Bath change management consultancy Nine Feet Tall teamed up with Bristol Law Society to host an interactive workshop to discuss how law firms can adapt to the ever-changing legal landscape.
Across the sector, the disruption of the pandemic, an increase in cybercrime and new regulations imposed by Brexit have meant firms have had to change the ways in which they operate and adapt to external change.
At the same time law firms are grappling with cultural challenges such as defining their purpose, addressing burnout and aftershocks of what has become known as ‘The Great Resignation’.
They are also struggling to compete on salary affordability while looking to balance flexibility and lifestyle benefits as alternative selling points.
Nine Feet Tall partner and legal sector lead Tiggy Atkinson led the session with thoughts and experiences of agile working and what it means to be a high-performing organisation.
The importance of ‘purpose’ was then explored and how important this was for differentiation among firms, including how it was increasingly evaluated by clients and prospective recruits.
As well as cultural challenges, the workshop also looked at how technology has changed the way legal services were delivered and how client expectations had evolved to demand digital solutions.
There was further discussion around the need to redesign legal processes which could help increase efficiency and profitability.
Tiggy Atkinson, pictured, said: “Adapting to continuous change is essential for law firms to thrive.
“We have worked with firms to help them embed change capability into each practice area, so they are ready to innovate and use their agility to adjust to shifts in the legal landscape.”
Among the major firms sending delegates to the event were Osborne Clarke, Bevan Brittan and Womble Bond Dickinson.
Nine Feet Tall specialises in business transformation, working in close partnership with its clients to deliver widespread, positive change regardless of the organisation size and despite the cultural challenges faced.
It published a major report on the legal sector in December 20202 which said that law firms needed to embrace remote working and new technology while also continuously adapting and responding to change if they were to succeed in the post-Covid world.
