Q&A: Kriss Will – “When people ask me how I’m enjoying retirement, I say I’m not retired, I’m just not able to work.”

In the second of a two-part Q&A, Kriss Will, a respected long-time HR consultant to law firms and the founder of Kriss Will Consulting, explains why it is important for law firm leaders to be decent, and how she maintains a “glass-half-full” approach despite having received a life-changing health diagnosis. You must have seen the […]

Q&A: Kriss Will – “Great workplaces are not just about who has the best wellness program; they’re about the people with whom you work”

In the first of a two-part Q&A, Kriss Will, a respected long-time HR consultant to law firms and the founder of Kriss Will Consulting, shares her views on creating happy and productive workplaces, and why face-to-face networking can often be more effective than social media branding. Kriss, who has retired after being diagnosed with a […]

Will your firm flourish or flounder in tougher economic times?

Given talk of an economic downturn and a possible recession in Australia, senior managers in law firms need to start recession-proofing their businesses and identifying their strengths and weaknesses, writes Trish Carroll. Australian economists are not alone in predicting an economic downturn, or even a serious recession, depending on whether you are a glass-half-full or […]

If things go awry at your law firm, how can you pursue a Plan B?

Most law firms focus on a particular business plan, but at a time of considerable change and disruption in the legal sector it is incumbent on partners or management to have an alternative vision for the future, writes Joel Barolsky. Law firms need a Plan B. Such a plan addresses the scenario of your firm […]

Q&A: Peter George – “Small firms can provide all the services of the big firms. Small is the new big.”

In our Q&A, Peter George, managing partner of Melbourne-based commercial law firm CIE Legal, explains why he thinks small firms are well placed to capitalise on disrupted legal markets; why decency should be on the radar for all firms; and why he loves planting trees. On the CIE Legal website you are described as the […]

Q&A: Andrea Michaels – You’re a good lawyer, but how do you rank as a business or people person?

In our Q&A, NDA Law founder and managing director Andrea Michaels explains how she wants to break down barriers between budget-conscious clients and the law; why she doesn’t believe in time-based billing; and how she came up with a novel name for the South Australian firm.   Since opening its doors in 2015, NDA Law […]

Why law firms need to think differently – and smarter – about AI

A new conversation is required within law firms about artificial intelligence to ensure lawyers understand the tasks it can truly tackle, in turn allowing firms and their clients to benefit from this disruptive force, writes Jordan Furlong. We need a new way to talk about artificial intelligence in the law. I am seeing a lot […]

Q&A: Tamsin Webster – “It’s important to try hard, but to leave work at work and not dwell on your mistakes.”

In this Q&A, Maddocks Senior Associate Tamsin Webster comments on her passion for pro bono work; her recognition as Young Lawyer of the Year; and the lessons from senior lawyers that she is now passing on to others. Congratulations on your recent Young Lawyer of the Year award from the Law Council of Australia for […]

Why your firm should treat client complaints as a Christmas gift

Rather than viewing client complaints as an affront to your firm and your lawyers, it is time to treat such feedback as a gift that can build stronger client-firm relationships, writes Trish Carroll. Complaints are a form of useful feedback. Proactively eliciting and acting on client feedback is a great way of receiving complaint ‘gifts’. […]

Q&A: Marianne Marchesi – “I’d been frustrated with the more traditional way of doing things in law and I realised if I wanted to do it differently I had to do it myself.”

In this Q&A, Legalite founder and principal lawyer Marianne Marchesi comments on why she wants to empower women and other lawyers; explains how her firm has achieved a swag of awards; and outlines the reasons for embracing fixed fees. You started the firm almost two years ago as a sole practitioner. Can it be challenging, […]