Building Entrepreneurial Associates

My article, Fostering an Entrepreneurial Spirit in Associates, appears in the latest issue of the American Bar Association's Law Practice Today webzine. An excerpt:

"[A] firm’s shareholders are not just partners in the practice of law; they are partners in a business—and when the time comes for today’s associates to transition into partnership, the firm will depend on them to bring in additional clients and grow the firm. That’s why it’s so important to instill in associates a desire to innovate and identify and seize opportunities."

In the article, I cover a few practices for partners to encourage new associates to show initiative and advance the firm's reputation. I also address the balance between granting associates free reign, and the obligation of the partners to safeguard the firm's reputation.

Give it a read and let me know what you think. The February 2010 issue of ABA Law Practice Today contains a number of other interesting articles with a focus on "Human Resources: Managing Your Most Critical Assets."

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