Project Confidence, Not Arrogance

Some more interviewing advice from CareerJournal.Com .

Lawyers Become Bloggers

A commentator on the legal profession offers some fairly cynical views on why blogging is so popular amongst lawyers.

But aren't there more positive ways to look at this? Lawyers are trained in the art of communication. Blogging just offers another way for lawyers to communicate. What about the positive uses of blogs (e.g. to keep potential clients informed about trends in a particular practice area?)

Lauren Rikleen on Internet Radio

If you missed Lauren Rikleen the other night at the Boston Bar Association, you can catch her on the Legal Talk Network over the internet. Lauren, who just published Ending the Gauntlet: Removing Barriers to Women's Success in the Law, has a lot to say about why women are not advancing at the same rate that they are graduating from law schools.

Are Salary Hikes Necessary?

Several consultants seem to think so. They argue that the dramatic growth in law firm size has increased the demand for top talent. So has the dramatic increase in law firm profitability (in 1986 only 2 law firms had gross revenues in excess of $100 million; in 2005, 184 law firm exceeded that figure.)

Will $10,000 of pretax income cause a law student to choose one firm over the other? Perhaps. But surveys consistently show that today's law school graduate are much more concerned about quality of life.

Barriers to Female Success in Law Firms

Lauren Rikleen, a Partner at Bowditch & Dewey, has published a new book on women and the law. (Ending the Gauntlet: Removing Barriers to Women's Success in the Law.) In it, Rikleen documents institutional barriers that women face in advancing in law firms. She offers practical suggestions to help law firms deal with the lack of female advancement in the legal profession. While I have not had the chance to read the book yet, I am expecting a great read. When Rikleen was President of the Boston Bar Association (19898-1999) she spearheaded a major research project on work/life balance in the law which resulted in a terrific report entitled “Facing the Grail – Confronting the Costs of Work/Family Imbalance” .

Rikleen's book was mentioned in this past Sunday's New York Times in an article on the same subject.

A Growing Generation Gap in Law Firms?

Today's junior associates want more time for family, friends and outside interests. Is this creating a generation gap between the Millenials and senior partners?

Partner Ranks Grow?

The number of attorneys who advanced to partnership at top U.S. law firms advanced modestly in 2006. But the key number, which most firms do not disclose, is how many attorneys became equity partners. Clearly, the brass ring remains very difficult to obtain.

When the Offer Comes too Soon

Some practical tips in my latest MLW article.

When Lawyers Leave Law Firms

The March/April 2006 issue of the Boston Bar Journal features a good article on the fiduciary obligations that partners have to clients and to their firms (if they want to leave their existing firm.) Sorry, no link yet. The article has some very practical suggestions about how to move on without violating your ethical obligations.

Hitching Your Career Wagon to a Star

There are advantages to building a strong relationship with a star at your firm. But there are also risks. What if the star leaves? What if the star is not that well liked by the other partners?

When it comes time to vote up or down on your partnership decision, wouldn't you be better off with a wide base of support?

Differentiating Your Legal Expertise

Marketing professional services is different than marketing a product. While a car manufacturer can show test results that prove a car gets 40 mpg, it is difficult to substantiate that you can write a better brief than your competitor down the block. So how do you stand out from the pack? One consultant suggests that you shouldn't even try. Rather, the focus of your marketing efforts should be demonstrating your expertise in particular areas. This article will have a part II. Maybe the author will give some more specific suggestions in part II. In the meantime, I have some suggestions. If you want to demonstrate that you have expertise, write articles, publish and take leadership positions in the appropriate bar association committee.

Women Not Opting Out?

A Harvard economist arues that highly educated women (including law school graduates) are not opting out of the work force.

Associate Billing Rates--Not Much of a Spread?

According to a recent survey by Altman Weil, associate billing rates do not very that much by size of firm. I have not looked at their methodology so I can't comment on the accuracy of these numbers. But I was a little surprised.

Maybe the differential gets larger if you look at senior associates at large firms vs. senior associates at small firms. But Altman Weil didn't run this analysis.

Radio Broadcast on Salary Increases

BCG's Carey Bertolet, my colleague in NY, is a featured guest in a discussion of the latest salary increases. What are the implications of this trend? What about the majority of law school graduates who will not have the credentials to join a large law firm?

Managing Our Business Relationships

David Maister suggests that we can find guidance for navigating difficult business relationships by thinking about our other relationships in life. If you are having trouble deciding how to deal with a difficult client, try thinking about how you would deal with this individual if he or she were a colleague, a friend or a relative.

Law Firm GC's

Given the size of revenues of law firms on the AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200, isn't it amazing that many firms are just starting to create a full-time GC slot?

Do Starting Salaries Matter?

Starting salaries for attorneys have jumped 250% in the past 20 years and the latest round of salary wars shows that no major law firm wants to be left in the dust. But do higher starting salaries really have that much impact on entry level recruiting? I wonder. In the meantime, you can be sure that no major firm is taking a chance.

Lack of Clear Partnership Criteria

Many law firms could reduce turnover by communicating clearer criteria about what it takes to become a partner. That is the advice of several management consulting firms who specialize in law firm management.

Leadership vs. Management

Are you a leader in your law firm? What does it take to become a great leader? Here are some good thoughts on the subject.

Merging is Not For Everyone

Pundits of the legal industry continue to talk about the demise of mid-sized firms. While law firm mergers are continuing at a steady pace, there are still firms who remain committed to limiting growth. The Boston Business Journal reports on a number of Boston firms who are content to stay independent.