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: Building on the government’s wider Make Work Pay agenda, there are a number of reforms to the Local Government Pension Scheme...
Law360: The government could be considering the removal of tax breaks on workplace pensions salary-sacrifice plans, experts have warned, as part of an...
Law360: The government proposes making all maternity, shared parental and adoption leave automatically pensionable for members in the Local Government...
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has authorised Garfield.Law Ltd as the first purely AI-driven law firm to provide regulated legal services...
Law360: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is making moves to update legal guidance on single-sex spaces following a ruling on 16 April...
Latest Practice Management Practice Notes
Criminal records—asking questions and DBS checksThis Practice Note considers the extent to which employers can ask questions of a prospective employee...
How to manage virtual meetingsVirtual meetings can be held over the telephone, via video call or using virtual meeting software, and can be far more...
How to manage remote teamsMany managers are concerned about managing teams they don’t see in person on a regular basis, but there are plenty of...
Presenting with confidence—virtuallyMost of us will attend, or deliver, remote presentations as part of our role. Presenting a session virtually has...
How to get firmwide communications rightThis Practice Note covers how to embrace a range of internal communication formats and accommodate the needs...
Latest Practice Management Precedents
Strategic business plan—commercial1Executive summary/introduction1.1This business plan has been prepared following a series of discussions between the...
Tender presentation—meeting planClient detailsName of client[Insert name]What business we are tendering for?[Include a brief summary of the business...
To bid or not to bid questionsThe answers to the following questions can be used to help you decide whether to pursue a particular opportunity to bid...
Preparing for a tender presentation—meeting agendaGeneralDate of meeting[Insert date]Chair/lead[Insert name and role]Deadline date of RFP/ITT[Insert...
Competitive landscape exercise—strategy away dayInstructionsBreak up the group into smaller groups of 3–4 people to brainstorm their thoughts[ using...
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
Exposure
Exposure of an organism to a source of radiation characterised by the dose received. (a) External exposure: exposure from a radiation source located outside the organism. (b) Internal exposure: exposure from a radiation source located inside the organism.
First mile
A topology in which the user or a local service provider – or perhaps even an apartment building company – owns the access network and connects to service providers using its own upstream links.
Variation (see 'Change')
A change in the works or services to be carried out. This is usually governed by a protocol'>Change Protocol which sets out parameters for making changes.
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