Following a relatively slow start to embrace the direct application of concepts that have revolutionised the tech and manufacturing sectors, law firms are increasingly placing ‘Agile’ – described as “the best kept management secret on the planet” – on their business development agenda. In response to Covid-19, many firms have proven their capacity for agile decision making and have accelerated their development of a more agile working model. But this requires more than digitisation and remote working.
This Special Report is the essential guide for every law firm leader who wants to move beyond the reactive to the strategic adoption of proven agile principles. Being able to adapt smartly to client needs, competitor threats and employee expectations are at the core of this report, which is built around a self-assessment tool and practical framework for implementing Agile.
This Special Report covers:
•What is Agile and how has it been used across industries? Explores the most important uses of agile thinking and models, from those that have transformed the worlds of technology, consumer products and complex projects, to the hybrid agile working model that many law firms seek to adopt post-Covid-19;
•Why Agile? Looks at where adopting agile principles in your firm will make a difference and how these ideas connect with client value, digital transformation, innovation and collaboration;
•Where can we utilise Agile in law firms? Examines the different parts of a law firm and explains which agile models and tools can be used where, using legal sector case studies;
•How Agile are you? Outlines a practical diagnostic for assessing your level of agility in each area of the firm; and
•What next? Covers planning and implementing an agile programme, from mindset and language change to organisational design and client engagement.
The report also provides examples of Agile programme outlines for law firms large and small which can be adapted depending on individual needs. In short, this report includes everything law firm leaders need to get started on their own agile journey.
Tabla de materias
I. Welcome to the Agile world 5
1. The Agile imperative 5
2. The Agile organisation 7
3. The Agile mindset 10
4. How this Special Report works 11
5. A word about you 13
6. A brief history of Agile 15
7. Ten attributes of the Agile organisation 21
8. The limitations of Agile 23
9. Introducing the Agile law firm 25
II. Client-centricity 33
1. Clients at the centre 33
2. Legal project management 41
3. Legal project management today 44
4. The role of the legal project manager 58
5. Implementing LPM – should we apply LPM essentials to every client matter? 59
6. Implementing LPM – how do we get our people engaged with LPM training? 61
III. Constantly innovating and improving 65
1. Introducing innovation 65
2. Lean and Six Sigma 77
IV. Insight-driven 83
1. Velocity 83
2. The insight-driven firm 84
3. Is data your ‘new oil’? 87
V. Highly autonomous teams 109
1. Agile and the liquid workforce 109
2. Designing the Agile network of teams 111
3. Evolving teams into Agile teams 113
VI. The human dimension 121
1. Valuing individuals 121
2. Becoming more human in the 2020s 123
3. Rethinking our relationship with employees – adopting the EACH model 126
4. The servant leader 130
5. Agile performance management 131
6. How Agile teams and project management enhance your human dimension 133
VII. Fluid and flexible (workplace and workforce) 135
1. The legal workplace and workforce reimagined 135
2. Embracing Hybrid/Agile working 139
VIII.Organically collaborative 149
1. Network and platform organisations 149
2. Collaborate to grow – the Agile growth strategy 151
IX. Restless, radical and challenging .157
1. Strategic agility 157
2. The competitive imperative 165
3. A new anatomy for your law firm – fit for the future 170
4. Agile governance 173
5. The next generation C-suite 176
X. Digital 185
1. Digital transformation 185
2. The impact of technology on legal work 188
XI. United by a common purpose 195
1. Aligning with purpose 195
2. Purpose into practice – being Agile about becoming Agile 196
3. What now? 199
Notes 202
About the author 205
About Globe Law and Business 207