About Practice Management
There’s more to running a law firm than being good at law. If you want to succeed in today’s tough legal landscape you have to manage your business effectively. That means strategic planning, business planning, financial management, risk management, talent management, operational management, knowledge management, HR, IT, tax, pensions, business development, health & safety, learning & development and facilities.
Human resources (HR)
If you have a HR department or not, this topic can be a reference tool or way to understand why HR is important, what a firm needs to do, and how. We combine relevant employment law with practical HR guidance.
Health & safety (H&S)
Every business needs to be compliant with H&S legislation. Law firms often outsource this area due to a lack of knowledge. We can demystify these requirements and help firms do what they need to do themselves.
Lexcel Practice Management Standard
Any law firm that has or wants to get Lexcel accreditation (the Law Society’s practice management standard) will find this subtopic invaluable. Get practical pre-assessment, assessment day, and post-assessment guidance.
Running a firm
There's more to running a firm than being a good lawyer. If you want to succeed in today's tough legal landscape you have to manage your business effectively. Strategic planning, finances, business development and more.
Our Practice Management Experts
Jon Whittle
Louisa Winning
Jennifer Oswin
Alex Storer
Larry Cattle
Latest Practice Management News
The Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health has published a study led by researchers at University College London (UCL) examining the effects of...
Law360: Nine out of ten employers expect the government to ditch tax breaks on pension salary-sacrifice arrangements when it unveils its autumn...
On 15 September, the House of Commons overturned the amendments made by the House of Lords to the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) during the Third...
Law360: The government's flagship Employment Rights Bill moved one step closer to enactment on 3 September 2025 as peers handed their amended version...
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has replaced its previous guidance on its approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and published...
Latest Practice Management Practice Notes
How to make best use of your timeTime management is about how we prioritise and manage tasks within the time we have. Poor time management could stem...
Presenting with confidence—in personThis Practice Note provides guidance on how to present with confidence when you are in the same room as your...
How to understand motivation and rewardIn a law firm workplace where people want different things, how you can you focus on the things that really...
Building a professional social media brandLove it or loathe it, social media is here to stay. Used appropriately, it can help you to build a strong...
Developing talent using competency modelsThis Practice Note provides guidance for in-house lawyers on the use of competency models to development...
Latest Practice Management Precedents
Marketing and BD budget1Financial spendItem£Q1£Q2£Q3£Q4Brand/identity•Rebranding•Design work•Brand/positioning...
Competitive landscape exercise—strategy away dayInstructionsBreak up the group into smaller groups of 3–4 people to brainstorm and record their...
Meeting agenda—legal services—procurement team kick-off meetingGeneralDate of meeting[Insert date]Chair/lead[Insert name]Persons in attendance[Insert...
Policy—shared parental leave (adoption)1Introduction1.1The right to shared parental leave (SPL) allows eligible employees to choose how to share the...
Interview questionnaire and record—law firmsA: General informationDate of interviewCandidate namePosition applied forInterviewersInterview stageFirst...
Latest Practice Management Q&As
Featured Practice Management content
What is pro bono?
What is pro bono?Many lawyers recognise it is a privilege to be able to provide legal advice and representation and be a part of the legal system....
Corporate social responsibility—CSR—regulatory requirements
Corporate social responsibility—CSR—regulatory requirementsThis Practice Note considers regulatory requirements relating to corporate social...
The importance of good time recording
The importance of good time recordingThis Practice Note is intended for law firms. It explains why time recording is so important. It also explores...
How to read and understand the financial accounts of a law firm
How to read and understand the financial accounts of a law firmThis Practice Note provides information about how to read and understand the financial...
Qualifying work experience (QWE)
Qualifying work experience (QWE)From 1 September 2021, there is a new route to qualification for aspiring solicitors—the Solicitors Qualifying...
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)Until 31 August 2021, the main route to solicitor qualification (training contract route) required...
The structure of a negotiation
The structure of a negotiationWhen entering into any negotiation, be it a multimillion pound business deal or an agreeing the office coffee rota,...
Attendance review meetings (ARMs)—FAQs—law firms
Attendance review meetings (ARMs)—FAQs—law firms1. Does an attendance review meeting (ARM) mean I’m being disciplined for my absence?No. An ARM does...
Health and safety in the workplace—regulatory requirements
Health and safety in the workplace—regulatory requirementsThis Practice Note covers regulatory requirements relating to health and safety in the...
Lexcel pre-assessment—top tips for all staff
Lexcel pre-assessment—top tips for all staffWhat is Lexcel?Lexcel is a Law Society quality accreditation, which is only awarded to solicitors who meet...
How to manage health and safety in the workplace
How to manage health and safety in the workplaceAn organisation has a duty to ensure it manages the health and safety risks in its workplace...
Time recording FAQs
Time recording FAQsFAQsThese FAQs supplement our Time recording policy, which can be found [state where, eg on our intranet].What is [matter-related...
Formulating a learning and development—L&D—policy
Formulating a learning and development—L&D—policyThis Practice Note provides information on formulating a learning and development (L&D)...
Fee sharing agreement—law firms
Fee sharing agreement—law firmsThis Agreement is made on [insert date]Parties1[insert name of company] [of OR a company incorporated in [England and...
How to conduct a health and safety risk assessment
How to conduct a health and safety risk assessmentHaving in place a well-thought-out and accessible structure on health and safety could help enable...
Step 6: Creating a business development plan
Step 6: Creating a business development planHow to produce a business development planBy way of a summary, you should follow this basic strategic...
Drafting an appraisal form
Drafting an appraisal formThis Practice Note provides guidance on drafting an appraisal form which can be used to assess and review an individual’s...
How to formulate a strategic plan—law firms
How to formulate a strategic plan—law firmsWhat are strategic aims?A strategic aims document is also sometimes known as a strategic plan. It sets out...
Associated legal terms
Climate Change Adaptation (model laws definition)
means the process of adjustment or preparation of natural or human systems to the actual or anticipated climate and its effects in a way that moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.
Local charity
A charity established for purposes which are by their nature or by the trusts of the charity directed wholly or mainly to the benefit of an area or of part of it.
MSR
Molten Salt Reactor: Reactor technology at experimental stage.
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