Strategic Priorities

Most smaller law firms cannot answer this question.

We hate to use the cliche existential to describe this question, but it must be answered if a law firm of any size — especially a smaller one — is going to continue to succeed in the uncertain times that lie ahead in the late 2020s.

The Strategic Priorities Review is a unique planning methodology developed by Walker Clark LLC especially for small and midsize law firms. Working with the partners of your firm, we will help you to identify the three to five — no more than that! — objectives that your firm must achieve to improve and sustain financial performance and market position.

Unlike the traditional strategic planning methodologies — mission, vision, goals, actions, SWOT analyses, etc. — that usually have produced disappointing results for most small and midsize law firms, the Walker Clark Strategic Priorities Review is a practical approach, custom-tailored to the unique needs of your law firm and your clients.

We rely on your realities, not business-school theories or academic “best practices,” to help you produce a list of three well-informed, realistic goals for your firm — ones that everyone in the firm understands and can participate.

The Strategic Priorities agenda

Development of your firm’s Strategic Priorities typically takes 90 to 120 days, not counting the six months of implementation support that is included at no additional charge. Although we will customize each Strategic Priorities Review to the unique characteristics of your law firm, the main features of every project include:

• Collection and analysis of the information your firm needs to make well-informed decisions about your priorities for the next two years

  • Confidential surveys and follow-up interviews of a select group of your clients to understand better their needs and expectations for the services you provide, both now and in the foreseeable future

  • Confidential surveys and interviews of each of your partners about the opportunities and challenges they perceive in meeting your firm’s full potential

  • Research and analysis of your firm’s current market position by practice area and client sector, as applicable, to identify and define your firm’s competitive advantages and vulnerabilities

• Documentation and facilitation to guide your participation in the process

  • Custom-tailored videos and documents to guide the process and its options

  • A Discussion Draft of our preliminary observations and recommendations, including conditions for success and possible implementation issues

• The Strategic Priorities Conference, an all-day event attended by all your firm’s partners and, at your option, other managers and administrators, to review and improve the Discussion Draft

  • The Strategic Priorities Conference typically requires a full 8-10 hours, which is often split into two sessions on consecutive days. Most of our clients find that this is easier to schedule and results in a more productive than a videoconference, which usually requires significantly more time and one or two additional sessions to produce the same results. Either method can be very successful; however, the in-person conference usually requires significantly less investment of partner time and attention.

  • Our fixed fee includes our travel expenses, but we also offer a reduced fixed fee if your firm prefers an all-virtual engagement.

• A Strategic Priorities Action Plan, based on the discussion, insights, and improvements produced during the Strategic Priorities Conference, with suggestions of specific actions, responsibilities, and target dates in support of each of the Strategic Priorities

• Advice on implementation, at no additional fee, for six months after we deliver the Action Plan.

Is your firm worth the investment?

It is very difficult to estimate your return on investment unless you know what the investment will be.

This is why we are up-front about our fees. We currently offer our Strategic Priorities Review to law firms with 10 or fewer equity partners (i.e., owners) for a fixed fee of US$ 46,500. We also offer substantial discounts for firms that elect the “all-virtual” service option. Our fees are paid in installments.

You should also consider the investment of partner time. Although each project is different, you can expect that each partner’s time investment in the Strategic Priorities Review will be in the range of 12 to 16 hours, with project leaders such as the managing partner spending significantly more time managing project activities in your firm.

Taking the next step

Use the secure e-mail button at the bottom of this page to schedule a complimentary, strictly confidential, discussion about whether our Strategic Priorities Review would be a worthwhile investment in your law firm’s future.