Posted by Legal Futures Associate Osprey Approach
Pappin: Conduct a ‘pre-mortem’
Kirsty Pappin, owner of Aries Legal Practice Management, joined Amy Bruce, marketing director at Osprey Approach, for episode nine of the Empowering Law Firm Leaders podcast.
Kirsty shared her essentials for running a successful modern law firm; the habits and behaviours of effective practice managers; ways to stand out from the competition; how firms could better prepare for the unexpected; and other top tips.
Kirsty’s three essentials for running a successful modern law firm
- Planning: Kirsty stressed the need for robust planning at both individual and business levels. She believed that being prepared and having a solid plan was crucial for success, whilst ensuring that planning was comprehensive and adaptable.
- Innovation and creativity: Kirsty advised leaders to “be prepared to be innovative and creative with solutions”. This involved not only developing new solutions but also being open to change and willing to experiment. She noted that innovation often came with calculated risks and potential failures, but these were necessary steps for growth and improvement.
- Communication: “I have a thing which I’m calling the 3Cs, which is communication, change management and courage.” She introduced the concept of courage within communication, emphasising the need to communicate effectively, even when it involved difficult conversations or hearing unwelcome feedback. “You’ve got to have courage to communicate effectively and say what’s on your mind. You’ve got to have a courage to hear the things you don’t want to hear.”
The habits and behaviours of effective practice managers
Kirsty believed that “practice managers are superheroes” and shared how multifaceted the role was, especially in SME law firms, where they simultaneously wore multiple hats to juggle priorities, expectations and requirements.
Kirsty shared her top five qualities of effective practice managers, to inspire future leaders and help current leaders make the right next hire: curiosity, communication skills, adaptability, problem-solving, and facilitation
Standing out from the competition
Kirsty highlighted the importance of culture in successful firms. “The successful firms I’ve worked with have an infectious energy. I once attended a team meeting… and you could just feel it in the room. People wanted to be there. People were involved in the growth strategy of the firm.”
When everyone from partners to junior staff are invested in the business plan, it is a key differentiator. “Those are the firms that are going to really drive forward because their team wants to be there.”
Successful firms offer more than just high salaries; they need to create a growth culture mindset that encourages participation and innovation. Kirsty warned that firms that ignored the cultural aspects of running a business were at risk: “I think we’re going to see more firms closing doors or being bought out and trying to merge because they don’t have people coming through the ranks that want to take on the business.”
Preparing for the unexpected
Kirsty introduced the concept of a ‘pre-mortem’, which involved planning for potential failures by identifying everything that could go wrong and working backwards to prevent those issues. This proactive approach helps firms to be as prepared as possible.
Having the best people, systems, policies and procedures in place is the best form of preparation. “If you’re confident and you have courage in the convictions that you’ve made, then when the unexpected does happen, there’ll be a process you can lean on or a person you can lean on to get you back to where you need to be.”
How to embrace modern practice management
Effective practice management in modern legal businesses can be achieved thorough planning, innovation and robust communication. Kirsty’s insights underline the importance of adaptability, problem-solving, and fostering a strong, inclusive culture within law firms.
By embracing these principles, law firms can not only navigate the complexities of today’s legal landscape but also position themselves for sustained success and growth.
Watch the full interview with Kirsty Pappin now to discover more advice and guidance on effective legal business management. You’ll also hear Kirsty’s exclusive advice on the importance of quick decision making for firm leaders and the impact of non-lawyer leadership in SMEs. Listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube.
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