John P. Weil & Company -- Long Range Planning Services for Law Firms

Overview

Internal and external pressures require that law firms expand their focus beyond maximizing profits in the short term to assure long-term viability and economic success. More than twenty years of experience in assisting law firms in strategic planning has enabled us to guide clients through the maze of issues which must be considered, seeing that the right questions are being asked, avoiding pitfalls, and assuring the integrity of the resulting plan.

Strategic Plan Development

We provide assistance in the review and development of a comprehensive strategic plan, focused on developing a competitive advantage. Our consultants act as facilitators, resources, and drafters of the plan. The process typically utilizes a variety of information-gathering and analytical tools, developed through survey data resources and our extensive experience in strategic planning for law firms.

Positioning

We provide assistance in competitive strategic positioning of the firm, focusing on (1) analysis of internal strengths and weaknesses and (2) assessment of external factors presenting either impediments or opportunities to the firm, including client development, competitor evaluation, economic analysis and anticipation of legislative, regulatory or judicial change. Planning tools include market research, client surveys and comprehensive lawyer questionnaires.

Goal-Setting

Facilitation of effective institutional goal-setting is provided in areas critical to creating a competitive advantage, including scope of services, client/industry focus, geographic orientation, size/rate of growth, economic/lifestyle considerations, image and internal culture and individual attorney goals. We frequently work as facilitators to help attorneys develop consensus in these areas of broad strategic directions.

Strategy Development

We assist in the development of effective, comprehensive, integrated strategies in management, firm organization and marketing, which is calculated to help achieve institutional goals in a comprehensive, coordinated manner.

Implementation Planning

Based upon the strategic plan, an implementation plan is developed which outlines activities, responsible individuals, costs, priorities and time frames to enable effective allocation of the firm's resources.

Retreats

Planning, facilitating and leading planning-oriented retreats, both for planning committees and for entire partnerships is a vital part of long-range planning. In such an environment, we serve as facilitators, moderators, resources and, in some instances, provocateurs, as well as synthesizers of retreat proceedings.

Plan Review

We provide assistance in reassessing a law firm's strategic plan periodically, through revisitation of strategic issues in light of results obtained and changed circumstances, both internal and external.

In-House Planning Seminar

We are available for presentation of a two- or three-hour in-house seminars for partnerships or planning committees. The seminars focus on professional trends and developments, generic strategies available to law firms today. These mini-seminars culminate in a discussion of the need for strategic planning and the steps in an effective strategic planning process. Many firms find this in-house seminar to be an invaluable and very effective introduction to the process, as well as a means by which partner/shareholder consciousness of strategic issues can be raised to a higher level.

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