Recent Articles

Coping With More Bad News

Ronda Muir
December 30, 2008 20:10

Results from two surveys show growth at the country’s largest law firms to be down significantly in 2008 although employment is generally still on the rise. The National Law Journal’s 31st annual survey of the NLJ 250 reports that those firms added 4.3% more attorneys in 2008,...

Bringing Behavioral Science to Economics

Ronda Muir
December 26, 2008 20:39

David Brooks' editorial in the October 28, 2008 New York Times predicted that the current financial crisis would "amount to a coming-out party for behavioral economists and others who are bringing sophisticated psychology to the realm of public policy."  Of the four steps of...

Narcissists Abound--And Need A Coach

Ronda Muir
December 19, 2008 14:18

What do you know? Narcissists--big personalities with big egos who like to exert control and reject collaborative decision-making--are the ones leading many law firms through these perilous times.  "Narcissistic leaders are distinguished by their big ideas...and general indifference...

Repairing Broken Windows

Ronda Muir
December 15, 2008 18:41

According to the “broken windows” theory of social science, addressing small concerns (like broken windows) that matter to individuals eventually produces major improvements in the overall sense of community and belonging, which in turn fuels a more committed, dedicated group. This...

Emotions of the Times

Ronda Muir
November 27, 2008 19:36

At a time of roiling emotions in the legal and financial sectors, successfully charting a path to the future may be impacted by how we perceive and respond to those emotions in our organizations.  A recent article entitled "Associates Should Keep Their...

Friends, Tweets and Yammers

Ronda Muir
November 17, 2008 19:44

There is no denying that Gen X and Y are most comfortable interacting via technology--IMing, texting, emailing--possibly to the detriment of their face-to-face skills, as some contend.  Employees in large corporations have come to use this technology, particularly on line...

The LIfe Cycle of Teams

Ronda Muir
November 13, 2008 18:43

Teamwork may be the 21st Century's technology, in that it promises greater productivity--but only when used well.  After seeing double digit increases in firms that have implemented team systems--management , marketing,  industry and client teams--an initial question many interested...

The Future of Law Practice, Heller Ehrman Style

Ronda Muir
October 27, 2008 23:53

In an article entitled "Welcome to the Future: Heller Shock?", Paul Lippe, founder and CEO of Legal OnRamp, a private interactive legal services site, makes the case that, in the future now dawning on the legal services industry, the inevitable downsizing will not only be a...

Muir Participates in CCM's Audio Conference on Profitability

Ronda Muir
October 22, 2008 23:43

Ronda Muir is participating  as a panelist in CMM's audio conference on "Revenue Per Lawyers: Increase Profitability not Billable Hours" being held at 2pm on Wednesday, October 29, 2008.  To register, please go to www.c4cm.com/lawfirm/lawyerrev.htm.

Muir Presented ABA's Edge Award for Article on Emotional Intelligence

Ronda Muir
October 17, 2008 23:30

At the meeting of the American Bar Association's Law Practice Management section today in Tucson, Arizona, Muir was presented with the 2007-2008 Law Practice Magazine Edge Award for Bronze Feature Article for her article in the July/August 2007 issue of the magazine...