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December 18, 2010
Has Everyone Except Scott Greenfield Died and Gone to Hallmark?
Many law firms are now like a small town homeowners' association whose key members just learned that the monthly meeting was changed to their bowling night. They are pissed off, torn, confused. The screams out there for quality and value have not been convenient.
"America Lawyers in 2010: "A Passion for Excellence". No one, I'm afraid, is writing a book right now with that title and subtitle. Or books with the same subtitle about Client Service, Retail-level Customer Service, American Education, U.S. Cultural and Geographic Literacy, "Bar Leadership" (let's tell the truth: Western lawyers don't lead anyone or anything anymore) or, say, consistently providing value for to-die-for clients, customers and buyers in the American workplace. Even a world-wide Recession has not made many of us re-think Value--in the marketplace and in our lives--and demand anything new, different and harder of ourselves and others. See our posts over the past two years.
During the Holiday Season, however, we give humans a pass. We accommodate shortcomings, even cookie-cutter living and barely working. But should we tolerate imperfection as much in those who should know better? Those of us with fine educations that others paid for? Those of us in the law firms and other institutions that represent large and publicly-traded clients in corporate America and Western Europe? The firms I see in my work every day? My take: we are all over the board--but very dumb-downed and diluted from 20 years ago. The Recession has not improved quality here either. We are really not leading and "up to it" yet--we still hire and keep mediocre people.
And we are in turmoil. Many law firms are now like a small town homeowners' association whose key members just learned that the monthly meeting was changed to their bowling night. They are pissed off, torn and confused. They know there is work to do--and it must be done more efficiently, more inexpensively and with a valuable return to the real boss: the Client and Customer. The Recession was the biggest wake-up call of all. But most of us have not seized the day. We continue to want to make money doing what they have always have done, working and thinking in a prison of old patterns, and surrounding ourselves with the same goofy people. The screams for quality and value out there in the legal marketplace have not been all that convenient.
Can we just start with the worthless words and phrases we use? Would that help to take quality to "the next level". Scott Greenfield, a noted Manhattan corporate trial lawyer, my friend and a man who beats fish to death with bare hands, has been an ally generally and on specific issues. Do read Simple Justice every day. Like Scott, it defies political labeling, and seems to be read by as many corporate apologists like me as it is read by the criminal defense bar. See also last week's post "What's The Buzz? Scott knows that no one listens anyway--so when you are persuading try not to sound like Mr. Rogers with a Tuck M.B.A. and a lifelong fondness for ether and nitrous oxide. There are others like Scott, who fight WeenieSpeak, Bad Working, Bad Lawyering and Bad Internet. There's this feisty fellow Tannebaum in Miami, D.C.'s Ernie from Glen Burnie, Walter Olson and...well, I'm sure there are others, too. They would all agree with Holden Oliver's remark that "a man who embraces mediocrity and schmaltz says no to life".
Posted by JD Hull at 11:59 PM | Comments (1)
December 17, 2010
The Ritz
Puttin' on the Ritz. Two years ago Texas-based Cordell Parvin took his Law Consulting Blog to the Ritz Carlton and learned a few things about customers, clients and buyers. We just love the name Cordell.
Posted by Holden Oliver (Kitzbühel Desk) at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)
December 15, 2010
Mother Jones on Richard Holbrooke
Me? On even his bad days, I thought he was a lot of fun to watch. Career diplomat Richard Holbrooke, who died suddenly on Monday, was an older school player and a powerful class act. As David Corn suggests in "Richard Holbrooke's Unfinished Business", Holbrooke's passing is going to get more than the usual few days of ink from both critics and admirers who cover Afghanistan.
Posted by JD Hull at 10:52 AM | Comments (0)
December 13, 2010
Need To Get My Attention? Un-Spam Yourself. Call Me.
Or we can meet and talk in person. But don't use E-mail or Twitter. Unless, of course, you think that they may deserve a status superior to the mere tools that they really are: two tools out of many at our disposal for communicating and getting things done. Do see our somewhat lengthy but inspring and soulful "See Me, Feel Me, Call Me: More bodies and voices, please". Excerpts:
If you e-mail me about a truly great idea, and expect to develop or work up the idea efficiently in an e-mail discourse, and get a few juices flowing, I will tell you right off the bat you have gone insane.
Get the net.
What happened to vibes, voices, faces, bodies, winks, hand gestures, touching another's hand or shoulder impulsively, stares, grins, frowns, hand-written thank you notes, human electricity, NOT-typing, non-virtual joking, yelling, swearing, ragging and flirting, totally un-PC confrontation, intimacy and the "God-in-the-room" magic that starts with two breathing humans in one 3-D place? Or at least on the phone?
Posted by JD Hull at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
December 12, 2010
Quick Reminder: What About Clients/Paris? is No-Wuss Zone.
Rise up. Be a person. If you are a professional who is active on the Internet, set an example. Start by using your real name.
No name no publish. Absent a Club Ned pass, this blog does not print comments from anonymous or pseudonym-carrying commenters. We require commenters who are not ashamed of who they are and are willing to be accountable for what they say and write here. Anonymity is for people who need it--not angry 28-year-old male lawyers who are upset that life is harder than they had thought and they must often toil more than 7 hours a day to get it right.
Use your real name if you comment to our blog.
Say what? You will remain anonymous, or use a pseudonym, when you comment on the Internet to protect your privacy and reputation until such time as you make partner? We've heard that one before. And we have some advice for you. Either (a) don't comment on any blogs and websites while you are trying to make partner (you clearly need to work a lot harder--and you have no business cruising the Internet if you are really that serious), or (b) quit your job and get one at a better shop not dominated by watchful senior ninnies and where you are not compelled to reprise a nameless cartoon character every time you wish to speak your mind.
This is America, Justin. You can vote with your feet if your workplace stunts your growth.
Posted by JD Hull at 11:36 AM | Comments (0)