Better Law Practice Through Better People Management
The rate of depression among lawyers is widely recognized as a multiple–in some studies a double-digit multiple–of the rate of depression in the general population and also in other professions. This rate is high by the second semester of law school and only escalates over time.
There has been speculation as to whether depression in lawyers is a condition…
One of the more interesting findings in emotional intelligence research is that people who read emotional cues in others are generally good at reading their own emotional states and vice-verse—those who read themselves well are likely to read others well also. Conversely, an inability to read either oneself or others signals the corresponding inability. These findings are…
In connection with the American Lawyer’s announcement of the 2010 Am Law 100, Amy Kolz, a reporter there, wrote an article about profit margins of those firms over the last five years, to which I contributed. To summarize the article’s main points:
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Even the original researchers in the emotional intelligence field–Jack Mayer and Peter Salovey–have taken different sides in the controversy as to whether EI can be learned. That uncertainty has put law firm professional development managers in a difficult spot, second-guessing the usefulness of providing lawyers with EI training programs.
The most recent research suggests that, instead of EI being an
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One can’t review the data showing the magnitude of mental illness, substance abuse and other indices of distress in lawyers without thinking of the lawsuit that, with apologies to Lord Alfred Douglas, no one dares speak about but is certain to come.
There are all sorts of scenarios that could prompt it. An associate will commit suicide or a partner…
Further to our mention of ABSs in the previous entry, an historic event occurred last week: the first UK law firm, Irwin Mitchell, has declared its intention to become an Alternative Business Structure under the Legal Services Act soon to become effective, and has engaged an investment bank to help fashion a workable and attractive structure.…
The interests of money and legal ethics have a way of conflicting with each other–as is evident in a number of current developments in the legal industry.
The acceleration of the recent trend of private investors putting money into other people’s lawsuits has prompted debate over what the legal status of the lending should be. According to an article…
The words being thrown around were trust, intimacy, empathy, vulnerability, honesty, transparency, communication, emotional intelligence, teamwork, forgiveness, feedback, collaboration, connectedness, courage, relationship-building. It would be understandable if you thought that you had walked into a marital counseling conference or some new-age event.
In fact, the setting was Georgetown University Law Center’s March 9th conference entitled "Welcome to the…
How stressed-out are you feeling today? A UK study has concluded that 10 AM on Tuesdays is the peak period of stress during a lawyer’s work week, and that 47% of lawyers carry their stress home from work, "leading them to drink (every now and then)."
That may be an understatement. Data from around the world…
In addition to establishing metrics for demonstrating, for instance, who in the firm does what and how for project management or other purposes, there are metrics out there that track what individual firms charge for various units of work, so that inside counsel can compare value among firms in a more finely calibrated way.
A survey by CT TyMetrix Inc.…