Developing tomorrow's leaders today was the focus for the group of partners from across the network attending the recent LawNet strategy and leadership masterclass designed to place law firm leadership development in the context of the Legal Services Act.

According to estimates, less than 20% of the 11,000 law firms in the country have tackled their management and leadership structures and many are being run in exactly the same way as 10 years ago. The partnership model leads to management by committee and vast numbers of firms have ageing partners with no succession planning or exit strategies. More importantly, many have little understanding of the skills required to lead and manage a modern law firm.

Making the transition from exceptional fee earner to an exceptional leader is not an organic process.

LawNet is helping its members address these issues. Firms from LawNet in the UK and the Eurojuris network across Europe, heard from a panel of four leading industry strategists, including Robert Mowbray and Andrew Hedley during a two day residential programme held last week on financial well being, law firm strategy, business development and leadership.

The masterclass was part of LawNet’s specialist Strategic Leadership and Management Programme (SLMP) launched last year. Open to all law firms, not just LawNet members, the course was designed for both existing and up and coming partners, to address some of the leadership and management issues firms face today.

Attacking costs, increasing revenue, strategic planning, people development and differentiation in a crowded market place were some of the big issues covered during the course. Delegates heard from some of the best and most talented strategic practitioners in the legal sector, each focussed on providing practical, easy to implement strategic tools for delivering positive change to their firms.

John Thomas, CEO of LawNet, who led the programme said that it had given the delegates the ammunition to further drive change in their firms ensuring they remain competitive in the challenging times ahead.

A further programme is planned for the Autumn and is proving very popular with firms as they strive for excellence in management.

Leadership is something no firm can afford to ignore.

Developing tomorrow's leaders today was the focus for the group of partners from across the network attending the recent LawNet strategy and leadership masterclass designed to place law firm leadership development in the context of the Legal Services Act.

According to estimates, less than 20% of the 11,000 law firms in the country have tackled their management and leadership structures and many are being run in exactly the same way as 10 years ago. The partnership model leads to management by committee and vast numbers of firms have ageing partners with no succession planning or exit strategies. More importantly, many have little understanding of the skills required to lead and manage a modern law firm.

Making the transition from exceptional fee earner to an exceptional leader is not an organic process.

LawNet is helping its members address these issues. Firms from LawNet in the UK and the Eurojuris network across Europe, heard from a panel of four leading industry strategists, including Robert Mowbray and Andrew Hedley during a two day residential programme held last week on financial well being, law firm strategy, business development and leadership.

The masterclass was part of LawNet’s specialist Strategic Leadership and Management Programme (SLMP) launched last year. Open to all law firms, not just LawNet members, the course was designed for both existing and up and coming partners, to address some of the leadership and management issues firms face today.

Attacking costs, increasing revenue, strategic planning, people development and differentiation in a crowded market place were some of the big issues covered during the course. Delegates heard from some of the best and most talented strategic practitioners in the legal sector, each focussed on providing practical, easy to implement strategic tools for delivering positive change to their firms.

John Thomas, CEO of LawNet, who led the programme said that it had given the delegates the ammunition to further drive change in their firms ensuring they remain competitive in the challenging times ahead.

A further programme is planned for the Autumn and is proving very popular with firms as they strive for excellence in management.

Leadership is something no firm can afford to ignore.