Legal Management Magazine

 

Legal Management reports on topics within ALA’s five knowledge areas: Legal Industry/Business Management; Human Resources Management; Financial Management; Communications and Organizational Management; and Operations Management.

April 2024: On the Cover
4 Strategies for Associate Retention
In a competitive legal market, firms look to create an environment where associates can grow.

Although forward-looking law firms have often focused attention on developing formal retention initiatives, a recent survey reveals that associates are largely unimpressed by these programs. The survey, conducted by Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), revealed that 60% of associates do not feel that firms are actively trying to retain them. Of note, only 15% planned to stay for at least three years, and 25% said they did not plan to stay for more than a year. So, how can firms create an environment or culture that inspires associates to join, stay, contribute and thrive? It starts with the recruitment process. Read more.

Features

Confronting Burnout’s Grip on the Legal Profession
Recognizing the signs of burnout can help spark cultural change in firms.

In the high-pressure world of the legal industry, where success often comes at a cost, burnout is an all-too-familiar companion. Coco Soodek, a seasoned corporate lawyer with 24 years of experience, shared a story that likely sounds familiar. Back in 2006, when she achieved the desired position of partner at a prestigious law firm, she found herself grappling with an unexpected adversary — burnout. Burnout is sneaky, and negatively impacts and amplifies preexisting issues in your life. Read more.

Is Your Firm Missing Out on Potential Location- or Service-Based Revenue?
Determining the market for new offerings can be challenging — but also potentially lucrative.

Following the 2020 ratification of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement and other developments that increased the demand for Fisher Phillips’ international labor and employment services, the firm opened three offices in Mexico in mid-2023 — its first locations outside of the United States.  

“We were working with local counsel we really liked [and] trusted, and eventually just fthought it makes a lot more sense for us to be on the ground in Mexico,” says Chairman and Managing Partner John Polson. “We’ve had a lot of interest [in] some cross-border work. Over half of our largest manufacturing clients have facilities in Mexico, and we’re hoping to work with a lot more of them now.” Read more.

Columns

Big Ideas
Making Mental Well-Being a Priority 

BP Perspective
AI Is the Latest Tool in Workflow Automation 

Diversity Dialogue 
Navigating Implicit Bias in Remote Work

Innovations
Human Capital Management Can Be a Strategic Value Driver 

Test Drive
Time Kettle’s T1 Mini Ushers in the Future of Language Translation

Departments

Industry News
Invoice to Cash: The Billing Innovation Saving Firms Millions

Your Wellness
When It Comes to Taking Care of Our Wellness, We Can Learn a Lot from Toddlers


ALA Now

ALA Faces
Anniversaries, Awards and Appointments 

At ALA
What‘s Happening at Headquarters

Earn CE Credit

 

As of April 2021, Legal Management is no longer publishing new CE courses. Check out our archived courses below. They are still available! 

Members and nonmembers can read the article, then log in to take a test (members pay $49; nonmembers pay $69). If you pass with at least 70 percent, you will earn one CE credit hour. The goal is to help CLMs get the credits they need for recertification. 

  • Click here to read “Making Mental Health Matter” and earn one credit hour in human resources management.
  • Click here to read “Where Are Your Markers” and earn one credit hour in self-management skills.
  • Click here to read “Leading Through Change” and earn one credit hour in organizational development.
  • Click here to read “Building a Better Budget” and earn one credit hour in financial management.
  • Click here to read “Cyber Risk Management: The Vital Role of Legal Management Professionals” and earn one credit hour in operations management.
  • Click here to read “A Lesson in Leadership for Legal Management Professionals” and earn one credit hour in communications and organizational management.
  • Click here to read “The Risk of Idolizing False Profits;” and earn one credit hour in financial management.
  • Click here to read “Responding to a Request for Proposal: Time, Money, People and the Law” and earn one credit hour in writing skills.
  • Click here to read “How to Ethically Oversee Trust Accounts,” and to earn one credit hour in financial management.
  • Click here to read “Confronting Addiction in the Law Firm,” and to earn one credit hour in substance abuse.
  • Click here to read “The Ever-Evolving World of Legal Ethics,” and to earn one credit hour in ethics.