The legal profession is going through a period of disruption that is leading some firms to think creatively by bringing in non-lawyer executives and consultants to run their day-to-day operations. The vision of seasoned business executives can help many firms take it to the next level, while allowing lawyers to focus on what matters the most: practicing the law and getting significant results for their clients.

In Non-Compliant Podcast Episode 30, Host Jay Edelson, nationally recognized plaintiff’s attorney and Founder of Edelson PC, and Guest Sara O’Reilly, Chief Executive Officer at HMB Legal, discuss what it’s like running a law firm as a non-lawyer, why firm’s need to professionalize their business operations, and why diversity is imperative to the long-term success of the legal industry.

To start the show, Jay and Sara discuss recent efforts by forward-thinking law firms to bring in non-lawyer executives to oversee their business operations and usher in professionalization across all functions (3:20). To be successful in the legal profession, executives need to appreciate the history, talent, and culture of law firms so they can successfully implement long-term strategies (6:30).

Next, Jay and Sara dive into the best ways to take law firms to the next level (10:40). Law firms, under the charge of seasoned executives and consultants, should approach their business operations with long-term strategies that work within the firm’s ecosystem (15:30). A key way to usher in these long-term changes is to spend considerable time and resources to train the next class of attorneys, staff, and future legal executives (30:00).

Later in the show, Jay and Sara delve into why diversity should be a top priority for law firms—not only to better the legal profession, but also to bring in new voices to the practice of law (35:20). Firms must not take the approach that diversity is a numbers game, rather they must take a more holistic approach, including by recalibrating where they recruit summer associates and by exploring new ways to reach diverse candidates (36:44).

To wrap the show, Jay and Sara discuss the recent trend of states opening up non-lawyer ownership of law firms and what the industry could look like over the next 5 to 10 years. (42:25). Such ownership and control, Jay and Sara explain, allows for a new type of thinking and increased competition within the legal profession that would further increase diversity of thought across the board.

Check out the show to hear more about how firms benefit by bringing in non-lawyer executives (8:00) and why firms need a five-year plan to be successful (17:30).

If you liked the show, please subscribe, and leave a review. You can also send us an email at podcast@edelson.com with any questions or for guest booking.

Connect with us:
Website: https://www.edelsoncreative.com/#podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edelsonlaw
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdelsonCreative
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edelson-pc

Connect with Jay:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jayedelson
Edelson PC Profile: https://edelson.com/team/jay-edelson/

Connect with Sara:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-o-reilly-7a8b9b1/
HMB Legal Profile: https://hmblaw.com/professionals/sara-e-oreilly/

Recent Non-Compliant Podcast Episodes:
Non-Compliant Podcast Episode 29: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/non-compliant-podcast-episode-29-one-where-we-discuss/id1491233296?i=1000509688956
Non-Compliant Podcast Episode 28: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/non-compliant-podcast-episode-28-one-where-we-discuss/id1491233296?i=1000509398267
Non-Compliant Podcast Episode 27: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/non-compliant-podcast-episode-27-one-where-we-lift/id1491233296?i=1000508640601