Great piece in the HBJ this week by Harvey Mackay. What I like best about it is that he's addressing a very real issue - the economic climate and job uncertainty - and turning it on its head, putting it in a very different light.
There are many pieces out there right now about how to deal with today's economy. This piece just spoke to me:
Getting Fired Is Really About Being Hired | Hartford Business
Monday, July 06, 2009
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Podcamp Boston 4 - Eventbrite
Just registered for Podcamp Boston 4. They only have 400 spots this year. August 8 & 9, UMass Boston.
Podcamp Boston 4 - Eventbrite
Podcamp Boston 4 - Eventbrite
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Shearman & Sterling Offers Voluntary Year-Long Deferral to All Associates - Above the Law - A Legal Tabloid - News, Gossip, and Colorful Commentary on Law Firms and the Legal Profession
Thanks for the Link via Twitter, Lawyer Girl.
The question remains: Which associates at the big firms (e.g., Sherman & Sterling, Skadden) are going to use this year sabbatical to try out B-Law? Who's in?
This is a great opportunity to try out working for the little guy for a year, even just to put some experience under your belt and go back to BigLaw. Come join us - b-law.com!
Shearman & Sterling Offers Voluntary Year-Long Deferral to All Associates - Above the Law - A Legal Tabloid - News, Gossip, and Colorful Commentary on Law Firms and the Legal Profession
The question remains: Which associates at the big firms (e.g., Sherman & Sterling, Skadden) are going to use this year sabbatical to try out B-Law? Who's in?
This is a great opportunity to try out working for the little guy for a year, even just to put some experience under your belt and go back to BigLaw. Come join us - b-law.com!
Shearman & Sterling Offers Voluntary Year-Long Deferral to All Associates - Above the Law - A Legal Tabloid - News, Gossip, and Colorful Commentary on Law Firms and the Legal Profession
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Economy Pinches the Billable Hour at Law Firms - NYTimes.com
Another article on billable hours v. flat fees. What's interesting here is that a partner at Cravath (a large, national firm, known for being a strong proponent of the billable hour) is arguing against it.
Economy Pinches the Billable Hour at Law Firms - NYTimes.com
Economy Pinches the Billable Hour at Law Firms - NYTimes.com
Monday, January 19, 2009
Small Firm Business - Some Small Firms Find Smooth Sailing Through Turbulent Times
The opportunity for small firms.
This article states what I've been saying: the current economic situation is an opportunity for smaller firms, because we provide the personalized service that has been missing from larger firms.
Read more here:
Small Firm Business - Some Small Firms Find Smooth Sailing Through Turbulent Times
This article states what I've been saying: the current economic situation is an opportunity for smaller firms, because we provide the personalized service that has been missing from larger firms.
Read more here:
Small Firm Business - Some Small Firms Find Smooth Sailing Through Turbulent Times
Law Blog - WSJ.com : Akin Gump to Cut 65 Staff; 'No Planned Attorney Layoffs'
More law firm layoffs. (Again, thank you to Parker Elmore for sending me this. Maybe I should hire Parker to be my official legal news correspondent......)
In any case, I'm seeing the layoffs at the big firm as similar to the drop in prices in the housing market. Big firms had enormous salaries, supported by huge staff. I'm not saying that having a huge staff isn't a nice place to be as a lawyer. What I am saying is that the cost of these large staffs was passed onto the clients, and the clients can no longer afford the cost, so the overhead has to be cut.
Boy, it sure was nice to have all those people helping me out when I was at BigLaw......
This is also an opportunity for the little firms. Corporations are now looking for ways to cut their overhead, and specifically to cut their legal bills. If small firms can step up and show corporations that not only do they cost less, but that they provide the added personal service not available at BigLaw, we can step into a marketplace that was unavailable just a few years back.
Here's the original post from WSJ's legal blog:
Law Blog - WSJ.com : Akin Gump to Cut 65 Staff; 'No Planned Attorney Layoffs'
In any case, I'm seeing the layoffs at the big firm as similar to the drop in prices in the housing market. Big firms had enormous salaries, supported by huge staff. I'm not saying that having a huge staff isn't a nice place to be as a lawyer. What I am saying is that the cost of these large staffs was passed onto the clients, and the clients can no longer afford the cost, so the overhead has to be cut.
Boy, it sure was nice to have all those people helping me out when I was at BigLaw......
This is also an opportunity for the little firms. Corporations are now looking for ways to cut their overhead, and specifically to cut their legal bills. If small firms can step up and show corporations that not only do they cost less, but that they provide the added personal service not available at BigLaw, we can step into a marketplace that was unavailable just a few years back.
Here's the original post from WSJ's legal blog:
Law Blog - WSJ.com : Akin Gump to Cut 65 Staff; 'No Planned Attorney Layoffs'
Friday, January 09, 2009
Welcome to the Future: Time for Plan B in 2009
AmLawDaily's recent article on the necessity for change in law firms, as a function of the current economic times.
Welcome to the Future: Time for Plan B in 2009
Welcome to the Future: Time for Plan B in 2009
The Layoff List
American Lawyer reports how the economy is affecting BigLaw. It's so bad, that they have a separate page on their site, with news of BigLaw layoffs by firm, in alphabetical order, with links:
The Layoff List
The Layoff List
Litigation Boutique of the Year
Winner Bartlit Beck: Unique Model, Unmatched Results
Here's a law firm that handles litigation and charges flat fee. The fee system is brilliant, and similar to the system used by my former employer, a management consulting firm. It's curious to me that more attorneys don't bill this way, because from the client's point of view, this is wonderful.
Here's the excerpt:
<p>Litigation Boutique of the Year</p> Winner Bartlit Beck: Unique Model, Unmatched Results: "Bartlit Beck's unique fee structure is both a matter of principle and a basic tenet of the firm's high-risk/high-reward business model. The firm negotiates its compensation individually with each client, but typically clients pay a flat monthly fee, holding back a percentage ranging from 20 to 40 percent. If the case goes awry, the client pockets the holdback. If the client wins, the firm receives a bonus that can amount to five times the holdback or more. The system forces the firm to choose its cases carefully, which, the firm insists, means that clients receive a frank assessment of their chances. 'We've had cases where we told clients their case wasn't very good, and they came back and said the other firms they're talking to didn't tell them that,' says Beck. 'I say, yeah, but they're billing you by the hour.'"
Here's the excerpt:
<p>Litigation Boutique of the Year</p> Winner Bartlit Beck: Unique Model, Unmatched Results: "Bartlit Beck's unique fee structure is both a matter of principle and a basic tenet of the firm's high-risk/high-reward business model. The firm negotiates its compensation individually with each client, but typically clients pay a flat monthly fee, holding back a percentage ranging from 20 to 40 percent. If the case goes awry, the client pockets the holdback. If the client wins, the firm receives a bonus that can amount to five times the holdback or more. The system forces the firm to choose its cases carefully, which, the firm insists, means that clients receive a frank assessment of their chances. 'We've had cases where we told clients their case wasn't very good, and they came back and said the other firms they're talking to didn't tell them that,' says Beck. 'I say, yeah, but they're billing you by the hour.'"
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