Where there is a gap, hire an employee, outsource
certain functions entirely or educate yourself so that you can be
more effective.
If you are feeling uncertain about marketing, technology, time
management, accounting or HR, consider doing one or several of the
following:
- Attend a bar association CLE or a brown bag lunch that
addresses your gaps;
- Read articles (many consultants post free content to get you
started and the ABA publishes a lot of resources to help lawyers
run their law practice);
- Find a mentor in private practice. Ask if you can buy
them lunch and "pick their brain;"
- Contact the Massachusetts Law Office Management Assistance
Program for free technical support;
- Hire an administrator who has the skills you need;
- Outsource functions to appropriate professionals (e.g. an
accountant, payroll service, technology company); and
- Work with a consultant or coach who is knowledgeable about
marketing, finance, technology, human resources or time management.
From there you can decide whether you want to have the consultant
do the work or if you want to assume the responsibility
yourself.
Tip courtesy of Stephen Seckler, Seckler Legal
Consulting and Coaching.
Published September 29, 2011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To learn more about the Law Practice Management
Section, which is complimentary for all MBA members,
contact LPM Section Chair Thomas J. Barbar or Vice
Chair Stephen
Seckler.