• Subject
  • Year
ESG Survey 2024 – analysis and discussion

Less than half (43 per cent) of law firms actively monitor and prepare for environmental, social and governance (ESG) developments for their own operations, which is down by almost a fifth (62 per cent) in two years, according to a recent survey conducted by the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Law Firm Management ESG Subcommittee.

Released on Sep 4, 2024

ESG Survey 2024 – analysis and discussion

The third consecutive annual survey conducted by the IBA Law Firm Management ESG Subcommittee.

Released on Sep 4, 2024

IBA Annual Conference: top tips, Business Development and Marketing Subcommittee guide, September 2024

Released on Aug 12, 2024

Law Firm Management Committee – reports from 2023 IBA Annual Conference in Paris

This report recaps some of the highlights of the Law Firm Management Committee sessions at the 2023 IBA Annual Conference.

Released on Feb 23, 2024

Report – IBA Annual Conference, Paris, 29 October – 3 November 2023

Released on Feb 23, 2024

Webinar report: ‘How women can be rainmakers and control their destiny’

This article is a recap of the webinar titled ‘How women can be rainmakers and control their destiny’, which took place on 16 May 2023 and was presented by the IBA Law Firm Management Committee, with support from the IBA Women Lawyers’ Committee and IBA Young Lawyers’ Committee.

Released on Jun 7, 2023

Sharing the Secrets: Reporting on “The Secrets of Women Rainmakers – How to Become One and How to Create a Culture that Develops Them.”

On April 19, the IBA’s Law Firm Management Committee, with the support of the Women Lawyers’ Committee, produced the webinar, “The Secrets of Women Rainmakers – How to Become One and How to Create a Culture that Develops Them.”

Released on May 3, 2022

The Russian invasion of Ukraine: what the international legal community can do to help

A report on the webinar titled ‘The Russian invasion of Ukraine: How can the legal profession provide support to Ukraine?’, led by the IBA Rule of Law Forum and supported by the IBA Law Firm Management Committee.

Released on Apr 21, 2022

IBA Global Showcase: top tips, Business Development and Marketing Subcommittee guide, October 2021

This article contains some top tips so readers can make the most of the IBA Global Showcase.

Released on Oct 28, 2021

Returning to in-person business development? Business Development and Marketing Subcommittee guide, August 2021

This article examines the prospect of returning to in-person business development, as some jurisdictions start going back into the office and others rethink office plans in the face of further waves of Covid-19.

Released on Sep 15, 2021

Return to in-person business development? August 2021

This article examines the prospect of returning to in-person business development, as some jurisdictions start going back into the office and others rethink office plans in the face of further waves of Covid-19.

Released on Sep 15, 2021

LFMC communications, websites and webinars: Law Firm Management Committee survey, June 2021

The Law Firm Management Committee monthly survey series: June 2021

Released on Aug 9, 2021

How to bid successfully: Business Development and Marketing Subcommittee guide, July 2021

Bids, tenders and pitching for work is part of life for every law firm. However, firms that don’t have a clear bids strategy and process, aligned to the firm’s growth plans can spend a lot of time and money with little return. This guide shares some top tips to help improve your bid and pitch win rate.

Released on Jul 23, 2021

How to make the transition from face-to-face to virtual meetings: Business Development and Marketing Subcommittee guide, June 2021

Particularly in the legal profession, having face-to-face meetings are essential to build up and maintain a relationship with clients, members of staff and other persons important to your practice. For most of us this has changed drastically overnight when working from home became the norm.

Released on Jun 10, 2021

The ‘next normal’ and the return to the office: Law Firm Management Committee survey, May 2021

The Law Firm Management Committee monthly survey series: May 2021

Released on May 31, 2021

Hosting client events virtually: Business Development and Marketing Subcommittee guide, May 2021

Social distancing and travel restrictions means attending face-to-face conferences and networking events are on pause for the near future. More and more events and conferences are becoming virtual, which means a change in tactics when it comes to hosting, attending and networking.

Released on May 10, 2021

Comparing law firm costs: Law Firm Management Committee survey, February 2021

The Law Firm Management Committee monthly survey series: February 2021.

Released on Apr 27, 2021

Podcast: Covid-19 crisis management and law firms

May 22, 2020, 5:06 PM As the world of work changed in response to Covid-19, law firms have adapted to the situation. Highly experienced law firm leaders from around the globe discuss the challenges and steps taken – from the technological to the logistical, from managing staff wellbeing and communications to responding to client demands.

Released on May 22, 2020

Book review: Managing Talent for Success: Talent Development in Law Firms (2nd edn)

Looked at from the outside, lawyers may appear to be individual experts. Alone, or close to it. Self-sufficient and self-reliant. The expert to be called upon for a particular task or project. A student attending a law faculty is not likely to be disabused of this perception. For many lawyers in private practice around the world, this is indeed the reality.

GCs on Covid-19

Two of the main challenges general counsels (GCs) have faced in 2020 are the Covid-19 pandemic and its associated economic downturn. This session looked at how these challenges have affected the role of the GC and global business as a whole, as well as how in-house legal leaders are adapting to a new climate. As well as providing these insights, the panel will explore the opportunities for law firms arising from the continued impact of Covid-19.

Retaining talent in the 21st century

The session addressed trends in talent retention, with a particular focus on what is emerging in the wake of the pandemic. Identifying resilient talent becomes an important challenge, as does rethinking remuneration packages and adopting new ways to ensure that culture and social engagement survive.

Privilege and confidentiality: resetting the conversation

This session looked at the key themes of lawyers unintentionally misusing, wilfully turning a blind eye to, or knowingly abusing claims of privilege; and what the legal profession can do to prevent misuse and abuse of privilege.

What clients expect from Latin American lawyers in this new era of legal tech and frenetic changes

A session which looked at the biggest challenges and trends in relation to the acquisition and use of data for lawyers in Latin America.

Women, millennials and the partnership track: is it the ultimate goal?

This session discussed the shift towards a more balanced and diverse workplace for the legal profession in order to attract and retain talent from the millennial generation.

Lateral hiring – making it work

This session looked at the motivations for partner moves; lateral hiring strategies; and how to ensure the lateral hire can benefit the firm, and more.

Bullying and sexual harassment in the legal profession - can we change the culture?

This session looked at at the IBA's Us Too? Bullying and Sexual Harassment in the Legal Profession report, and the culture change required in the legal sector.

From the Editor, Law Firm Management Committee, December 2020

A message from the Editor of the Law Firm Management Committee, December 2020.

The right culture - what does this mean and how can we shape the culture for the future?

Up until spring of 2020, stories abounded in the legal and lay press about the toxic culture in the legal profession. Mental health issues were on the rise, bullying and harassment were all too common, and lawyers were working to the point of burnout. This session explored these issues from different perspectives: the young lawyer, the female lawyer, the senior lawyer and the sole practitioner in a developing country.

Fighting bias in the age of machine learning and artificial intelligence

Continuing developments in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) have raised concerns that algorithms may be unfairly or even illegally biased. This session allowed participants to hear from and interact with leading specialists in the fields of machine learning and AI as they intersect with ethics and the law, in order to understand if eliminating bias in machine learning is possible or even desirable from a technical standpoint.

How to be a successful and sustainable small/medium law firm

This session addressed the advantages and disadvantages of these firms, especially during times of change and crisis; how to retain talent and be profitable.