Page 21 - The Handbook - Legal and Accounting Networks 81
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Law and Accounting Networks and Associations
The following table illustrates the distinguishing elements of each level.
Exhibit 4 – Summary Four Levels of Network Development
Common Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
description
Examples Club Network or Association Network Accounting Network
Club de Abogados Law Verein
Relative size of PRAC, USLFG, and American TerraLex, Lex Mundi, Big 4. Law firm
firms Mixed Counsel Association GGI, ILN, Multilaw, vereins (Baker
MSI, WSG, TAGlaw McKenzie, DLA)
Website No Some with large firms like Mixed (SCGl, TerraLex), Large firms in each
PRAC, World Law Group. members all among country in the case of
Budget No Most with small and midsize largest (Lex Mundi and accounting. In law
Staff No – part-time help firms WSG); midsize (Meritas) anchor firms are large
Publications No but many members are
Yes – directory Yes – directory, smaller.
Meetings Semi-annual interactive, member- Yes – directory,
meetings Yes – up to $500,000 focused interactive, third-party
Professional Yes – usually 1 or 2 Yes – up to $8 mm focused
education No Brochure Yes – 6 to 30 Yes – $8+ mm
Membership is No Brochure and member Yes – more than 30+
strategic Annual meeting and regional publications. Publications Brochure and member
Corporation No meetings directed to possible publications
clients
Board of directors No No Annual meetings, Annual meetings,
No – focus is exclusively or regional meetings, regional meetings,
Executive No primarily internal to network practice group meetings practice group
committee No meetings
Staff No Yes – can be quite Yes
No extensive61
Board of General No Yes – may be called advisory Yes – internal and Yes – very strategic
Counsel Advisors No board from membership. external marketing for each firm
Member extranet No Board memberships do not functions
External marketing change. Yes – independent Yes – potentially
materials No corporation owned by multiple corporations
Brand name use by Yes – staff operates at the members.
Members requests of members. Yes – succession plan Yes
No Yes Yes
No Yes – staff responsible Yes – staff responsible
for all operations. CEO for all operations.
No leads. CEO leads.
Some Yes
Referenced on website of
members Yes – some high Yes
technical
Yes – considerable in Yes – coordinated
many different formats. throughout network
Yes – prominently Brand name in firm
displayed on website, name or is firm name
some letterheads, and
business cards.
61 Joanne Harris, Law Firm Networks: Distance Learning, THE LAWYER (Sept. 2, 2013), www.thelawyer.com/news/people/education-and-
training/law-firm-networks-distance-learning/3008615.article.
9
The following table illustrates the distinguishing elements of each level.
Exhibit 4 – Summary Four Levels of Network Development
Common Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
description
Examples Club Network or Association Network Accounting Network
Club de Abogados Law Verein
Relative size of PRAC, USLFG, and American TerraLex, Lex Mundi, Big 4. Law firm
firms Mixed Counsel Association GGI, ILN, Multilaw, vereins (Baker
MSI, WSG, TAGlaw McKenzie, DLA)
Website No Some with large firms like Mixed (SCGl, TerraLex), Large firms in each
PRAC, World Law Group. members all among country in the case of
Budget No Most with small and midsize largest (Lex Mundi and accounting. In law
Staff No – part-time help firms WSG); midsize (Meritas) anchor firms are large
Publications No but many members are
Yes – directory Yes – directory, smaller.
Meetings Semi-annual interactive, member- Yes – directory,
meetings Yes – up to $500,000 focused interactive, third-party
Professional Yes – usually 1 or 2 Yes – up to $8 mm focused
education No Brochure Yes – 6 to 30 Yes – $8+ mm
Membership is No Brochure and member Yes – more than 30+
strategic Annual meeting and regional publications. Publications Brochure and member
Corporation No meetings directed to possible publications
clients
Board of directors No No Annual meetings, Annual meetings,
No – focus is exclusively or regional meetings, regional meetings,
Executive No primarily internal to network practice group meetings practice group
committee No meetings
Staff No Yes – can be quite Yes
No extensive61
Board of General No Yes – may be called advisory Yes – internal and Yes – very strategic
Counsel Advisors No board from membership. external marketing for each firm
Member extranet No Board memberships do not functions
External marketing change. Yes – independent Yes – potentially
materials No corporation owned by multiple corporations
Brand name use by Yes – staff operates at the members.
Members requests of members. Yes – succession plan Yes
No Yes Yes
No Yes – staff responsible Yes – staff responsible
for all operations. CEO for all operations.
No leads. CEO leads.
Some Yes
Referenced on website of
members Yes – some high Yes
technical
Yes – considerable in Yes – coordinated
many different formats. throughout network
Yes – prominently Brand name in firm
displayed on website, name or is firm name
some letterheads, and
business cards.
61 Joanne Harris, Law Firm Networks: Distance Learning, THE LAWYER (Sept. 2, 2013), www.thelawyer.com/news/people/education-and-
training/law-firm-networks-distance-learning/3008615.article.
9
