The best way to predict the future is to create it. -Peter Drucker
To compete in today’s competitive legal market, law firms are required to maximize resources, leverage core competencies and attract profitable and desirable clients. This requires having a firm- wide shared vision and a focused road map on how to achieve your vision.
One of the most effective strategies you can implement for optimizing your firm’s performance is to take a step back from day to day client work and bring your team together for a focused retreat that results in moving your firm or group towards your most important goals. This can be achieved through clarity of goals, proper planning, effective communication, accountability and follow up.
Ferris Consulting has over 20 years facilitating strategic retreats, we help law firms to answer critical questions including, Who are you? What do you do? Why do you exist? Where are you today? Where do you want to be in the future? How will you get there?
By answering these questions your law firm will be in a position to leverage the firm’s core competencies, strengths, talent and expertise to attract desirable clients and improve the firm’s profitability and culture.
Results achieved from our law firm retreats include:
- Clarity on the Law firm’s shared vision, mission and values
- Energized partners, associates and staff working toward a common goal with a consensus on key strategies and priorities.
- Agreement on the firms strategic direction
- Focused action plan for the firm
- Buy in from all attorneys on the vision and the action plan for achieving the vision
- Improved profitability
- Productive and positive culture
Retreat Process:
Preparation
- Preparation and planning for law firm retreat, including conference calls, pre retreat assignments, etc.
- Onsite partners meeting to review strategic process and solicit input from partners on most important goals for the retreat
- Pre retreat interviews with partners and targeted lawyers and staff to uncover key issues and opportunities
Retreat
- Facilitated law firm retreat including:
- Review current situation (Where are you today?)
- Development of vision (Where do you want to be in the next 5-10 years?)
- Development of mission (What is the purpose of the firm? Why do you exist?)
- Review values (What does the firm stand for?)
- Define 12-24 month goals
- Define top priority strategies
- Develop action plan for top priority strategies (How will we achieve our goals?)
Follow up
- Create a summary report that includes, vision, mission, and values and action plan
- Debrief retreat with partners
- Discuss next steps
