Patrick Lamb has this week a post about project management on his In Search of Perfect Client Service blog. Specifically, he comments on the Legal Project Management Quick Reference Guide written by my colleague Jim Hassett of LegalBizDev.
Pat reviewed a copy of the guide and endorses not only the importance of project management (particularly in light of alternative fees or what he calls “Value Fees”), but points out how badly lawyers traditionally have managed their matters. He is right of course, and the billable hour is the main culprit. Simply put, lawyers under a billable hour system don’t have to management projects efficiently. They only have to log their time, and the more they work, the more they make.
He goes on to conclude that the guide “is an exceptional piece of work that you will want to examine.” I concur of, course; and unashamedly (since I had no role in writing it nor share in the proceeds) recommend it to you for your firm.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, my main point here is that with better project management, you will have a bunch more time to get out there “focusing on low hanging fruit and seizing early wins to demonstrate the value of this skill set.” Now, that is a business development idea worth pursuing.
