Essential Reads for the Modern Lawyer

Section 1: Leadership
6 Interpersonal skills: Finding a new way through difficult conversations (July 2017)
By Alison Nolan
12 We need to have a serious talk about culture (October 2017)
By Peter Alfandary
17 How leadership challenges evolve over the career of a lawyer (July 2019)
By Christopher Bockmann
25 Does your personality influence your potential for partnership? (July 2023)
By Edward Walker

Section 2: Culture, diversity and ESG
34 Empathy – do lawyers need it? (October 2022)
By Sophie Cameron
40 Waste not, want not – recalibrating legal (April 2022)
By Eimear McCann
44 Into the breach? Looking for legal leaders in the climate catastrophe (July 2023)
By Clare Harman Clark
48 Let’s get physical! Getting real about body inclusion (April 2024)
By Bendita Cynthia Malakia and Morgan Reams

Section 3: Talent
60 Smart collaboration: increasing the odds of productive lateral hiring (January 2018)
By Heidi Gardner
67 Are non-execs the key to future success of law firms? (May 2019)
By Claire-Elaine Arthurs and Helen Foord
71 Want to attract the best and brightest? (January 2022)
By Janet Taylor-Hall
76 For the people: can apprenticeships pave the way for a more diverse legal profession? (July 2023)
By Lucie Allen and Jonathan Bourne

Section 4: Business development
82 The perils and pitfalls of business development (April 2017)
By Andrea Kennedy
91 Three power tips for growing a huge book of business (October 2022)
By David Freeman
94 How to future-proof your career (April 2023)
By Joanna Gaudoin
100 The art of conversation (October 2023)
By Michelle Elstein

Section 5: Finance
110 Finance and strategy: Finance issues facing firms (July 2017)
By Brian Dunlop
121 Data and dialogue: a relationship redefined – employing data analysis techniques on external law firms’ billing (October 2018)
By Jaap Bosman
126 How corporate legal departments can lessen the impact of law firm rate increases (January 2024)
By Richard Brzakala
135 Law departments must become more discerning purchasers of legal tech (January 2024)
By Nathan Cemenska and Stephanie Corey

Section 6: Technology
144 Legal risk and sound management judgement (October 2017)
By Jelena Schidzig and Stuart Weinstein
149 The lazy lawyer’s guide to winning new business (April 2020)
By Rebecca Harding and Andrew Nicholson
156 The demystification of legal AI (January 2023)
By Uwais Iqbal
162 Data Bites Back (January 2024)
By Joanne Brook