Law firm practice group leadership is not for the faint hearted. As firms compete increasingly at practice group level, leaders are being asked to run their groups like business units; to develop and implement a strategic plan that supports the goals and competitiveness of the firm; and to coordinate and lead their partners to enhance the efficiency, performance, and profitability of their groups. Many firm leaders complain that some of their group heads are not producing the results they want to see. But how many practice group leaders receive the tools and support they need to succeed in this critical role? How many are selected for demonstrable leadership skills? And how often are they held accountable for how well - or otherwise - they perform in the role? With contributions from a wide range of experts, this second edition of Effective Practice Group Leadership explores these key questions and more, building on the first edition with new insights and thought leadership. The book examines the position of the practice group leader (PGL) in law firms today, the challenges of the role, and the changes to it, innovations and how modern practice groups are changing, and demonstrates the enormous contribution PGLs can make to the profitability and performance of their law firms, when armed with the tools and the authority.

As law firms have grown larger and client problems have become increasingly complex, effective practice management has become the primary vehicle through which firms seek to deliver value to clients and differentiate themselves in a competitive market. Optimizing Practice Management: Driving Profitability and Market Position is intended to help firm leadership work through all the critical aspects of structuring and implementing an effective and optimized practice management system. The book is divided into five main sections, covering: The business case for practice management; Building the essential foundation; Developing the structure; Keys to successful implementation; and The role of the practice leader. This book will help law firm leaders to: Gain clarity on how to improve their market position and enhance the value perception of their services; Establish the optimal practice management structure to facilitate achievement of the firm's strategy and market position; Focus on particular practice specialties and subspecialties, and on clients or industries, where the firm can establish a sustainable competitive advantage; Define clearly the role of business unit leaders and members; and Align incentives to encourage the level of collaboration that clients are demanding. Detailed appendices contain the results of original research on practice management in the largest US law firms, and sample job descriptions for practice group leaders/members, based on the authors' experiences working with over half of the Am Law 200 law firms.