It’s The Simple Things . . .
I recently saw this article in Larry Bodine’s blog. It is a great discussion on how attorneys can be more client-centric and service-oriented by adopting a different business model. It has long been my philosophy that attorneys must constantly redefine ways to create and add value to their clients. There are certainly better ways of measuring value than the number of hours spent on tasks.
I find one of the best way for a client to leverage value from its corporate counsel is through regular, proactive interaction. Simply spending time discussing a client’s business and future goals can prove quite productive. I often work as outside general counsel for clients on a retainer basis — not by hourly fees. This encourages clients to spend time working with their attorney on proactive strategies and removes the “time” concern. Moreover, this fosters a better relationship between the parties and allows the attorney to have a better institutional knowledge of the client. If you are still paying for every minute of your corporate attorney’s time, consider implementing a different business model.
December 21st, 2009 at 8:31 AM
Agreed. That could be particularly valuable to people who view every conversation as a cost rather than an investment in the future of their business. This isn’t unique to law. I seem similar models working well in many professional engagements.