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

Linsay Leslie
MD Communications, London
linsay.leslie@mdcomms.co.uk

Key takeaways

• Webinars are generally well-attended, with relevant topics and well-prepared and informative speakers.  It can be challenging for some members to attend webinars due to their time zone.  Making recordings available to those registered is a solution.
• Members would like more opportunities to interact and network with each other.  Some respondents were unaware of the different subcommittees and working groups within the Law Firm Management Committee, and who to contact for specific questions or issues.  More streamlined communications aim to improve this for members.   
• While there are excellent resources available via the Committee’s webpages, some members were not aware of this resource.  Again, improved and streamlined communications will highlight new content and provide direct links to content including articles and guides.

Communications

• Currently, only 21 per cent of respondents feel that they can easily interact with the Committee and get the most from being a member.
• Thirty-eight per cent of respondents were unaware that the Committee has different subcommittees and working groups.  Notably, 45 per cent would like to be more involved but don’t know how to be, and feel that communication is only one way. Only ten per cent answered that they know which Law Firm Management Committee subcommittee to contact for different information and queries.
• Eighty per cent of respondents are members of up to three IBA committees and most receive an average of between three to ten IBA-related emails each week. On the question of how effective members find Committee communications, most (49 per cent) only read emails if the subject is of interest and relevant.

Website

• Fifty-one per cent of respondents didn’t know the Committee had a separate webpage as part of the IBA website, with then only six per cent aware of all the resources available on the Committee’s webpages and when they are updated.
• We asked for additional comments and shared views specifically on how we can improve the LFMC webpages. One member commented:  ‘Webpages generally can be good repositories of general information and work product, but because of their static nature […] they are ineffective channels of communication.’

Webinars and conferences

• In response to the question of how many IBA webinars do members attend on average in a month, 38 per cent attend one; 30 per cent attend less than three on average per month, and 15 per cent attend more than five.
• In response to the same question but in relation to Law Firm Management Committee webinars, 42 per cent attend zero; 34 per cent attend one; 21 per cent attend less than three; and three per cent attend more than five.
• Eighteen per cent attended online conferences so far in 2021, with 20 per cent not attending because they could not commit the time to attend the full event.
• When selecting which Law Firm Management Committee and other IBA committee webinars and events to attend, 28 per cent prioritise webinars on aspects of practice management and business development, with only 4 per cent reporting that they prioritise legal-based webinars. For 40 per cent, the panel of speakers is the most important factor, while for 30 per cent, suitability for their local time is key. Members in Colombia, India and the US (Mountain and Pacific time zones) report that webinar and event timings do not usually work for their time zones, however, making the recording available to view later is an adequate solution.
• Sixty-six per cent of respondents think that the Law Firm Management Committee’s webinar topics are varied and interesting, with 15 per cent keen that webinars are more interactive. Covid-19 topics have been covered well, we received feedback that some members are now keen to see fresh topics covered. 
• Fifty-four per cent of respondents report that Law Firm Management Committee webinars are well-run and professional, with 27 per cent stating that speakers are always prepared, informative and relevant.
• Forty-two per cent of respondents would like webinars to run for less than an hour so they fit more easily in the working day.