Page 32 - Lawyers and Accountants - The Future of the Professions
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Lawyers and Accountants 2019 -
(4) Various products must be developed. In 2018, having a searchable website is a key component.
However, websites tend to fall under the education process in (2) and (3) above. Any website must
create opportunities for interaction rather than just be an online newspaper and Rolodex.
5) The objective should be refined by a database of each element in the developmental process.
Everyone involved, related to, or affected by the process needs to be informed. This is only
accomplished by a database can pinpoint individuals and organizations who are affected by the
changes.
(6) Technology is the engine of the overall collaboration process.
2. External Education and Relationships
Publications. The most important element is to get everyone on the same page and define common
denominators. This is particularly important when each profession has different competitive
perspectives. The following books and manual serve this purpose:
Multidisciplinary Practices: Lawyers, Accountants and Consultants, the only treatise on
MDPs;
The Handbook: Law Firm Networks (2011-2018), a detailed 177-page analysis of legal and
accounting networks as the model for global business;
Leaders in Legal Business (2015 and 2018), the only book written by 33 leaders in legal
business about their companies’ and organizations’ contributions to the legal profession.
Authors include the presidents of the ABA, ACC, IBA, LMA, ALA, ALM, leading consultants,
and academics; and
The 1,000 Influencers and Leaders in Legal Business (2017), a comprehensive directory of the
most important influencers in legal business.
It is not just the publication of information that matters, but to whom that information is directed.
The amount and scope are crucial. Too much information will be viewed negatively as an attempt to
sell something. Too little, and there is no ability for the professional to connect the dots.
The issue is to whom the information is directed. This requires the evaluation of each organization.
For example, some organizations are hierarchical, meaning there is one or very few decision makers.
In this case, information goes only to them. However, if there is a negative decision, it will be
extraordinarily difficult to reverse it.
In others, it is the opposite. There may be 20 directors, each of whom has a vote. Only one objection
is required to negate a positive decision or essentially postpone a decision. This can be positive if
there is one champion and the other 19 do not have a strong opinion. Therefore, it is key to locate
this individual by contacting all of the directors.
29
(4) Various products must be developed. In 2018, having a searchable website is a key component.
However, websites tend to fall under the education process in (2) and (3) above. Any website must
create opportunities for interaction rather than just be an online newspaper and Rolodex.
5) The objective should be refined by a database of each element in the developmental process.
Everyone involved, related to, or affected by the process needs to be informed. This is only
accomplished by a database can pinpoint individuals and organizations who are affected by the
changes.
(6) Technology is the engine of the overall collaboration process.
2. External Education and Relationships
Publications. The most important element is to get everyone on the same page and define common
denominators. This is particularly important when each profession has different competitive
perspectives. The following books and manual serve this purpose:
Multidisciplinary Practices: Lawyers, Accountants and Consultants, the only treatise on
MDPs;
The Handbook: Law Firm Networks (2011-2018), a detailed 177-page analysis of legal and
accounting networks as the model for global business;
Leaders in Legal Business (2015 and 2018), the only book written by 33 leaders in legal
business about their companies’ and organizations’ contributions to the legal profession.
Authors include the presidents of the ABA, ACC, IBA, LMA, ALA, ALM, leading consultants,
and academics; and
The 1,000 Influencers and Leaders in Legal Business (2017), a comprehensive directory of the
most important influencers in legal business.
It is not just the publication of information that matters, but to whom that information is directed.
The amount and scope are crucial. Too much information will be viewed negatively as an attempt to
sell something. Too little, and there is no ability for the professional to connect the dots.
The issue is to whom the information is directed. This requires the evaluation of each organization.
For example, some organizations are hierarchical, meaning there is one or very few decision makers.
In this case, information goes only to them. However, if there is a negative decision, it will be
extraordinarily difficult to reverse it.
In others, it is the opposite. There may be 20 directors, each of whom has a vote. Only one objection
is required to negate a positive decision or essentially postpone a decision. This can be positive if
there is one champion and the other 19 do not have a strong opinion. Therefore, it is key to locate
this individual by contacting all of the directors.
29
