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leadership   This is the place to learn about and discuss issues related to the unique challenges faced by managing partners and other leaders in Canada's law firms. Read on for tips on honing your leadership skills, increasing firm profitability, working effectively with associates, and much more.

Newest Articles for Law Firm Leaders Successful Planning Is No Accident for Law Firms Many law firms struggle with the problem of getting lawyers to accept a firm-wide business plan. Nonetheless, planning is not an option if a firm wants to survive. What follows is a framework that any firm can use to institutionalize the planning process, and also consider the types of planning that any successful firm should do. More... Lessons in Leadership, the Law Firm Way The fundamental task of law firm leaders is to help everyone in the firm work together. Lawyers and staff who physically share the same office environment should share an outlook that shapes the development of common goals and agreement on how to achieve them. Lack of such an outlook inevitably can be traced to lack of leadership. More... Greening Your Law Firm: A Practical Guide to Creating an Environment-Friendly Law Office Many forward-thinking lawyers want to know how they can reduce their ecological footprint, beyond using a recyle bin. This practical guide will help you on your way to greening your practice, from getting partners and staff onside to easy tips, suggestions and a checklist for implementing environmentally sustainable policies and practices for your law firm. More... How to Secure Your Laptop Before Crossing the Border A new U.S. border security policy poses a potential threat to solicitor-client privilege. Here’s what you need to know, and how you can protect sensitive data. Here are 10 steps you can take to shield sensitive information, like that protected by solicitor-client privilege, when crossing the border. Make Partners Face Up to Each Other at a Firm Retreat When combining law firms, or seeking greater cohesiveness within any firm, no tool is more effective than face to face communication among lawyers in an all-firm meeting. Retreats bring together partners to confront tough issues, change the firm's direction, focus on a strategic plan, and develop a consensus. More... Law Firm Marketing Functions: A Forensic Review The roles within the marketing and business department in a law firm can vary, but each is focused on profitability. Do you have sufficient marketing staff to advance to the next stage in your business? Have you satisfied requests for marketing support? If not, it’s likely time to build up your team. More... More Articles for Law Firm Leaders: Not If, But When: Prepare a Disaster Recovery Plan Today Planning Ahead for Partner Retirement Secrets of the Business of Law – Making Money: Your Practical Guide to Profit™ Lawyers and Depression: Three Case Studies Make Your Marketing Pitch in a 30-Second Elevator Speech Making a Graceful Exit: Transitioning Key Clients to the Next Generation Take Your Practice to the Next Level: Hire a Coach Outsourcing is “In” … But Be Sure to Demonstrate Value How to Design the Right Compensation System for Your Law Firm How to Attract (and Keep) the Best and Brightest Legal Talent Ten Ways Law Firms Lose a Lot of Money Podcasts CBA Task Force on Conflicts of Interest: Final Report, Recommendations and Toolkit At the 2008 CBA Canadian Legal Conference in Québec City, a panel of conflicts experts discussed the Final Report, Recommendations and Toolkit of the CBA Task Force on Conflicts of Interest. Listen/view online (audio with synchronized presentation) Download audio (.mp3) iPod (.mov) Keeping Them by Sending Them Away: Sabbaticals and Lawyer Retention Sabbaticals can involve considerable planning and even a change of your firm’s culture. Listen to determine if a sabbatical solution is right for you and your firm: the arguments for and against; the building blocks of a program; the keys to successful implementation; and a sample policy which can serve as a starting point for your firm. Listen/view online (audio with synchronized presentation) Download audio (.mp3) iPod (.mov) More Podcasts: The Complex Conundrum of Cash and Lawyer Compensation Developing a Conflict Checking System for Your Law Firm  New Ways to Practice Work/Life Balance More...

Quick Tips Practical and concise tips for your practice. Resources CBA Advocacy: Submissions, court interventions, policy resolutions and more. Conflicts of Interest: The Final Report, Recommendations and Toolkit of the CBA Task Force on Conflicts of Interest. National Class Action Database: easy access to court documents submitted with regard to class action lawsuits in Canada. Pro Bono: The CBA Pro Bono Mentorship Program connects lawyers with mentors who have experience in pro bono. Professional Development: Stay current with the CBA's continuing legal education programs, devlivered both in-person and online. National Magazine  Online supplements: BlackBerrys Innovation Newsfeeds Featured Feed: More blogs/RSS feeds at blawg.org.