Welcome to Legal OnRamp
Ed Reeser:
I am going to have to start a "Fred's Fan Club".
It is all about operations and process.
What are we trying to accomplish. Really accomplish.
How do we get there with the best results, and at the best price. Do not assume the two are mutually exclusive. I believe that in the majority of cases they in fact go hand in hand together.
Take even the most fundamental of assumptions one has about a process, and turn it upside down and shake it. Even if it is the best you know of....it does not mean it is the best there is, or that you cannot improve it. Everytime you do it, THINK about it. It takes a tiny sliver of time to make changes that deliver big hunks of returns in results and price reward.
You cannot do this if you do not have experience. Not garbage experience, but practice.
Put your time into training, really training, your carefully selected proteges so that they have real skills when it is time for them to wade into the battle in a lead position.
Like martial arts. Why are they so good at fighting? Because they fight EVERY DAY. And under strict scrutiny and corrections. Thugs and punks fight on occasion. Sloppily. Put them together, the outcome is almost always the same, the thug gets wiped out, and fast.
Know what you do, and why, and when it is time to bring it, bring it hard.
Shuffling paper for three years and sending five page letters that cost the client ten grand are not what it is about.
It is all about operations and process.
What are we trying to accomplish. Really accomplish.
How do we get there with the best results, and at the best price. Do not assume the two are mutually exclusive. I believe that in the majority of cases they in fact go hand in hand together.
Take even the most fundamental of assumptions one has about a process, and turn it upside down and shake it. Even if it is the best you know of....it does not mean it is the best there is, or that you cannot improve it. Everytime you do it, THINK about it. It takes a tiny sliver of time to make changes that deliver big hunks of returns in results and price reward.
You cannot do this if you do not have experience. Not garbage experience, but practice.
Put your time into training, really training, your carefully selected proteges so that they have real skills when it is time for them to wade into the battle in a lead position.
Like martial arts. Why are they so good at fighting? Because they fight EVERY DAY. And under strict scrutiny and corrections. Thugs and punks fight on occasion. Sloppily. Put them together, the outcome is almost always the same, the thug gets wiped out, and fast.
Know what you do, and why, and when it is time to bring it, bring it hard.
Shuffling paper for three years and sending five page letters that cost the client ten grand are not what it is about.
Fred Bartlit:
THREE IMPORTANT POINTS
"Take even the most fundamental of assumptions one has about a process, and turn it upside down and shake it. "
TURNS OUT THAT "TURNING A LEGAL PROCESS UPSIDE DOWN" IS OFTEN EXACTLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY.
FOR EXAMPLE, INSTEAD OF HAVING FIRST DRAFT OF A CROSS OUTLINE DONE BY A ROOKIE ASSOCIATE WHO HAS NEVER SEEN A TRIAL CROSS, HAVE FIRST DRAFT DONE BY THE CHIEF TRIAL LAWYER, THEN HAVE CITES, SOURCES, FILL INS, ADDITIONS, ETC ETC DONE BY THE ASSOCIATE
You cannot do this if you do not have experience. Not garbage experience, but practice.
LAST YEAR OVER 90% OF THE LAWYERS IN MY FIRM TOOK A WITNESS AT A TRIAL. THIS STUFF CAN BE LEARNED, BUT DOING IT IN THE REAL WORLD, OVER AND OVER AND OVER, IS REQUIRED
Put your time into training, really training, your carefully selected proteges so that they have real skills when it is time for them to wade into the battle in a lead position.
THIS MEANS THAT THERE CAN BE NO "UP OR OUT". EVERY LAWYER MUST BE HIRED WITH THE INTENT THAT THEY ARE PREMANENT LAWYERS/PARTNERS AT THE FIRM. THE IDEA THAT, AFTER 3-8 YEARS, MOST ASSOCIATES ARE GONE IS INCOMPATIIBLE WITH TRUE, HARD CORE, USEFUL, EXPERIENCE.
"Take even the most fundamental of assumptions one has about a process, and turn it upside down and shake it. "
TURNS OUT THAT "TURNING A LEGAL PROCESS UPSIDE DOWN" IS OFTEN EXACTLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY.
FOR EXAMPLE, INSTEAD OF HAVING FIRST DRAFT OF A CROSS OUTLINE DONE BY A ROOKIE ASSOCIATE WHO HAS NEVER SEEN A TRIAL CROSS, HAVE FIRST DRAFT DONE BY THE CHIEF TRIAL LAWYER, THEN HAVE CITES, SOURCES, FILL INS, ADDITIONS, ETC ETC DONE BY THE ASSOCIATE
You cannot do this if you do not have experience. Not garbage experience, but practice.
LAST YEAR OVER 90% OF THE LAWYERS IN MY FIRM TOOK A WITNESS AT A TRIAL. THIS STUFF CAN BE LEARNED, BUT DOING IT IN THE REAL WORLD, OVER AND OVER AND OVER, IS REQUIRED
Put your time into training, really training, your carefully selected proteges so that they have real skills when it is time for them to wade into the battle in a lead position.
THIS MEANS THAT THERE CAN BE NO "UP OR OUT". EVERY LAWYER MUST BE HIRED WITH THE INTENT THAT THEY ARE PREMANENT LAWYERS/PARTNERS AT THE FIRM. THE IDEA THAT, AFTER 3-8 YEARS, MOST ASSOCIATES ARE GONE IS INCOMPATIIBLE WITH TRUE, HARD CORE, USEFUL, EXPERIENCE.