rethinking the business of law: the new rules of engagement
I recently posted on the absence of passion in America’s workforce. This article proposes that the legal profession can redress this problem by adopting a new business model that radically departs from the “leverage” and billable hour approach widely used today. Under this new paradigm, instead of downplaying professional fulfillment, firms will strive to create “an environment where lawyers are physically energized, emotionally connected, mentally focused and spiritually aligned with a purpose beyond immediate self-interest.” The piece rightly stresses that this change effort will be “long and complex,” requiring law firms to cultivate “an adequate supply of qualified leaders.” The New Leadership and the lawyers it nurtures will stress performance markers like “work ethic, emotional intelligence, dedication to fulfilling commitments and values.” Firms will come to understand and embrace the new golden rule: “when professional fulfillment suffers, performance and, consequently, profitability suffer, too.”
