The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/34686
MEMBER RESOURCES Our AFA — or as we call it, Special Billing Arrangements (SBA) — is driven primarily by our client accounting/administration group. They are responsible for deal pricing and billing in tandem with our business systems department, which manages related systems. There is also a partner committee focused on this, providing strategic direction. Although we are working with a time and billing vendor, we have also developed our own pricing models (driven by “revalued” prior matters) and dashboard tools to help partners better manage matters to specific arrangements. Robert Ferris Manager Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP GW ONLINE WITH SHORT-TERM RESIDENCIES IN ALEXANDRIA, VA Master of Professional Studies & Graduate Certificate in Law Firm Management Invest in the Future with a graduate degree created by a partnership of The Hildebrandt Institute and the GW College of Professional Studies. We have recently hired our first dedicated pricing specialist and deployed a budgeting tool for our time and billing vendor. The project is largely being run out of the finance department, but I am part of the core group, so there is definitely some KM and practice management input. We are just starting on the process, which means coming up with code sets for coding the time and tweaking our time and billing tool to make sure it’s setup properly to give us more granular information. We have not started on the process of creating budgets, as lots of clean up and analysis has to be done first, but the journey of a thousand miles always starts with a single step! It will be all about execution — and we will need to develop dashboard tools to help partners better manage matters. Eventually, we will have to introduce more project management- like methodologies to the firm. The cultural changes required will be huge, so right now we are starting with the basics: making sure that all time entries are using the proper codes. The data has to be clean if the analysis is to be correct. Regardless of what happens, I am thrilled we are making this investment. It will sure make us a smarter firm about our business. Guy Wiggins Kelley Drye & Warren LLP Director of Practice Management www.gwu.edu/gradapply For those interested in learning more about this topic, there will be a KM session at the annual conference around KM being essential to implementing effective AFAs. Patrick DiDomenico Chief Knowledge Officer Gibbons P.C. 36365 THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION INSTITUTION CERTIFIED TO OPERATE IN VA BY SCHEV. Meet a growing need in legal management for highly skilled and adaptable leadership professionals. Develop Strategic Leadership and Management Skills. Gain business and legal knowledge from a faculty of legal consultants and professors of management. Expand Career Options in a program format designed for working professionals in the legal field. More Information 1.800.JOIN.GWU nearyou.gwu.edu/lawfirm Peer to Peer the quarterly magazine of ILTA 125