Although I firmly believe that LPM is
primarily about improving lawyers skill-sets, software support for LPM is never
far behind. What’s more, when
considering how best to ‘embed’ LPM in a law firm, I think software support has
a really important role to play. The
overall aim should be for lawyers to apply LPM techniques simply as part of the
process of servicing matters. Workflow
software in particular can help them do this.
For example, every law firm will have a new matter inception
process. Law firm staff (not just fee
earners) will be prompted to complete this process using some kind of software
(either the firm’s practice management system or dedicated legal case
management system). All firm’s need to
do at this stage is add a few more questions about matter scoping and matter
objectives and they will then have started to develop a more project based
approach. If the legal workflow then
prompted the lawyers to conduct periodic reviews of the matters while in
progress, they can develop this approach further. However I also think firms should avoid the
temptation of going for too much detail too soon. I have seen law firm’s roll-out really quite
detailed – and prescriptive – software workflow solutions, only to find them
resisted, if not rejected, by the fee earners.
So look for software tools which promote consistency but which are also
light touch; then gradually develop from there.
Another thing I have seen and have been
impressed by is the way some firms brand their LPM initiatives. I think this is great. We all know that there is no ‘one size fits
all’ LPM implementation, so in that sense it is natural to have the ‘Smith
& Co LPM’ (or whatever). Branding
the LPM initiative gives a sense of ownership of, and identity with, a firm’s
LPM approach. Fee earners are therefore
much more likely to adopt these new practices because they can clearly see it
is the firm’s way of doing things.
Another benefit of own-firm branding is that it makes LPM much easier to
explain and sell to clients. You then
get a powerful virtuous circle starting.
When fee earners see clients signing-up for the own-brand LPM, they
become even keener to adopt it themselves and promote the own-brand LPM to
their practice area clients too.