Legal Commentary

On the Commoditization of Legal Services

Posted on April 21, 2009
A great overview of the subject.

Getting With the Program

Posted on April 19, 2009
I've been advising my coaching clients for years that exercise and outside interests are an important part of marketing and career advancement. While I've tried to emphasize the importance of making time for doing something that you enjoy (i.e. that this could be, but doesn't have to be exercise) as I get older, I become more convinced that there is no substitute for exercise...

The Middle Office is Live

Posted on April 16, 2009
CounseltoCounsel has spawned offspring: The Middle Office . The Middle Office is a blog that explores the relationship between law firms, in-house counsel and the services provided by LPOs (legal process outsourcing companies). The focus of the Middle Office is on IP in particular...

Successful Law Firms Are All Alike

Posted on April 15, 2009
They have these 10 qualities.

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Upping the Partner Ante

Posted on April 10, 2009
For partners with portable business, this may be a good time to shop your practice. There are many hungry buyers out there; but be aware that the bar is being raised at most firms. A legal recruiter asserts that firms which wanted 500K now want 750K in portable business and firms that wanted a million now want 1...

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Coach

Posted on April 07, 2009
5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Career Coach. For more on coaching (including business development coaching, click here).

What's Hot, What's Not (in DC)

Posted on April 07, 2009
Tips from recruiters in DC (free subscription required). Part of a Special Report on Associates in this week's Legal Times (premium subscription required for some content).

59% of Lawyers are On a Social Network

Posted on April 06, 2009
Here's another quick overview of how to get involved with some good tips to help you generate business.

Free Overview of Social Networking for Lawyers

Posted on April 06, 2009
Feel like you are missing the boat wrt Web 2.0? In some ways, we all do. But if you are just starting out and want to read a good overview of how these tools can help you in marketing your practice, take a look at Carolyn Elefant's free e-book on the topic.

Leverage Model in Firms Will Change, Not Disappear

Posted on April 06, 2009
Aric Press, Editorial Director of Incisive Media (formerly American Lawyer Media), discusses the changes that are coming to the traditional law firm model (free subscription required). The pressure on law firms to control fees continues to mount and law firms are being forced to rethink leverage...

My Formal Announcement--sent to my e-mailing list

Posted on April 01, 2009
Dear Colleague:In order to be more responsive to the changing needs of the legal profession, I have returned full time to my consulting business, Seckler Legal Consulting. My new contact info is below. For the foreseeable future, I will be dividing my time between three activities...

Jobs in India for US Lawyers?

Posted on March 29, 2009
The growth of LPO in India may provide one source of jobs for American lawyers who are looking for adventure!

Large Firms Beginning to See Value in LPO?

Posted on March 28, 2009
When legal work began to be outsourced to India, it was presumed that corporate counsel would be the most willing to employ the strategy to control legal expenses. Small firms were presumed to also be interested because LPO provides a ready and scalable workforce that is not on the regular payroll (i...

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Posted on March 21, 2009
It may be harder than ever to leave a job that you don't like. How can you drop off into the abyss when times are so bad? Well maybe the thing to do is to think about the worst case scenario (i.e. what is the worst that can happen if you do quit). If you can live with those consequences, then maybe you should pull the plug...

I'm Now a Twit

Posted on March 19, 2009
Actually, the correct term is tweet. You can follow me at counsel2counsel .

A Hint About My Next Moves

Posted on March 18, 2009
My most recent article in MLW gives a preview of what I will be doing next. More to follow.

Go With Grace

Posted on March 17, 2009
To my readers, I will be in transition until the beginning of April. I am not sure how much I will be posting until then. I have left my position at BCG Attorney Search in order to pursue some exciting new directions. More in this space in the coming weeks...

Great Days Ahead for SmallLaw?

Posted on March 13, 2009
Sometimes you're the windshieldSometimes you're the bug...Dire StraitsWhat a difference five years can make in the legal profession. Beginning in the 1990's, many pundits were predicting the demise of mid-sized law firms (too small to really serve international clients, yet too big to maintain the efficient and cost effective delivery of legal services)...

Voice Mail Messages: Yes or No?

Posted on March 09, 2009
If you are trying to do more networking these days, you are in good company. The ranks of unemployed lawyers keep growing and networking is a good way to uncover jobs and project work that may go unadvertised. But what happens when you are diligently making your networking phone calls and you keep getting voice mail...

Will Small, Mid-Sized and Regional Firms Benefit From the Recession?

Posted on February 25, 2009
Their lower billing rates are certainly looking a lot more attractive these days.

Will the ABA Rule Change Fuel Lateral Movement?

Posted on February 17, 2009
The ABA has adopted a new rule which seems to create more opportunities for partners to move laterally. In lowering the ethics hurdle with respect to conflicts of interest, is the ABA encouraging lateral movement or simply acknowledging what is already happening in the legal profession?

Doing Well in a Bad Economy

Posted on February 14, 2009
The key to success in a downturn is to be flexible. You may be a great technician in your particular practice area; but if the marketplace does not need your services, then you better be ready to adapt.

Are You Addicted to Success?

Posted on February 13, 2009
That's a diagnosis offered in today's WSJ (subscription req.) Maybe our culture puts too much emphasis on professional achievement.While there is nothing wrong in striving for high levels of achievement, the problem arises when achievement becomes your principal source of self esteem...

Tough Times for Biglaw Partners?

Posted on February 12, 2009
Are partners at large firms now at risk of being deequitized or terminated? So far, most of the reports of layoffs at firms have focused on staff and associates. But the legal profession is still in a recession and at least one pundit believes that trimming the partnership ranks is next...

Thinking of Switching Practice Areas?

Posted on February 10, 2009
A partner at Jones Day who serves on the firm's training committee has some good advice.

Just Say No to RFP's

Posted on February 10, 2009
In these challenging times, should a law firm respond to every RFP? Not necessarily suggests an Altman Weil consultant. It can cost between $35,000 and $65,000 in partner time to put together a proposal. Furthermore, the chances of winning the work are not necessarily that great...

Off the Beaten Track at a Trade Show

Posted on February 08, 2009
LegalTech New York is history. As I have already indicated, the show was a nice antidote to our economic malaise. It was a reminder for me that getting out of the office to learn something new is a good way to recharge. It was also fun to talk with professionals who are trying to figure out ways that legal services can be delivered faster, better and cheaper...

Beware of Your Cash Cow

Posted on February 07, 2009
When you earn your living by providing legal services to businesses, it is great to have a client that sends you a lot of work. In fact cultivating a strong relationship with a client that has diverse legal needs is an important way to ensure that your practice remains vibrant...

Belated Thoughts on LegalTech New York

Posted on February 07, 2009
I attended LegalTech in New York this past week and despite my best intentions, I am now just getting around to posting about the show (other than posting my interview with IncisiveMedia). I was invited by Law.com to attend as a blogger who is part of the law...

Cost Cutting at Law Firms

Posted on February 06, 2009
The National Law Journal cites some interesting statistics about law firm expenses. Here are a few:A firm cuts costs by an average of $250,000 for each attorney let go. For each legal assistant or other staffer laid off, a law firm saves about $100,000For most big law firms, about 85% of their budget goes to rent and personnel costsPaying severance can be costly...

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