by Meyler Campbell

For years good business coaches in the legal sector have often been the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, now it’s at last our chance to be the fence at the top. Much of the misery, or confusion, we see in our coachees is caused the fact that traditionally, in complete contrast with say the accounting profession, even the most basic management skills (eg. how to give feedback properly) were not, some honourable exceptions apart, taught in legal training. And coaching was not included, taught, or even mentioned. Now we have a once in our working lifetime opportunity to fix that: the Legal Education Training Review (LETR) is coming to a close after a long period of searching scrutiny and we have been invited, indeed encouraged, to comment on the final draft report.

 Tactically, while Meyler Campbell would be happy to co-ordinate as much of the profession’s input as we can, we have been advised this would be unwise, as it would then be treated as only a single submission – much better for the powers that be to see the breadth and range of professional power behind as many as possible separate submissions, no matter how short. Also it’s good business for the major names in coaching in the legal sector to stand up and be counted, be respected as serious contributors to the profession, named in the report.

But we all care about our work far beyond the simple business sense of it – many people come into business coaching to make a difference, well here’s a chance to leave a legacy not just for one year, or ten, but for decades to come, and to make a positive impact on thousands of lives, and the hundreds of thousands of people with whom more focused, effective and fulfilled lawyers will then come into more positive daily contact.

For more info on LETR please go to http://letr.org.uk/about/faqs/#faq1.

http://letr.org.uk/publications/briefing-and-discussion-papers/

Your submission must be in by 28^th September 2012

by Meyler Campbell

You may have noticed that at Meyler Campbell we have been avidly supporting Anne Waldron’s tandem skydive jump on behalf of Breakthrough Breast Cancer through a couple of fundraising business events in which all proceeds going towards this amazing cause.

1. Anne Scoular Fishbowl on ‘Big Five’ Coaching –14 June, 4-6pm – £85 donation
2. Coaching Cats – an exploration of coaching in the legal profession 21 June – £60 donation

Please go to the following link for details http://www.meylercampbell.com/news/giving-back.html

How your money has helped

The money you help to raise has been fundamental in the fight against breast cancer. This week, three major pieces of research have been published by Breakthrough Breast Cancer. All have been funded in part by Breakthrough, with involvement from two of key scientists, Professors Jorge Reis-Filho and Andrew Tutt.

They have helped reveal:

1. Nine new genes which drive the development of breast cancer – a huge leap forward.
2. A greater understanding of how breast cancer develops even at its very earliest stages. This means that we should, in the future, be able to detect problems earlier so that a woman can receive treatment before her cancer progresses.
3. A previously unknown process that happens to the cells in the body and which is a driver in breast cancer development. By understanding this process we hope to be able to create targeted treatments in the future which, for example, might be able to stop the cancer from developing.

The ramifications of this work in terms of how we diagnose, treat and prevent the disease are potentially huge. You can read more about these on the breakthrough breast cancer website

This work shows how far we have come since Breakthrough was founded 20 years ago. But it also shows how important it is that we carry on, and work harder and faster, until we reach a point when breast cancer is a disease which is no longer life-threatening.

Your support has been vital in helping us to get this far. It is now needed more than ever.

We’d love to see you at one of these fundraising events, it’s for a great cause and even if you are unable to make it, you can still make a donation via uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AnneWaldron.

Thank you

By Meyler Campbell

There are some things that in the normal course of events are impossible to get, even for our amazing community – but this summer we’ve been incredibly lucky to secure some briefings one would normally never access.  They’ll put you streets ahead of the game, and every single penny goes to charity. First up:

Big Bang for lawyers: what’s it all about?

Ten thousand law firms across the UK are marching in solid phalanx towards the cliff-edge – Big Bang for lawyers is due to happen on 6 October 2011, when external equity investment will be permitted in English law firms for the first time and “Tesco law” will allow in new and very different competition.  Private equity and M&A are circling and armed to the teeth, and despite their protestations even the largest City firms should be thinking differently.  A few leading edge coaches are already working flat out helping leaders keep clear heads.  But most law firms are in classic Kubler-Ross cycles – were in denial, now in suppressed panic, and most coaches haven’t woken up to the vast opportunity and need for their services.  In sharp contrast to the hyperbole of this blurb, Professor Stephen Mayson, a world authority on law firm strategy, adviser to law firms, companies, regulators and governments around the world, and the insider’s insider on the Legal Services Act, will lay out a sober, cautious and scrupulously accurate briefing on what is actually happening – the key facts, the timings, the implications. Whether lawyer, leader, coach, or all three, in this one short Breakthrough Briefing you can switch from uninformed victim of this change, to informed rider of its waves!

Date: Thursday 14th July 2011, 4.30pm to 6.00pm, central London venue.  Booking Fee £100.  If you want to come but can’t make the date, please feel free to send someone in your place: in addition to being gold dust information, this is the final glorious fundraising push supporting Ann Orton’s parachute jump for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, so we’re keen for as many as possible to attend! To book a place, please contact Claire on clairemaidana@meylercampbell.com. All places will be confirmed upon receipt of the booking fee which can be submitted by clicking the following link: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action? userUrl=AnnOrton&faId=74454&isTeam=false

Comment by

Dick Tyler – Meyler Campbell Faculty Member

I think there are significant coaching opportunities in law firms. Some of these (a significant majority) are with the rank and file partners, who look after big books of business but don’t really worry much about Legal Services Act issues. Others (a handful, at most, per firm) are with senior and managing partners, who do. I think the Legal Services Act is one element of a change and modernisation process which is happening to the legal profession, but I’d be surprised if it’s going to be like Big Bang, even though quite a lot of suppliers of services to law firms would like it to be!

The fact is that law firms don’t need large capital bases in the way that banks do - we can spend a certain amount of money of recruiting people, opening offices or IT, but we are likely to fall flat on our faces if we do too much of it or do it too fast. The reason for this is that the thing that needs to be scaled up is culture, which is what makes each firm distinctive and takes time. And there are some pretty big firms that have got big without needing the Legal Services Act to enable them to do so.

I don’t want to rain on the parade, I just don’t want people to try and sell coaching on the basis of a false prospectus!

All analysis of which stage of the Kubler-Ross cycle I’m in gratefully received!