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
Pensions analysis: MPs have passed the Second Reading of the National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill which includes...
Employment Analysis: The Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025) received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025 and was published (in pdf form only) on 19...
A new independent report commissioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has found increased confidence among law firm employers in the...
Law360: Small and mid-sized law firms in England were given a welcome boost when the Chancellor revealed in her Budget statement a new funding plan to...
Law360, London: Retired judge Brian Leveson told the Justice Committee on 11 November 2025 that criminal law must become more attractive for legal...
Latest Practice Management Practice Notes
Contractual damages—general principlesThis Practice Note considers the general principles of recovering damages for contractual breach, starting with...
Paternity leave and pay—post–6 April 2024FORTHCOMING CHANGES:The Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024 (PL(B)A 2024) received Royal Assent on 24 May...
Completion of training contractThis Practice Note explains SRA requirements and guidance on the process for applying for admission as a solicitor,...
Qualifying work experience (QWE)On 1 September 2021, a new route to qualification for aspiring solicitors was introduced—the Solicitors Qualifying...
Post-termination restrictions—reasonablenessThis Practice Note examines the concept of ‘reasonableness’ in the context of specific types of employment...
Latest Practice Management Precedents
Benchmarking financial performanceAll firms claim to be different from all other firms. While this is true to a degree, there are likely to be huge...
Cash and profitability ratio calculations—blankDate of calculations: [insert date of calculations]Current ratioFormulaCalculationResultResult from...
Stress testing financial performance toolPlease click for an Excel version of this Precedent and an illustrative worked example.Basic P&L...
Raw data capture sheet for financial calculations—worked exampleRaw data capture sheet for financial calculationsDataSource of dataFigure£Current...
Maintaining cash levels—self assessmentQuestionYes/NoHave you identified the amount of capital the business will need over the next five years?Have...
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
Answer seizure ratio
The number of calls, having left the outgoing side of the exchange, that have been successful in returning an answer signal.
Dark fibre
Optical fibre already deployed (eg in ducts), but not active (unlit), ie without any electronics or optoelectronics operating at both ends.
Milling
Process by which minerals are extracted from ore, usually at the mine site, to produce a mineral concentrate for sale.
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