Why don’t lawyers do what you ask them to do? (first published on Legal Futures)
by Simon McCrum
In an article first published on Legal Futures, Simon McCrum explores why lawyers do not do what the firm needs them to do and recommends action to take to ensure that the policies and procedures put in place are followed.
Having been team leader, department head, division head and managing partner, I understand well the frustration (and anger) that managing partners and CEOs voice to me. ‘We have asked them a dozen times, but still they are not doing what we need!’ is the way the conversation usually goes.
What is it that lawyers are not doing? There is a long list:
- not recording all the time they spend on client files;
- not sending out the retainer letter at the outset;
- not defining the retainer in sufficient detail;
- not getting money on account;
- not closing files;
- not getting client ID;
- not ascertaining precisely who or what the client is;
- not recording all requisite info on the system or on the file;
- not identifying the source of the work (for the marketing team);
- not chasing their own bills; and
- not doing transfers to pay bills or to pay disbursements.
The list goes on, and it builds up to a scenario in our profession where, in very many firms, highly paid and very clever lawyers do not do what the business needs them to do.
Why are the policies and procedures not followed? I believe the start of the answer is that very often chief amongst the culprits are the partners themselves. If they do not follow the rules, then they are not rules, are they?
Next, what sanctions are there for not adhering to the rules? None, usually. Someone who does good billing for example can be excused a dozen behavioural shortcomings, and very often a lawyer’s reward and progress up the firm is based solely on their billing. So what will everyone focus on at the expense of everything else?
There is no silver bullet that can change things overnight. But there are ways that you can reduce this recalcitrance, including the following steps.
- Make it an absolute rule for the partners to adhere to policies – if they do not, the whole thing is shot. Such are the benefits for the business of getting everyone adhering to your policies, that you can and should take a hard line here in bringing in a non-negotiable approach from the top tier in the firm.
- The things you are asking everyone to do are for ultimately the benefit of the whole – in a team culture, the whole team has to play to the rules, and un-team-like behaviours ought to be addressed.
- Make adherence to detailed policies and practices part of your appraisal, reward and promotion criteria. This is the carrot. If some people are doing things right and others are doing things wrong but getting away with it, it undermines any team culture you are trying to develop – let everyone know that to get in and to stay in your team, you have to adhere to team rules.
- Ultimately, you should have a stick too. Bad behaviours damage the business. They drive your business support teams round the bend and detract them from the positive things they could be doing for your business. Given a fair chance to understand the policies and why they’re there, someone who continues to disregard them – whatever their level in the firm – means that you will forever be driving with a handbrake on.
In short, everyone has got a boss – and the boss is the business and its needs.
You can also read Simon’s blog on Legal Futures by clicking here.
by Simon McCrum
