Legal Commentary

Team Building

By Patrick J. Lamb

One of the things I hated when I worked in an Amlaw 100 firm was the relentless pressure to "sell" the virtues of other practice areas, as if every partner and every practice area was of elite quality.  When the partner or practice area was of elite quality and the client had a need in that area, the conversation about meeting the need was worth having.  But as I have written before, it became hard when you were being urged to "sell" somebody you've never met.  Hypocrisy run amuck.  One of the many wonderful attributes of being in a firm that does just one thing is that when a client has need for a skill set you do not have, you really can look for the very best fit and make that introduction as a service to your client.

It was with that mindset that i read yesterday's Wall Street Journal article, How to Succeed in the Age of Going Solo.  According to the Journal, approximately 23% of US workers are consultants or some other form of independent worker.  23%!  That is a staggering number.  As BigLaw continues to shed partners and associates alike, the number of solos and small focused firms continues to grow.  To the extent there ever was a "talent gap" between big firms and others, that gap is closing rapidly.  A lawyer who is great for your matter when employed at a large firm is probably even better when she no longer is with that firm.  You'll get more of her attention and focus, without the survival pressures of BigLaw influencing her. 

The opportunities to build really incredible teams for specific matters is are just starting to unfold.  One effort to go beyond the boundaries of firms and geography is FMC Technologies One Degree Law program (full disclosure--I am part of the program).  But imagine being able to pull just the right talent and just the right cost for a matter.  If you can imagine it, it will happen.

The real question is not if it will happen, but how.  At what resource or location will the willing gather?  Certainly places like Legal On Ramp have the infrastructure and the imagination to make it easy.  What others?

Full post as published by In Search of Perfect Client Service on February 09, 2010 (boomark / email).