Forum focuses on key pillars of law firm management

In this interview, Patterson, who is a member of the Law Management Group and chief operating officer of virtual law firm Rankin Business Lawyers, talks about what makes the event a level-up from the previous forums, the Law Council’s and the ALPMA’s goals in the region, and what participants can expect to take away from the event.

Robert Patterson

This is the third Regional Law Firm Management Forum to be held in Singapore. What is the ALPMA and Law Council’s goal in conducting the event in Singapore?

The Law Council and ALPMA have different but not inconsistent goals.

The Law Council’s focus is on creating closer linkages with Law Societies and Law firms within the APAC region. Forging these closer relationships facilitates greater collaboration on, and understanding of, regionally important issues. Ensuring that Law firm management in the region is dynamic and evolving is one such issue ,and is the remit of our sub-committee – Australian Legal Management Group (ALMG).

ALPMA’s goal is to encourage management of law firms in the APAC region to work with ALPMA to create a similar association under their own flag. ALPMA received similar assistance when to starting up from an American association 25 years ago and its purpose is to support a group to be established locally. ALPMA have been encouraged by initial expressions of interest and success for it would be even more people putting their hands up to be part of it.

How has the reception been over the last couple years? Why should law firm leaders and lawyers attend the event this year?

The reception of the Regional Law Firm Management Forum by local law firm management was supportive but cautious in the first year. The second saw the attendance grow significantly both in terms of attendees and the seniority of attendees. I suspect we tailored the content better for local needs. Early indications are that this year we will experience further growth.

Law firm leaders and lawyers should attend this year because we have created a broad program that touches on the key pillars of law firm management: people, tech, business development, and strategy. The fundamentals of law firm management are universal. Legal tech dominates the CPD landscape, but we stay in the management lane and would describe our program as ‘tech aware’.

Why has ALPMA and the Law Council chosen to focus on the topics that will be discussed by the speakers this year?

The topics were chosen for two reasons:

50. Based on feedback last year, these are the topics that the local audience wanted to hear more on; and,
50. These topics cover off on the key pillars of law firm management, which are somewhat universal.

What do you think will be the key takeaways of participants of the third Regional Law Firm Management Forum?

Without stealing the thunder of the presenters, I would imagine some of the key takeaways will include:

People

50. The need to provide greater flexibility and autonomy so craved by the new generation of lawyers
50. The benefits of diversity in the workplace
50. Leadership

Tech

50. Using technology to provide greater value to clients
50. Integrating the use of Apps into legal services

Business development

50. Contemporary approaches to BD including social media
50. Use of technology in Business Development

Strategy

50. Strategy is more about what you don’t do, than what you do, do
50. An international perspective of the strategic approaches being employed by law firms

Law firm leaders and lawyers register for the Regional Law Firm Management Forum via the registration and program link located on the ALPMA website here. If you want one of six free registrations for the Singapore event please email [email protected] by 1.00 ADST on Monday, 15 October.