Page 15 - CCCA61_2013

CCCA_V7No1_Dept-Performance-FIN_CCCA 2/12/13 4:10 PM Page 15 Performance in the Law Department integration and mobility; active talent man- business model. Do not settle for a firm that service and innovation. The return on agement; flexibility and diversity; leadership says it is willing to consider all fee alterna- investment of time is worth it. and accountability. The firm was serious tives, and then puts the onus on the client to about every aspect of this. In-house counsel ask for specifics. Firms of significant size are Richard G. Stock, M.A., FCIS, should take the time to ask for the evidence prepared to say that their pricing philosophy CMC is a partner with Catalyst Consulting. The and the benefits of these commitments. is to move away rapidly from hourly billings. firm has been designated the Preferred Provider for 5. What are your most successful partnering And some are prepared to innovate with Legal Department Consulting arrangements / experiences? Would you agree to proposals in this regard. by the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association. let us speak to these clients, should we so choose? General counsel will need to make it a Richard can be reached at (416) 367-4447 or at Ask for the three most innovative priority to take firms up on their offers for rstock@catalystlegal.com. arrangements, even if their circumstances are not a perfect match to yours. Take the time to contact each of them. 6. What are your most recent innovations in service delivery? Some firms now have full-time risk spe- cialists as well as consultants with experience in process improvement and budgeting. Very dull but very important stuff. A few firms actually operate their own business entities with expertise in these areas. There is value to be harvested from these developments. 7. Provide suggestions on how to best manage work and intake practices, given the decentral- ized nature of our organization. ENHANCE YOUR EXPERTISE – AND YOUR VALUE – I was delighted to see a few firms propose WITH A PROFESSIONAL LLM FROM OSGOODE. a single point of contact for work intake and Put the focus on what interests you most. With leading academics, top reflecting allocation to all of their offices and to all of practitioners and senior judges among our internationally renowned faculty, our programs offer you the unparalleled flexibility to study with a network their correspondent firms. When this is of your peers while practising full time. Customize your studies to suit your on your offered, ask if this cost is built into their needs, either onsite at our convenient downtown Toronto facility, or via videoconference from anywhere around the world. speciality overhead and hourly rates or if there is an extra cost for this administrative service. NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2013/2014 STARTS IN 14 OF 17 SPECIALIZATIONS: 8. Do you support the rigorous use of project / case reflects well > Administrative Law > Criminal Law budgeting and management tools for all files over > Alternative Dispute and Procedure 50 hours? Has your firm introduced “legal proj- Resolution > Energy and on you ect management” software and training for part- > Banking and Financial Infrastructure Law Services Law > Family Law ners in the last 2 years? If yes, please describe. > Bankruptcy and > General LLM There have been great advances in firm Insolvency Law > Intellectual resources and capabilities for legal project > Business Law Property Law > Civil Litigation and > Real Property Law budgeting, business process mapping, the use Dispute Resolution > Tax Law of precedents for cost management, in shar- > Constitutional Law ing some of this with their clients, and in real- time access by the client to the client’s files. Professional legal education the way 9. What is your experience and interest in non- it was meant to be. To learn more or to register for an Information Session, hourly billing? How extensive is this experi- visit www.osgoodepd.ca today. ence by area of law? On payment tied to the A WORLD LEADER IN LAW SCHOOL outcome of a file / matter? On a flat fee for LIFELONG LEARNING particular type of types of matters? Asking the non-hourly question tells you a lot about how tentative or innovative the law firm is prepared to be in rethinking its 15