Q&A: Max Paterson – “We believe that expert human lawyers will always be at the centre of legal practice.”

In this Q&A, Settify principal and CEO Max Paterson underlines the importance of embracing artificial intelligence, why ‘cyborg lawyers’ should not threaten the human element of law, and how staying engaged in theatre keeps him grounded and happy. You had a successful law career at major firms before you decided to set up Settify, an […]

Latest news – Revenue growth subdued; Innovation mindset emerging; Faster, cheaper solutions the key

Squeeze on revenue and margins for law firms A new report suggests top and mid-tier law firms continue to feel the impact of subdued revenue growth, margin compression and demanding clients. However, the 2017 edition of CommBank Legal Market Pulse, an analysis of the trends shaping legal services in Australia, also reveals that many firms […]

8 steps for creating a winning website

Arnold Bloch Leibler recently won the design category in the Legal Website Awards 2017. Marketing and business development manager Aleks Czerwinski tells ALMJ editor Cameron Cooper how the firm approached the redesign; discusses the impact (including a 400 per cent increase in the number of visits to the news/insights section; see table at the end […]

Latest news – Leaner budgets for GCs; Ransomware attacks prove costly; Private-practice lawyers in demand

Budget constraints hit general counsels The latest report on the in-house legal sector in Australia and New Zealand has revealed that budget constraints are increasingly a fact of life for general counsel, while the rise of women through the ranks continues. The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Australia’s 2017 Benchmarks and Leading Practices Report draws […]

Q&A: Patricia Ryan and Hannah Ellis – “Our mission is to provide commercially sensible advice and exceptional bespoke service without the ego and high cost.”

In this Q&A, The Workplace principals Patricia Ryan and Hannah Ellis explain the reasons behind setting up their employment law firm; why they favour a ‘top-heavy’ partner model; and how they benefit from true flexibility in the workplace. You have been running The Workplace, a specialist employment law firm, for three years. What are the […]

Latest news – Human rights on the agenda; 5 ways to promote gender advancement; Small rises for in-house salaries

Legal profession sets out core human rights principles The Law Council recently launched its Policy Statement on Human Rights and the Legal Profession, laying out core principles and commitments of behalf of the Australian legal profession. The statement sets out a framework for evaluating the merits of legislation, policy and practice by reference to international […]

Why your small firm can’t afford to disregard advertising

Some large firms have built strong client bases on the back of mainstream advertising, but it can also be a key part of the marketing mix for smaller players, writes Trish Carroll. Law firms and advertising usually do not go together like bacon and eggs. They should, though, especially if yours is a consumer-centred law […]

Latest news – Millennials value culture most when choosing firm; independent firms upbeat; AI likely to be biggest disruptor

Culture beats brand for millennials A law firm’s culture is the main factor for millennials when they are weighing up whether to accept a potential employer’s offer, according to a new international study. The report, called Minding the Gap: Do Today’s Associates Defy Generational Stereotypes, has been published by legal recruitment firm Major, Lindsey & […]

Q&A: Lachlan McKnight – “Lawyers who are terrified of risk are rarely good lawyers.”

In this Q&A, LegalVision Australia chief executive officer Lachlan McKnight explains how the start-up firm has grown from two to 75 staff in five years; why it is so important to take risks in business; and how machine learning represents the firm’s next competitive move. A lot of new firms, including LegalVision, have emerged in […]

Culture shock – does your firm need to dish up some changes?

As law firms seek to redefine their culture to deal with the digital era, they must first undertake an honest assessment of their current cultural status and then be prepared to put in place interventions to bring about real change, writes Mark Andrews. You may remember school science lessons and doing experiments with petri dishes […]