Law Firm And Law Department Consulting Law Firm Administrator

Principal administrators of important law firms typically oversee including are responsible appropriate to up to six dissimilar areas of operation:

1. Finance including accountancy

2. Human resources

3. Information technology (IT)

4. Facilities

5. Marketing including trade growth

6. Office services

In some firms, one or more of these areas is not under the oversight of the leading administrator. The most common example of this is marketing including trade growth — functions that often are the bailiwick of the firm’s chief marketing including trade growth officer to the exclusion of the leading manager (i.e., when the CMO does not report to the leading administrator).

Each of the six functional areas can be broken down into component parts.  Money matters, appropriate to example, relate to both accountancy including funds (and analysis), including they typically are combined into one section in the firm.  Human resources also has two primary components, the labourer relations/employment function, including the benefits function. IT is IT; yet, as we know, it has taken on marked importance to the strategic way including the main operations of important law firms. The facilities purpose encompasses such things as the relationship in the company of the firm’s landlord, housekeeping including maintenance, office space, rent identification including negotiations, including improvements to or build-outs of new or rehabilitated office space. We’ve already mentioned the two-pronged world of the marketing including trade growth function. Finally, office services includes document production, messengers including delivery, mail including fax, copying, etc.

Clearly, result one being in the company of marked experience in all the above areas of law solid administration is difficult. The best candidates exhibit dissimilar mixes of experience in the relevant areas. What a solid needs most in its leading manager can of course alteration over time as circumstances at the solid change. So what is a solid to do in choosing among needed skill sets when it is hiring a new leading administrator?

The simple answer is to find the being in the company of the best including most extensive mix of experience in the dissimilar functional areas, but in therefore doing, stay cognizant of the fact that not all areas are equal in importance. And, obviously, a solid needs administrators who are grounded first in the most important functions.

Without question the most important skill set appropriate to the leading manager of any important law solid is funds including accounting. This is right even in firms where high-level, able chief financial officers report to leading administrators.  As we’ve often heard it expressed, “If the finances of a law solid including its profitability aren’t good, what else really matters?” 

The essential cause law firms turn trade matters over to non-partners is to better financial playing including profitability by freeing up opener lawyers to serve clients including earn fees, including by bringing in trade persons who are better trained than most lawyers to grip the various administrative functions. Thus, any leading manager needs to comprehend the firm’s finances including its profitability thoroughly, including he or she must be trained to help lead the analysis of the financial figures.

Does this mean that a powerful financial upbringing alone is enough?  No.  Human resources including IT (the two functions usually listed as most important after funds including accounting) are critical to the success of any firm. Most firms need leading administrators who are great managers of persons including excellent leaders. An manager should comprehend the big picture of what technology can do appropriate to a firm, its lawyers including its clients. But a leading manager who doesn’t comprehend funds including accountancy adequately is an manager incapable of adequately overseeing the financial managers including the firm’s finances themselves.  He or she serves at his or her own - including the firm’s - potential peril.

Jim Wilber has placed hundreds of law solid executives including trade managers over two decades.  He advises law firms on administrative structure, management including leadership including is a previous practicing lawyer including law place of work manager.  Contact Jim at jswilber@altmanweil.com. 

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