3 Essential Management Books for Lawyers
Law school traditionally teaches students how to think like lawyers, not how to manage the business side of a law firm. However, practicing law is a profession and a business, and although each requires different skills, attorneys must master both to be successful. Here are some books that aim to school lawyers in what it takes to run a prosperous law practice:
Book 1: Attorney and Law Firm Guide to the Business of Law: Planning and Operating for Survival and Growth, Third Edition by Edward Poll
Ed Poll, a respected columnist and management consultant with over 40 years of experience in business and law, celebrated the 20th anniversary of this book with an updated third edition. “Attorney and Law Firm Guide to the Business of Law,” addresses all aspects of running a law practice and helps lawyers understand business functions like finance, marketing, and human resources. It also provides valuable suggestions for technology tools.
Modern practices require updated solutions, not more of the same. In this book, Poll helps lawyers understand what has changed within the legal industry, and how they can adapt, adopt, and innovate their practices. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to update your operation, this book can put you on the road to success.
Book 2: Smart Collaboration: How Professionals and Their Firms Succeed by Breaking Down Silos by Heidi K. Gardner
For collaboration to be smart, it must be done right. In this book, Harvard Business School professor and lecturer Heidi Gardner explains why collaborating across silos is messy, risky, and expensive and how to do it more effectively. In “Smart Collaboration,” Gardner explains how firms earn can increase income, encourage client loyalty, attract and retain top talent, and be more competitive when they know how to effectively collaborate.
Published through Harvard Business Review (HBR), this book provides actionable insights into how to better develop teams, business plans, and improve the bottom line. Gardner has received praise for her clear methodology and how helpful the book is for any firm providing knowledge-based service.
Book 3: How to Do More in Less Time: The Complete Guide to Increasing Your Productivity and Improving Your Bottom Line by Allison C Shields and Daniel J Siegel
Time is money for lawyers, and although most attorneys work long hours, many still do not have enough time to get everything done – not even considering the business aspects of their job like marketing, business development, and strategic planning.
“How to Do More in Less Time,” offers helpful tips and tricks on how to get and stay organized while navigating time constraints. The focus is on combining the authors’ programs to improve productivity – encouraging readers prioritize tasks, eliminate bad habits, and adopt new strategies. Want to do 90 minutes’ worth of work in 60 minutes, or maybe even 30 minutes? This book is for you.
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