Trial Magazine

Having a law firm is all encompassing. It may be second nature to research case law, take depositions, and file motions, but things like cloud-based case management, payroll, hiring practices, firm expansion, marketing, and keeping up with the latest technology can be overwhelming. The business of law was not part of my law school curriculum.

Thankfully, Trial ^® has devoted an issue to this topic so we can learn from our peers. In this month’s issue, you’ll find articles about building a firm from the ground up (p. 20), key AI tools to increase efficiency (p. 30), cultivating a healthy practice (p. 34), managing a busy law office (p. 40), and more.

Investing in the people we hire may be the best move for our businesses’ productivity and growth. Studies and reports continue to show that diverse perspectives have a positive effect on business. A Boston Consulting Group report on diverse leadership found a strong correlation between the diversity of management teams and innovation.

According to the report, companies with above-average diversity on their management teams reported innovation revenue contributing to 45% of total revenue, compared to companies with below-average diversity, which reported innovation revenue at only 26%. AAJ believes strongly in the value of diverse leadership, and we have two related, thriving initiatives that benefit the firms and members who participate.

AAJ’s Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Academy provides leadership training to highly qualified members, including those who are underrepresented within AAJ, to make them more effective leaders in the association, in their law firms, and in their communities.

Eighty percent of Leadership Academy graduates have served in leadership roles within AAJ and their state trial lawyers associations, 15% currently serve on the AAJ Board of Governors, 39% of the AAJ Executive Committee are Leadership Academy graduates, and three past and current national officers are graduates. Any AAJ plaintiff attorney member can apply. Applications for the next class are being accepted through May 1. Learn more at justice.org/leadershipacademy.

Member Firm Pledge to Act is an initiative that supports members in their recruitment, retention, and promotion of minority trial lawyers in their firms. Past AAJ President Navan Ward guided the development of the Member Firm Pledge to Act and helped launch the program in 2022. More than 300 firms have signed the pledge, which encourages AAJ members to implement initiatives to support diversity at their firms; address issues that have adversely impacted their recruitment, retention, and promotion of minority attorneys; and make efforts through recruiting, hiring, and promoting to include and increase minority attorneys in their firms.

These programs impact how we run our businesses and how we interact with others in the trial lawyer community. The Pledge to Act initiatives help with client outreach in the communities in which we live and practice and with networking, co-counsel, and referral opportunities.

AAJ has other opportunities throughout the year for members to learn more about the business of law. Last month at AAJ’s Winter Convention, faculty presented programs on how to manage remote employees, AI for office staff, succession planning, intake tools, ethical marketing, crisis communications, training support staff, and more. There was also a full-day, pre-convention marketing and management seminar.

Looking ahead, AAJ will hold its BOSS Summit from October 19–21 in Denver for those involved in business operations, supervision, and strategy at their firms. Speakers, panels, and small group discussions are planned to help your firm maximize performance efficiencies and growth.

You each have unique experiences, stories, backgrounds, and talents. AAJ is committed to providing our trial lawyer community with a variety of programs, forums, and opportunities to help us achieve the best results for our clients; develop leadership skills; and acquire the knowledge to build creative, thoughtful, innovative teams to strengthen our businesses and succeed.

Lori E. Andrus is a partner at Andrus Anderson in San Francisco and can be reached at lori.andrus@justice.org.