In the five years since the first edition of this book published, there has been an accelerated rise in the number and influence of COO roles in the legal sphere. No longer the preserve of the largest national and international firms, mid-tier firms and even New Law and alternative legal service providers are considering a COO as a potential - perhaps even essential - component of law firm management, to achieve increased efficiency, productivity, and meet the demands of a highly competitive market. With contributions from a number of current law firm COOs, alongside some of the most respected and sought-after consultants working in this space, this second edition of Rise of the Legal COO examines the scope and variety of the legal COO role, and how the challenges and demands of the position have altered as law firms have evolved. It contains updated chapters from the first edition, and several brand new chapters covering topics such as: How the COO can enable innovation and digital transformation in their firm; The COO's role in managing profitability and client engagement; The use of data in law firm management; and The New Law COO. There are also all-new, exclusive interviews with legal COOs from a variety of national and international firms, covering topics ranging from the importance of relationships and adapting to the new hybrid, post-COVID world, to encouraging innovation in firms and strategies to recruit and retain talent. There is no doubt that a good COO is an invaluable part of a firm's management team, and the opportunities for talented individuals with broad operational management skills will continue to grow. Heavily backed up by the first-hand experience of the contributors, this title provides essential guidance to the current and future legal COO on the skills and strategies they need to succeed, and to law firms on how to recruit, integrate, and develop a COO who will be a good match for their culture and help them achieve their ambitions.

The book is based on two research projects on emergency intervention, which were carried out by the author and her colleagues. The studies provide the basis for the three themes in the book: Inter-agency Working; Perceptions of Safety; and Placement and Resource Issues. The combination of quantitative and qualitative research allows a detailed picture of practice that goes beyond an account of what happens, to explore the perceptions, understandings and experiences of the practitioners who make these decisions, as social workers, police officers magistrates' legal advisers or magistrates, and of the lawyers who advise social workers and parents.

The book provides a critical account of current practice in emergency child protection, it identifies good practice and make proposals for reform.

The system of representation where children and young people are provided with both a social work guardian ad litem and a specialist solicitor is widely regarded as a model of excellence. However, until now, information about the system and its advantages has tended to neglect the views and experiences of the children concerned. Based on a unique research study, Out of Hearing investigates the representation service from the child s perspective. Observations of representatives meetings with their child clients and separate interviews with the children and their representatives paint a disturbing picture of the isolation of children at a time of immense stress and upheaval. Feedback from children about what they considered helpful or unhelpful in the actions of their representatives; their views about reading, or not seeing, court reports about themselves; and their feelings about going to court, or being excluded from its proceedings, convey powerful messages to the professionals and practitioners seeking to help them. Drawing on these experiences, the authors offer recommendations for practice and policy to enable children s views to be heard more effectively. Providing fresh insight into the representation service, Out of Hearing is essential reading for solicitors, guardians ad litem, social workers, judges, magistrates, policy makers, and academics. It will also be of interest to children s rights organisations, young people and charities.
"Whatever one may make of the conclusions of the report, what it undeniably does is paint a very graphic picture indeed of the impact of the process of care proceedings upon children. For this reason (if for no other) it should be read by all childcare law practitioners." Philip Thomson Head of Legal Services, Essex County Council
"The views and aspirations of the children really do shine through; their concerns and their agendas are set out clearly and illuminated vividly." Anna Faulkner Formerly Panel Manager, Inner and North London GALRO Panel

Forced to choose between the life he knows and the life he fears, Sawyer Hudson is taken to Mexico on a get-away with his foster father. Their attempts to reconnect are disrupted when the two nearly drown, and happen upon an air pocket. Together, they realize getting back to the surface is the least of their problems. Instead, they find themselves hostages and battling for their lives amongst confusion, romance, and danger.