Squirm with envy

"When something is broken, it sometimes pays to replace it rather than fix it."  So say Derek Jaques and Rupert Hanson of Mallesons, a top 50 international commercial law firm with offices throughout the southern pacific rim. Jacques and Hanson developed the firm's TalentNet, a brilliant web based solution for recruitment management which was awarded a 2007 InnovAction Award by the College of Law Practice Management.

Sheldon Krantz, Chair of DLA Piper's New Perimeter international Pro Bono program says it took "patience and tenacity to develop and implement an entirely new pro bono concept." New Perimeter was also recognized with an InnovAction Award.

If, like many law firms, you squirm with envy when reading about law firms who roll out surprisingly different business strategies because you just can't see how anything remotely new could have a life in your firm. . . . .take a listen to what the proven innovators have to say.  And take a lesson.

At InnovActionaward.com you can read interviews with current and past winners as they describe the internal and external barriers they encountered and the resolution they discovered.  Just go to the website, click on "Hall of Fame" and scroll down the right margin to find the winner whose interview tempts you.

Comments

[David J. Bilinsky]

Merrilyn:

Oh the paradox! Introducing innovation in a profession that is wedded to precedent! I have been in numerous meetings with judges who ask: "Why don't counsel bring more technology to court?" and in meetings with lawyers who ask: "Why are judges so opposed to bringing technology to court?". The truth is that there is the desire to innovate out there on virtually every aspect of the practice of law, but no one wants to be the one who risks *their* client's case by trying something new.

I think that focusing on the innovative steps that have been taken in the legal profession helps shine a light (and give moral support) to those who see the new landscape and wish to try out their own wings.

Congrats to you and the College for giving this issue prominence!

Cheers,

Dave Bilinsky
www.thoughtfullaw.com
daveb@thoughtfullaw.com