In today's hyper-competitive legal industry, associate attorneys are the backbone of any law firm, driving much of the day-to-day legal work and perhaps, client interaction. However, many firms face significant challenges in retaining their associates, leading to high turnover rates that can impact firm culture, client satisfaction, and ultimately, the bottom line. Understanding why associate attorneys leave is crucial for law firm leaders aiming to not only attract but also retain top talent. Let’s explore the multifaceted impact that turnover has on your firm, delve into the three primary reasons associates decide to move on, and provide four actionable strategies to foster a more robust retention plan. By addressing these issues head-on, your firm can improve its workplace environment and reduce the costly cycle of recruiting and training new associates.
Transforming Stress Into Success: Why Embracing 'Yester-Me' is the Ultimate Productivity Tool
In a world that demands us to be perpetual planners, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by our own ambitious agendas. But what if the key to mastering productivity and reducing stress lies in changing how we view our past selves? In this blog post, I delve into my personal journey of grappling with 'yester-me,' the version of myself who plans for today. Spoiler: your past self isn't your enemy; it's your most underutilized ally in personal and professional growth. Read on to discover how this mindset shift can make you more effective, less stressed, and bring you one step closer to your goals.
Flow And The Billable Hour Lawyer
Yesterday, I held a LinkedIn Live event sharing why cultivating a law practice which incorporates the concept of working in a flow state makes imminent sense for any lawyer who has a billable hour requirement. Click here to be directed to the LinkedIn recording; read on for a brief summary of the event.
The death of the billable hour has been talked about for years and, yet, the model just won’t seem to die! When lawyers hear about the benefits of a flow state, they myopically focus on the fact they’ll be 5x (that’s 500%) more productive. That’s the conclusion of a McKinsey Quarterly Report from 2013 and is based on a survey of more than 5,000 executives. That focus ignores the myriad other benefits of incorporating flow into your law practice.
Here are some of the benefits of working in a flow state:
Increased concentration and focus
Increased work product quality
Increased client satisfaction
Reduced potential for burnout
Better work-life blend (balance is a myth)
Increased client satisfaction leads to solid-gold referral sources for your practice. Reduced potential for burnout leads to you working with more purpose and serving clients who need you longer. Better work-life blend will result in you showing up differently for your family and community.
The benefits of having a law practice which incorporates the practice of flow greatly outweigh any “hit” you’ll take to your billable hours. There’s no valid reason not to build a law practice based on flow.
Are You Settling? What’s Measured Can Be Improved.
Extreme Ownership
The 5 Lies Lawyers Have Bought Into: Lie Number 2 - If you're not busy, your lazy.
Picture the hamster on its wheel or, for those with more refined taste, Sisyphus pushing his boulder up the hill.
There’s a bill of goods we’re sold from the moment we enter law school, that is double-downed on when we practice law:
If you’re not busy, you’re lazy.
I’m here to tell you it’s a bunch of crap and, in fact, the opposite is true.
I believe busyness is laziness. Let me explain.
We all have 168 hours each and every week. That’s all the time we have. Period. We can’t make any more. The decisions you make for what goes into your 168-hour pie is where the real work is. If you’re lazy here, then you’ll be busy, busy, busy, everywhere else.
But what are you busy doing? Are you busy doing your high-leverage work. The work only you can do? Are you taking ideal cases from ideal clients that give you energy and excitement? Are you saying no to virtually every opportunity that comes your way?
This isn’t just me talking here. According to Inc., Warren Buffett believes: “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.” Steve Jobs famously said: “Focus is about saying no.” Tim Ferris, best-selling author of “The 4-Hour Work Week” wrote: “Being busy is a form of laziness—lazy thinking and indiscriminate action. Being busy is most often used as a guise for avoiding critically important but uncomfortable actions.”
Please don’t come here believing, as a successful lawyer, you’re some kind of unicorn to whom the rules don’t apply. Don’t tell me these people who have dented the universe in their own unique way got it all wrong when it comes to attorneys in general and you in particular.
Please, stop lying to yourself. Please, stop listening to others’ lies.
Any coach worth her or his salt can help you build a system to attract ideal clients and make decisions based on what is important to you. A good coach can help you build guardrails so your 168-hour week is filled with meaningful work. That is, frankly, the easy part.
The hard part is finding a coach who can help you radically rewire your mindset so you can learn to block out the voices - both external and the voice in your head - that tell you if you’re not busy you’re lazy.
I am that kind of coach if you’re ready to do the work. Here’s what sets me apart from any other coach on the planet:
Your bullshit doesn’t scare me
I will never shame or “should” you
You cannot convince me you aren’t great
Are you ready to get to work transforming your life?