During any period of change, the winners are those that are able to adapt in a changing environment and it is becoming clear that the firms that are doing well, have a small number of characteristics in common. They have: * a clear strategic focus that differentiates them from their competitors; * effective leadership; * a clear grasp and understanding of the numbers. They are also responsive to change. Profitability and Law Firm Management book is intended to help those who aspire to lead a law firm to develop the skills they will need to run a successful business. One that will be better able to adapt and succeed. For most firms simply having good lawyers is no longer sufficient. Having well motivated people with business acumen, able to lead and build teams is more important. Effective business skills, an ability to spot and take advantage of opportunities and an ability to plan, manage and lead a team of people are key skills to nurture and develop. Successful firms identify people with these skills at an early stage and provide training and support to develop them. This book tries not simply to indicate what to do, but to provide some ideas on how to do it.It is not intended to be the definitive or only way of doing things, but is designed to help partners and others involved in law firm management think about their firms differently and identify ways of making them more successful. Its purpose is to help you move forward.

In an era in which law firm performance is increasingly public - and a determining factor for where the best lawyers decide to practise - it seems clear that firm management would want to adopt tools that are proven to improve performance. An increasing number of firms are now adopting this long established tool and there is growing evidence that firms which employ balanced scorecards to drive strategy implementation have significantly improved shareholder returns. Balanced Scorecards for Law Firms report provides a vital introduction for firms wanting to know more about how the balanced scorecard can improve their own firm's performance. The report and the tools explained within it reach well beyond revenue per lawyer and profit per equity partner to identify meaningful measures and actions related to the development of quality people, highly satisfied clientele, and superior business practices and processes. Specifically, the report will give you a clear understanding of: The balanced scorecard concept and tool, its practical application and the results you can achieve from its adoption; How to apply the concept in a law firm environment - the central opportunities and challenges the tool presents for law firm management; and Each of the major elements of a balanced scorecard - with an emphasis on their meaning in a law firm environment: Financial measures; Client measures; Learning and growth; and Business processes. Balanced Scorecards for Law Firms provides you with pragmatic advice, real world case studies and invaluable expertise to help you begin utilising a tool that can dramatically improve focus, accountability and execution of strategy. Begin outperforming your competitors in an increasingly difficult and aggressive market place.

Drawing on representative corpora of transcripts from over 100 English criminal jury trials, this stimulating new book explores the nature of 'legal-lay discourse', or the language used by legal professionals before lay juries. Careful analyses of genres such as witness examination and the judge's summing-up reveal a strategic tension between a desire to persuade the jury and the need to conform to legal constraints. The book also suggests ways of managing this tension linguistically to help, not hinder, the jury.

Mit BeitrAgen zum RAmischen Recht in Antike und Mittelalter, zum geltenden Zivil- und Steuerrecht sowie zu den Grundlagen der Rechtsidee ehren Horst Heinrich Jakobs, Eduard Picker, Jan Wilhelm, Wolfgang Ernst, Rainer HA1/4ttemann und Wolfgang SchAn den Lehrer Werner Flume aus AnlaA seines 90. Geburtstages. Zum Inhalt: Horst Heinrich Jakobs, Studien zur Geschichte des Textes der glossa ordinaria; Eduard Picker, MenschenwA1/4rde und Menschenleben - Zum Auseinanderdriften zweier fundamentaler Werte als Ausdruck moderner Tendenzen zur Relativierung des Menschen; Jan Wilhelm, Irrtum A1/4ber rechtliche Eigenschaften und Kauf - 50 Jahre "Eigenschaftsirrtum und Kauf" von Werner Flume; Wolfgang Ernst, Die Vorgeschichte der exceptio non adimpleti contractus; Rainer HA1/4ttemann, Der Grundsatz der VermAgenserhaltung im Stiftungsrecht; Wolfgang SchAn, Die verdeckte GewinnausschA1/4ttung - eine Bestandsaufnahme.

Working in Language and Law is a detailed account of the forensic linguistic work done by the author in the last 35 years. It provides exemplary insights into an ever-expanding field of expert testimony, focusing on the situation in Germany since the seventies and covering all major areas of the field.

Introduction to Law and Legal Skills in South Africa, Second Edition, offers an inspiring, progressive and immersive introduction to the study of South African law, for students who are beginning a programme of legal studies. The text offers an introduction to South African legal history and the structure of the South African legal system, and an orientation to key areas of substantive law. Thoroughly revised and updated, this second edition offers an inclusive, decolonised approach, engaging readers to learn about law with a purposeful and critical perspective that foregrounds social justice and diversity. Introduction to Law and Legal Skills in South Africa is designed to effectively advance the development of knowledge and skills through applied learning and immersion within context. The text provides a solid and innovative foundation for the development of crucial, empowering skills, including reading of legal material, legal writing, legal research, legal problem solving, a nalysis, reasoning, and critical thinking. To ensure clarity and accessibility to a diverse readership, this second edition is developed with the input of specialised language practitioners and student readers. The text serves to empower aspirant readers, and provides a valuable teaching resource for lecturers.

'Advocacy: A Practical Guide' is for those who wish to learn essential advocacy skills as well as those seeking to make their advocacy more effective. The author has taught advocacy in over 20 countries and recognises that the challenges of advocacy throughout the world are much the same. This accessible book is intended to give you essential knowledge, tips, confidence and support. 'Advocacy: A Practical' provides you with techniques with which, by practice and experience, you can refine your skills. The book shows you how to overcome nerves; how to present clearly and ethically; and how to undertake case analysis. It will also show you how to succeed in Interim Applications (Motions); Handling Witnesses in Examination-in-Chief (Direct Examination) and in Cross-Examination; Re-examination; Making Submissions of Law to a Court or Panel; and Trial Speeches. There is also a section on Written Advocacy which teaches you to write persuasively and how to draft submissions and effective skeleton arguments. Finally, the book is full of stories and examples of skilful advocacy. It looks at the great advocates; their methods and approaches to winning cases and what made them stand out from the rest. This book is based on civil advocacy and arbitration, although patent attorneys and criminal practitioners will also find it valuable. International lawyers will also find the book helpful, providing as it does a better understanding of common law practices such as cross-examination.

"The occasional flashes of insight and the unique perspectives of the participants make this book invaluable for students doing research on the judicial process."--"CHOICE"

"Fascinating, spirited, and unique. This unusual book offers fresh illumination about what judges do and why they do it."
--Cass R. Sunstein, University of Chicago

"The format suggests that one has been invited into a special, high-level conversation where we can glimpse the uncensored converstation of thoughtful and seasoned jurists."--"The Law and Politics Book Review"

Law, politics, and society in the modern West have been marked by the increasing power of the judge: the development of constitutional justice, the evolution of international judiciaries, and judicial systems that extend even further into social life. Judges make decisions that not only enforce the law, but also codify the values of our times.

In the summer of 2000, an esteemed group of judges and legal scholars met in Provence, France, to consider the role of the judge in modern society. They included Robert Badinter, former president of the Constitutional Council in France; Stephen Breyer, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; Antonio Cassese, the first president of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia; Dieter Grimm, former vice president of the Constitutional Court of Germany; Gil Carlos Rodriguez, president of the Court of Justice of the European Union; and Ronald Dworkin, formerly of Oxford University, now professor of philosophy and law at the New York University Law School. What followed was an animated discussion ranging from the influence of the media on the judiciary to the development ofan international criminal law to the judge's consideration of the judge's own role. Judges in Contemporary Democracy offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the powers and the role of judges in today's society.

Court reporters--those who record courtroom legal proceedings and then transcribe them into writing--are a growing subspecialty in the field of legal administration. With the increasing volume of litigation in U.S. courts, the duties of all reporters have become more complex and their ranks increasingly professionalized. This book serves as an introduction to the business of legal reporting and a guide to those involved in managing reporters--both those who work for court jurisdictions and those who work on a free-lance or contract business for independent firms specializing in legal reporting services.

Legal English: How to Understand and Master the Language of Law offers a contemporary guide for students and practitioners alike who want to improve their language skills and build confidence in communicating effectively from the classroom to the courtroom. The second edition has been completely revised and updated to cover all aspects of language as used in a legal context where effective communication is crucial to both academic and professional success.

This volume provides an authoritative, evenhanded overview of the Trump administration's family separation and child detention policies at the U.S.-Mexico border-and the impact of those policies and actions on children, their parents, border security, and U.S. politics. The 21st Century Turning Points series is a one-stop resource for understanding the people and events changing America today. Each volume provides readers with a clear, authoritative, and unbiased understanding of a single issue or event that is driving national debate about our nation's leaders, institutions, values, and priorities. This particular volume is devoted to the issue of child migrant detention on the U.S.-Mexico border. It provides background information on the political, social, and economic forces driving undocumented immigration into America; explains the policies and records of both the Obama and Trump administrations on immigration, deportation, and border security; summarizes current laws and regulations governing U.S. border and immigration policies; recounts President Trump's rhetoric and record on both legal and "illegal" immigration, including his promise to build a "Border Wall" with funds from Mexico; surveys living conditions in the border detention centers operated by U.S. authorities; and discusses the impact of detention and family separation on children taken into custody. Entries devoted to specific events and milestones Biographical profiles of important activists and figures Essays that explore the lasting impact of child detention on migrant children, their families, immigration trends, and American politics and society Annotated bibliography of sources for further study

This text deals with the basic concepts of the law and explains the operation of the law and the administration of justice. It features practical exercises at the end of each chapter to help the student develop the ability to analyse information and apply knowledge. Another feature is the appendixes in which step-by-step explanations are given of how to research and apply primary sources of the law such as statutes and decisions in court.

Behavioural science comes into play in every aspect of running a legal business, from the way strategic decisions are made, to the way good or bad news is delivered, through to how lawyers interrelate and communicate with clients. Law firms are now implementing human science initiatives to gain a competitive edge as they compete against each other for market share. Leading the Future: The Human Science of Law Firm Strategy and Leadership - provides practical how-to advice and guidance on how human sciences are interacting with the different aspects of leading, managing, and marketing in a law firm. It highlights how law firm leaders can harness human sciences to: + Develop new skills and autonomous ways of working for staff + Examine the best ways of going about formulating strategies + Ensure a high level of staff engagement, flexibility, and innovation + Improve decision making in the legal profession + Build the right culture to drive innovation and facilitate change + Create and inspire high performing teams (HPT) + Listen, discover and communicate what clients' real needs are, persuade and influence them, and target them more accurately + Build and sustain trust and cooperation throughout the firm. + Encourage cross-selling, resolve conflicts, and build collaborative relationships with clients + Hire, promote, inspire, and reward to drive staff performance and engagement Case Studies, Practical Tools and Tips... Each chapter in Leading the Future is supported by illustrative case studies from a broad range of international and regional firms, with tools and tips that you can immediately put into practice. The authors Dr Bob Murray and Dr Alicia Fortinberry (www.fortinberrymurray.com ) have deep experience in applying the latest science to business challenges and are uniquely qualified to guide law firm leaders to shape a successful strategy and drive positive change through the right leadership, culture, business development, and customer relationships for your legal business. "This book will make you think. For those active in the legal sector or with an interest in it, this looks at a number of familiar issues through a different lens. It looks at the various behavioural and physiological elements relevant to people and law firms and how these intersect with getting things done and making change happen in law firms. I found that lightbulbs went off as I reviewed the unfolding chapters - around particular issues that we (and no doubt many others) wrestle with in our businesses. Volatile and changing times call for different ways of thinking to solve and make progress against both the perennial issues and new emerging issues for legal businesses. Some of the lessons in this book can help, especially in terms of interacting with the people that make up our businesses. The authors draw upon both their technical knowledge and their practical experiences to provide helpful insights into things like implementing strategy to make them work; leading clever committed people; implementing change; and unlocking the conundrum of collaboration." Mark Rigotti, Global CEO and Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills

This practical book shares insights, smart strategies and tips to help you to market yourself and maximise your chances of career success. The book covers: - what marketing actually is - why you must put yourself in your clients' shoes - the importance of having a personal brand - how to make networking work for you - blocks lawyers have about marketing and how to overcome them - how to fit marketing into your hectic schedule - how LinkedIn can help you to create visibility online and build your reputation - how content marketing fits with your overall marketing strategy and plan. Written by an experienced mentor and coach with in-depth knowledge and experience of the legal profession, this book is an essential read for fast changing times with more competition.

Risk management within law firms is a rapidly developing area. In the last year economic changes alone (the term 'credit crunch' was as yet unheard of when the second edition was written) have served to highlight the need for your risk management strategy to be under constant review. The credit crunch raises the game for all firms substantially, bringing to the fore issues involving: People; Clients; Regulatory risk; and Insurance. This report, substantially increased in size to deal with the emerging issues, aims to give you a clear understanding of how they will affect your law firm and how you need to respond, in order to manage them effectively. The third edition covers: Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) monitoring and enforcement of the Solicitor's Code of Conduct 2007; The Legal Services Act 2007 and the risks it presents; and A review of compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 - a year after their implementation on 15 December 2007. The report guides you through the distinct requirements of a risk management system including: Responsibility at senior management level; A framework for managing risk across all parts of the business; Integration of risk management processes into firm culture; Accountability in each practice area and support function; A risk evaluation process; External assessment; and Business continuity planning. Subjects covered include: Credit crunch risks; People and culture issues; Client engagement; Finance; Protecting partner assets; Compliance; File auditing; Managing your insurance; Office systems; Location and premises issues; Professional indemnity insurance; And more - Risk Management for Law Firms, 3rd Edition provides an in-depth analysis of key risk areas within the firm and aims to help firms meet new and emerging challenges with clear, practical examples.

This work deals with the real practicalities of getting results in the Magistrates' Court. It looks at who's who at court, and who holds what information, where forms are kept and how to fill them in. This new edition contains practical guidance which until now has been hard to find in other publications for example: how to get bail; how to argue for separate representation; what you should be looking for in disclosure; and a digest of jargon and shorthand used by the police, CPS and court staff.

So you AZre in A C or striving to be in A C The Lawyer AZs top 200. But are you being measured on what your clients actually find attractive? With increased demand for efficiency, value added services and effective governance, a ranking based simply on revenue is not sufficiently compelling. Having an effective governance model and the right measures of success in place are now vital to secure sustainable profitability for your firm. AZs report on Law Firm Governance and Measurements of Success provides a vital examination of: New governance models for law firms of different sizes and complexities; Law firm growth stages and the structural changes necessary to succeed; Overcoming the cultural barriers/issues involved with changing your governance and/or measurement systems; Current measurements of success A C internal and external; New medium and long-term success metrics to better support long-term thinking, and payment and reward structures; Attracting clients and external investors through effective reporting of your firm AZs success; and more Peter Blair, former first chief operating officer of Field Fisher Waterhouse provides cutting-edge analysis on The Lawyer AZs top 200 firms by examining what creates their success. Peter evaluates whether the measures used are effective and demonstrates how by using alternative metrics you can boost your rankings. Featuring real-life case studies this invaluable report provides a vital insight into current law firm governance models, examines where they are going wrong and how they can be improved to secure sustainable growth.

This vital report is the only textbook of its kind for practitioners in this complex area of law. Since 2002 this essential resource has continued to fulfil its promise of: Enabling compensated persons to understand and obtain the best deal from the means-tested benefits system through the use of personal injury trusts; Enabling solicitors to unravel the mystique surrounding the foundation and administration of personal injury trusts and to equip them to fulfil their role better for it; Enabling solicitors to develop compensation protection services to help protect their firms from negligence claims and to improve the bottom line; and enabling solicitors to do these things in as efficient and as practical a way as possible with the greatest amount of professional peace of mind. The fourth edition has been fully updated to include: The significant changes by the mental capacity act 2005 which came into force fully on 1st October 2007; A revised and expanded property section with specific focus on purchasing property where there is a P I Trust in place or where the Court of Protection are involved; 2008 changes to the care rules and Employment and Support Allowance, which has replaced Incapacity Benefit for new claimants; Plus, new and up-to-date precedents. It is vital that every lawyer doing personal injury compensation work should have a copy of this book on their shelves to enable them to give truly comprehensive advice as to the final process in achieving compensation.