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TIPS FROM THE TOP

Sharing insights from top lawyers and legal professionals in a local market.

...From leaders in the Greater Fort worth legal community.

Two Keys to Ensure Your Law Firm’s Success
By Stephen L. Tatum
i’ve heard the act of law irm management described as a “team player” usually takes over.
process of herding cats. What makes this an appropriate he way to succeed in a law irm is simple. Achieve the results
description is the typical independence that lawyers prefer
in the pursuit of their profession. he practice of law appears that your clients want in a proitable way. More importantly, or as importantly, success involves developing relationships with
to attract independent thinkers who do not like direction from anyone other than judges and clients.
clients such that work can be performed by other members of the irm in the contact lawyer’s absence.
While there are certain aspects of law irm management that Business development is key to every aspect of a law irm.
do require good herding skills, I think the conventional wisdom isn’t exactly correct.
he days in which institutional clients stayed with law irms for decades are, for the most part, gone. Young lawyers should
Most lawyers I’ve come in contact with during my career have been very loyal, irm-oriented people who are as interested in be instructed about the methods and importance of business development from their very irst day on the job because
the welfare of their fellow lawyers as they are their clients. Of course, the clients always come irst, but usually the client’s ultimately it’s their success in that endeavor, coupled with their success in representing the clients that they develop or
interest and the interest of the irm are very much aligned.
the clients that they are introduced to by other members of the
As long as lines of communication are open between management and members of the law irm, lawyers can be irm, that will result in a successful career.
Other than success in helping to achieve a client’s goals, the
persuaded—as long as management takes positions that are reasonable and necessary—to meet whatever challenge arises.
most important two things to ensure success in a law irm are the willingness to share and the ability to develop business. It’s
he key, in my opinion, is to keep partners abreast of the big that simple.
issues the irm faces. Once that’s done, the problem solver in every lawyer’s personality takes over and, in most cases, there Stephen L. Tatum has been practicing
is a great degree of agreement regarding how to meet whatever challenge arises.
law in Fort Worth and in appellate courts across the state and Federal
Of course, there always are matters that need to be handled a systems for 33 years. He has served as managing partner of Cantey
bit more discreetly than at a irmwide meeting, but those types of matters tend not to generate a lot of disagreement.
Hanger LLP., one of Texas’ oldest law irms, the past two years. He can be reached by emailing statum@
he key is identifying, communicating and pursuing a common goal. If that’s done successfully, the lawyers’ inner
canteyhanger.com.

26 | www.AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com

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