December 2008

Results from two surveys show growth at the country’s largest law firms to be down significantly in 2008 although employment is generally still on the rise. The National Law Journal’s 31st annual survey of the NLJ 250 reports that those firms added 4.3% more attorneys in 2008, consistent with increases in 2006 and 2005 but at

David Brooks’ editorial in the October 28, 2008 New York Times predicted that the current financial crisis would "amount to a coming-out party for behavioral economists and others who are bringing sophisticated psychology to the realm of public policy."  Of the four steps of decision-making–1) perceiving a situation, 2) thinking of possible courses of action, 3)

What do you know? Narcissists–big personalities with big egos who like to exert control and reject collaborative decision-making–are the ones leading many law firms through these perilous times. 

"Narcissistic leaders are distinguished by their big ideas…and general indifference to the opinions of others,” according to Douglas Richardson of Altman Weil. “They resolutely reject the status quo, thus

According to the “broken windows” theory of social science, addressing small concerns (like broken windows) that matter to individuals eventually produces major improvements in the overall sense of community and belonging, which in turn fuels a more committed, dedicated group. This theory was instrumental in rebuilding parts of Harlem, the South Bronx and other devastated