The legal profession's last mile problem is not technological. Rather, it is the lack of business models that reliably reward increases in legal productivity. This slide deck contains several figures that correspondence to a series of articles published on Law.com. For additional information, see http://www.legalevolution.org/2017/08/honest-informed-conversations-019/.
6. 3 Options
Option 1. Client pays for 10 hours. No increase
in hourly rates.
Option 2. Client pays for 10 hours. Firm doubles
rate ($400 to $800/hr)
Option 3. Share the benefits:
a. Firm / client split 50/50.
b. Firm gets more a lot more volume
Complex
Technical
Sales
20. Project Life Cycle
Concept Definition Planning Execution Closeout
EFFORT EXPENDED IN
PLANNING
Adapted from James P. Lewis, Fundamentals of Project Management (3nd ed. 2007)
Effort
Time
21. Project Life Cycle
Pain
Time
Adapted from James P. Lewis, Fundamentals of Project Management (3nd ed. 2007)
planned project unplanned project
planned
pain apex
unplanned
pain apex
22. 3 Options
Option 1. Client pays for 10 hours. No increase
in hourly rates.
Option 2. Client pays for 10 hours. Firm doubles
rate ($400 to $800/hr)
Option 3. Share the benefits:
a. Firm / client split 50/50. Or
b. Firm gets more a lot more volume
An honest, sophisticated
dialogue on value
Project Management: Look at effort allocation:
Team-based meetings
Lots of time making sure everyone understands project definition – getting clarity. Over 50% of time allocation
Ideas come from team, not manager
Close out is lessons learned; what went well, what went poorly → Next analogous project, we will do even better.
Look at the same problem, but instead of effort, we substitute “Pain”. Because let’s face it:
Long meetings were we discuss the problem is no fun.
We have to confront misaligned expectations and perceptions
We have to gather, review, and communicate facts.
But once we do it, everything goes well.
In contrast, if we start swing hammers on day 1, that feels go, but the wheels fall off as time goes on. The Pain becomes aweful.
But here is the punchline: The pain has always been the clients.