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 […]

Q&A: David Creais – “The mystique around what lawyers do has largely dissipated and people expect value for money”

In this Q&A, Bartier Perry chairman and acting CEO David Creais explains how consistency has helped the firm thrive for 75 years; why it plans to stick to its strengths in NSW; and how consumerism is changing the landscape for all lawyers. Your firm has just celebrated its 75th anniversary. What is the key to […]

Latest news – Property lawyers ride the wave; Firms going for growth; More work for fewer practices in US

High demand for property lawyers If you are a mid to senior-level construction or property lawyer in Australia, you are in luck. The latest Quarterly Report from recruitment firm Hays shows that private practice, in-house and government organisations want more lawyers in these fields. The emphasis is on finding candidates “who have come from highly reputable […]

How to use corporate values to differentiate your firm from others

Ensuring your partners and employees understand your firm’s corporate values and live up to them is the key to long-term success, writes Leticia Mooney. The legal sector is being shaken at its foundations by the entrance of new technology,1 new models2 and new client expectations3. For many established players, the market is a much less […]

Q&A: James Stevens – “We get about 250 new clients coming on board every week”

In this Q&A, James Stevens, chief executive officer of Go To Court Lawyers, explains how embracing the digital world has allowed his firm to flourish; why millennials are an asset, not a burden; and the importance of being courageous and decisive. Since being set up in 2009, Go To Court Lawyers has gone from strength […]