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
Law360, London: Retired judge Brian Leveson told the Justice Committee on 11 November 2025 that criminal law must become more attractive for legal...
Law360: MPs have again backed plans in the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) to protect employees against unfair dismissal from day one, voting 5 November...
The Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA) has published a position statement responding to the High Court's judgment in Mazur v Charles...
Law360: Efforts by employers to prevent sexual harassment have intensified in the year since the UK introduced a legal obligation for them to take...
Employment analysis: Employees are turning to generative AI to draft lengthy, ‘lawyerly’ grievances, putting strain on the HR teams asked to triage...
Latest Practice Management Practice Notes
Using social media to promote your business—law firmsThis Practice Note looks at the different types of social media and highlights the most common...
Delivering client services more efficientlyThis Practice Note explains why it is so important for law firms to improve the efficiency with which work...
The importance of good time recordingThis Practice Note is intended for law firms. It explains why time recording is so important. It also explores...
Raising the financial awareness of your staffThis Practice Note is intended for law firms. It considers how you might go about improving your staff's...
The importance of good management informationThis Practice Note is intended for law firms. It provides an understanding of why management information...
Latest Practice Management Precedents
Allocating billing or chargeable hours targets tool—blankOverall billing targetTargetCommentsChargeable hours calculationFee earner[insert fee...
Allocating billing or chargeable hours targets tool—worked exampleOverall billing targetTargetComments£1.2mSee Budget prediction. Stretching but does...
Fee sharing agreement—law firmsThis Agreement is made on [insert date]Parties1[insert name of company] [of OR a company incorporated in [England and...
L&D policy—law firms1Purpose and scope1.1This document provides guidelines and procedures for managers and employees relating to learning and...
Minutes of meeting with fee earner about management information—blankEnd of month 6Actual monthBudget monthActual YTDBudget...
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
Cybersquatting
The term 'cybersquatters' refers to people who intentionally snap up available registrations incorporating a third party’s trade mark, with a view to selling them on to another party for a profit or perhaps because they wish to lure consumers to their website by free-riding on a third party’s reputation.
Indictable Only
An offence which is triable only on indictment in the Crown Court. An adult defendant must be sent forthwith to the Crown Court from the magistrates’ court if charged with an indictable-only offence.
Retirement financial advice
‘Retirement financial advice’ is widely defined as advice in respect of the person's financial position, including their pension arrangements and the use of their pension fund. This definition is meant to cover holistic retirement advice given on the basis of all factors relevant to a member’s retirement, not just the pension pot used to fund that advice.
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