A Continuing Commitment
This third annual issue of Professional Legal
Management Week Magazine, disseminated to a combined audience of nearly 50,000
legal management professionals around the world, comes to you thank to the efforts of
leaders of 12 international associations to focus attention on the importance of professional
management in legal organizations.
Online Exclusive!
International Professional Legal Management WeekSM: October 5-9, 2009
BY BOB ABRAMSON
ALA DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
As business entities worldwide combat the economic downturn and prepare for recovery,
12 legal organizations join forces once again to mark the evolution and progression of the
global legal management profession despite the challenging times.
Attaining – and Keeping – Your Seat at the Table
BY ARI L. KAPLAN
Law firms are turning to legal administrators to help partners navigate the unprecedented
economic obstacles that are impacting the entire profession. In turn, administrators are
earning more than recognition; they are earning and keeping seats at the senior
management table by contributing to their firms’ growth and longevity.
Doing More with Less: The Librarian Approach
BY MONICE M. KACZOROWSKI AND HOLLY PINTO
Law firm librarians have emerged as strategic assets as they continually right size collections, budgets,
and staffs, and align library strategies to those of their organizations.
Riding the Economic Roller Coaster: What NOT to Do in the Downswing
BY EDWARD H. FLITTON
The key to managing a law firm during difficult economic times is to focus on its long-term best interests
rather than on this year’s distributions to the partners.
Changing Times, Changing Roles
BY LEANORA RUFFIN
Trends emerging from the economic downturn are prompting legal professionals to develop new
communication skills, cultivate new collaborations, and investigate new ways to train and professionally
develop lawyers.
Are Paralegal Managers Prepared for the Future?
BY JOYCE Y. McGUINEY AND LYNN GRASSBY
The commoditization of law may mean more interesting work assignments and perceived job security
for paralegals, but they shouldn’t get too comfortable.
The Compelling Case for Virtualization
BY MARK MANOUKIAN
Innovative uses of technology ensure exceptional delivery of services to clients, and professionals
who provide technical services to law firms are exploring processes and systems to help them be
more efficient.
Leading Change in a Legal Environment
BY KAREN MACKAY
Law firm managers can be keen observers of the various stakeholders and ensure that both
management and leadership give people what they need in order to deal with significant change.
In Brazil, Accomplishing More with Less
BY FREDERICO PRADO LOPES
Following the path to long-term excellence requires professionalism and the awareness that all legal
professionals – including administrators and attorneys – must be contributors to their organizations'
successes.
Building a Law Firm Business Development Culture
BY RACHEL HAYES
Savvy law firms are unlocking the selling potential of their lawyers and creating firm-wide cultures of business
development.
Creating a Vibrant Online Community
BY RICHARD CHAPLIN
Social networking touches almost anyone that wants to build business relationships, and professionals
need to pursue their options in optimal way to succeed.
Engaging Staff in Changing Times
BY BRONWYN POTT
When the environment you work in changes suddenly, the uncertainty generated effects everyone
in the firm. In turn, staff and managers will be looking to the firm’s leaders for cues in how to
respond to the changes.
Going for the Gold
BY STEPHANIE MARSH AND PETER MORGAN
As British Columbia, Canada, prepares to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, law firm managers are
uniting to support the event and to gauge how staging such an enormous enterprise may impact
their organizations.
Table of Contents
A Growing Commitment
By JOHN MICHALIK
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Association of Legal Administrators
The second annual edition of Professional Legal Management Week Magazine features three new sponsors and a continued focus on the growth and evolution of the global legal management profession.
Law Firm Leadership:
A Unique Challenge
BY ED POLL
ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ADMINISTRATORS
Organizational fundamentals, ethical responsibilities, partnership needs, and client service requirements are all unique to the
legal setting.
Legal Administrators: Worth
Their Weight in Billable Hours
BY KAREN GLOWACKI
ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ADMINISTRATORS MEMBER
Successful administrators are skilled professionals who know how to lead, delegate, and work side by side with the partners to develop and implement a law firm’s strategic goals.
Building the Bridge to Inclusion:
The Work of Law Firm Leaders
BY MARTHA FAY AFRICA
An inclusive leader in a law firm creates a culture of innovation and celebrates the
group over the individual, ultimately changing the firm’s focus from “I” to “We.”
Be Part of a Community of Trust
BY RANDI MAYES AND JOY HEATH RUSH
INTERNATIONAL LEGAL TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION
Law firms and other law-related entities can create vital trust-based communities through service, leadership, organizational
architecture, and a positive culture.
A Land of Opportunities
BY RICARDO FREITAS SILVEIRA
The legal profession in Brazil continues to grow as the country experiences immense corporate progress and development.
Professional Development for Law
Students and Lawyers
BY PAULA NAILON
Whose responsibility is it to train new lawyers for today’s challenging legal environment? Obviously, both law schools and
law firms must assume key roles in this effort, though opinions vary about who should teach what, and when.
Managing for Profitability
BY JOYCE Y. McGUINEY AND LYNN GRASSBY
Maximizing the money-making potential of your firm’s workforce requires more effective utilization of paralegals within your
organization.
Client Satisfaction: It Begins
with You
BY DAVID BILINSKY and STEPHANIE CORNELL
Savvy law firm managers should consider several key strategies to enhance clients’ satisfaction with their firms.
The Influence of Great
Legal Administrators
BY KAREN MACKAY
Successful legal professionals harness the power of relationships, networking, office politics, and new ideas to drive success in their
organizations.
Law Librarians’ Role in
Developing Associates
BY BARBARA CORNWELL HOLT
Law librarians fulfill a vital responsibility in developing the research skills of a firm’s most expensive and critical
resource: its associates.
Improved Teamwork Yields
Better Results
BY LINDA HAZELTON
Understanding personality types – our own and others’ – allows legal professionals to form thriving work teams – driving their
organizations’ successes by capitalizing on individuals’ innate strengths.
Going Green One Step
at a Time
BY NICK SHEPHERD
Professional services firms are doing their parts to reduce their carbon footprints
and engage in environmentally friendly behaviors.
A Profession in
Transition
BY PETER ELLENDER
A structural analysis reveals the substantial long-term impacts of incorporation on the Australian legal industry.
Table of Contents
Professional Legal Management WeekSM: October 1-5, 2007
BY BOB ABRAMSON
ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ADMINISTRATORS
Nine organizations join forces to celebrate the evolution and progression of the global legal management profession.
A World of Change
BY AMY DVORAK
ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ADMINISTRATORS
ALA members on six continents address critical legal management issues and envision the future of their rapidly evolving profession.
Legal Administrators as Strategic Assets
BY KAREN STEINBERGER, CLM
ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ADMINISTRATORS MEMBER
Law firm managers’ professional roles continue to evolve as they strive to take on new responsibilities and their colleagues acknowledge the importance of sound business management practices.
Innovation in Practice: Why It’s So Hard
BY ERIK MANKIN
FOR THE ABA’S LAW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SECTION
Law firms that embrace change and implement new ideas that create value are more likely to succeed in an increasingly competitive legal marketplace.
The Changing Role of the IT Professional
BY RANDI MAYES
INTERNATIONAL LEGAL TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION
Information technology professionals in today’s law firms hold strategically important positions that are vital to everyday operations.
Geared Up for Growth
BY GAYLE P. ENGLERT
NALP — THE ASSOCIATION FOR LEGAL CAREER PROFESSIONALS
More legal career professionals are assuming larger roles in their law firms.
Building Clout in a Brave New World
A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION BY THE LEGAL MARKETING ASSOCIATION
NEW YORK CHAPTER
Industry leaders share their insights on how law firms’ business development and marketing teams can further develop their roles.
The Value and Advantages of Paralegal Managers
BY THE INTERNATIONAL PARALEGAL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
Investing in a paralegal manager is a cost-effective way to increase and improve efficiency in the legal environment.
Walking with Librarians: A Unique Journey
BY MARK GEDIMAN
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF LAW LIBRARIES MEMBER
Law librarians have watched their roles expand and now are seen as indispensable assets to firm operations.
In Search of Management Talent
BY NEASA MACERLEAN
FOR THE MANAGING PARTNERS’ FORUM, UNITED KINGDOM
Support staffs are finding that professional service firms worldwide offer tremendous opportunities for career success.
The Challenge of Change
BY TERRY LEE
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN LEGAL PRACTICE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
Successful law firms in Australia and elsewhere require strong visions, carefully aligned cultures and strategies, and inspiring leadership.
