Monday, August 30, 2004 6:57 PM
An interesting read making the rounds is H. Edward Wesemann's new book, The First Great Myth Of Legal Management Is That It Exists: Tough Issues For Law Firm Managing Partners And Administrators.
Published in the Spring of 2004, the book is a quick read that offers a healthy dose of skepticism regarding a number of hot law firm topics that have ebbed and flowed, including the need for a strategic plan, knowledge management, cross-selling and new classes of partnerships. While I didn't agree with everything that Mr. Wesemann set forth, he clearly knows his subject matter and I found that many of his points were right on target.
Mr. Wesemann also offers a some new insights as to the causes of the implosion of such large law firms as Brobeck and Altheimer Gray in the last few years. In his opinion, the causes were largely missed by the mainstream media in its reporting (hint: it was less about debt and more about compensation).
A final plus about the book is that it offers more than just a critique and opinion; it also offers a list of suggestions for improving law firm management and a view of the future for law firms. All in all, a good read.
You can find out more via Amazon at the link above or at your favorite bookseller.