Market Areas > Practice Management > Law Firm of the Future

The New Business of Law: Becoming the Law Firm of the Future

Course Description:

Is your firms’ current business model on the verge of collapse?

The financial crisis is reshaping many businesses, and law firms are no exception.  In fact, the current economy has accelerated trends that will alter the structure and operations of law firms to come.

While there were signs that the legal industry’s business model had to evolve before the economic downturn, the crisis has made it more urgent.  Layoffs are rampant, new hires delayed, and some firms have closed their doors.   

Yet, the firms that are surviving, even flourishing during these tough economic times are those that have revamped their business models at all levels. New ideas are the key to gaining that competitive edge.  Because in today’s marketplace “business as usual” is no longer sustainable, profitable or advisable.

In this extended 2-hour event, CCM’s panel of experts will take a look at the new business of law.  You’ll learn how other firms are molding alternative business models and attaining success, plus you’ll learn:

• Why it’s absolutely imperative to embrace new ideas to be competitive
• How to Implement immediate changes to secure new clients, retain current ones, and thrive for years to come,
• How to use the current economy to your advantage now and in the future, and
• Attracting and retaining top talent.

A must for every law firm, during this critical CCM teleconference, you’ll also learn:

• How alternative billing strategies will figure in
• Key strategies to boost your firm’s client focus
• How, when and why to introduce value pricing
• Which new professional marketing tactics work and what to toss
• How to identify new markets and opportunities during the downturn
• What today’s client really wants from a law firm

Featured Faculty:

Kent M. Zimmermann, Partner, Zeughauser Group

Leading law firm chairs and chief marketing officers often select Kent Zimmermann to help them increase the size, strength, and profitability of their firms. Kent's interdisciplinary perspective grows out of his experience as a general counsel, a CEO, and an intellectual property litigator.

Focused on growth programs, Kent consults in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, strategic growth planning, and client feedback. In connection with law firm combinations and other growth initiatives, Kent often is engaged by law firms to conduct client service interviews with key clients to expand and safeguard those relationships.

Earlier in his career, Kent was one of the three equity partners who transformed Hubbard One from a small technology start-up to one of the fastest-growing private companies in North America. After Hubbard One's acquisition, in his role as chief executive Kent helped rebrand and reorganize West Legalworks, a live-education and conference business focused on the legal marketplace.

Christopher Marston, Esq., CEO and Founder, Exemplar Law Partners, LLC

Christopher is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Exemplar Law Group and Exemplar Companies. Exemplar is the first business law firm in the nation to abandon hourly billing in favor of a fixed-price model.

Malcolm S. McNeil, Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP

Malcolm focuses his practice in litigation issues for a wide variety of businesses including those dealing with venture capital formation, retailing, textiles, manufacturing, import/export, real estate investment, aviation and publishing.

He has participated in cross-national negotiations and has an establishednetwork of colleagues throughout the globeavailable to assist clients in foreign countries asneeds arise. Malcolm’s practice has included representation of clients in most forums, including a range of administrative forums, statewide and nationally.

Prior to joining the firm, Malcolm was chair of the China Practice Group at Carlsmith Ball LLP in Los Angeles. His legal experience began with an emphasis in tort litigation as a law clerk for Gilbert, Kelly, Crowley & Jennett, and Breldenbach, Swainston, Yokaitis & Crispo. Malcolm was the principal in his own practice for 20 years focusing on an international base of clients located throughoutEurope andAsia.

Pamela H. Woldow, Principal, Altman Weil, Inc.

Pamela H. Woldow is a principal with Altman Weil, Inc. She provides advice to General Counsel and Chief Legal Officers on law department operations, litigation management and the selection and supervision of outside counsel. She advises law firms on alternative fee arrangements, the counsel selection process, responding to RFPs, and all aspects of counsel-client relationships.

She is a Certified Master Coach, providing leadership development coaching to senior lawyers in law firms and law departments, with a special expertise in helping individual lawyers with client relations and business development.

Ms. Woldow's career has included positions as Chief Counsel of the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance, Deputy General Counsel of Pennsylvania, General Counsel at a subsidiary of Advanta Corporation, and Director of Litigation Management for a $2 billion public financial services company. She also managed the national litigation support practice as partner in a consulting and accounting firm. Her earlier legal practice experience included complex commercial and environmental litigation with Duane Morris & Heckscher and Manko, Gold & Katcher.

MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE:

Pricing:

Unable to Attend? Order the CD!

Your CD recording includes the complete audio conference presentation, audience Q&A and presentation materials.

CLE:

CCM provides audio conference attendees with CLE credit processing services. To expedite CCM processing your CLE request, please complete and submit the evaluation form available from CCM at the conclusion of the audio conference. It will be necessary to enter the following information: name of each attorney requesting CLEs with full contact information, including e-mail address, bar number, and the state in which the attorney wants credits. Each attorney requesting credits must submit an evaluation.

Please be advised CCM audio conferences are subject to approval from each CLE issuing organization and approval is not guaranteed (state bar associations in Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania do not grant CLE credits for audio conferences). The approval process takes approximately 6 - 8 weeks for most organizations but can take as long as 3 - 4 months. You will be notified via e-mail with the final status of your CLE application.

Any person applying for CLE credits must attend the audio conference from start to finish (attendance will be taken for compliance reasons). Requests for CLE credits must be received no later than two weeks following the conclusion of the audio conference or live conference. CLE credits are not available for CD recordings.

If you have any questions regarding CLE credits, contact Jill Adler at 631.368.2082 x 21 or jill.adler@meeting-matters.com.

Each CCM event presents a variety of information and is presented for each organization to develop its own approach and methodology.