The Knoxville
Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators, in
conjunction with the Center for Entrepreneurial Law, has
recently completed a three-part program for 2nd and 3rd
year law students at the University of Tennessee College of Law
entitled "The Business Side of the Practice of Law: What
Law Firms Expect of Their New Lawyers". Each session
covered a different aspect of law office management for the new
associate.
Session #1,
"The Lawyer as a Team Player", consisted of a panel of
three legal administrators who presented practical tips for the
new lawyer just starting in a law practice. Topics such as: how
law firms are structured (depending on size and type); who you
should go to in your firm with various issues or questions; how
to work as a team with other attorneys and the support staff;
and what the client expects from an attorney were discussed.
Two
administrators and one attorney presented Session #2 entitled
"Producing the Firm’s Work". This session discussed
the business of a law firm -- how to be a productive attorney by
understanding firm and client preferences; learning and using
firm systems efficiently; establishing a work plan; managing
your calendar and being an effective communicator.
The third and
final session, "Practicing Profitably" was presented
by three legal administrators (one also being an attorney). This
session discussed the associate’s contribution to the firm’s
profit, the cost associated with maintaining a new associate and
the relationship between the associate’s time worked and the
firm’s billing and collection process.
The Knoxville
Chapter of the ALA applied for and was selected to receive one
of only four grants awarded nationally this year by the
Foundation of the Association of Legal Administrators (FALA).
The grant was awarded in connection with a proposed two-part
project to partner with UT Law School (Center for
Entrepreneurial Law) and the Knoxville Bar Association to
present practical information regarding law office management to
practicing lawyers and law students. Part One was in the form of
an ethics seminar entitled "An Insider’s Look at Law
Office Management" that ALA, in partnership with KBA and
the UT College of Law, presented in February to about 80
practicing attorneys and legal administrators. The
above-described sessions presented to the law students at UT is
Part Two of our project. We hope to continue to work closely in
the future with the law school and KBA to provide practical
information to law students and practicing attorneys regarding
law office management.
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