FD Legal archive

Volume 3 Issue 6

Welcome to the August/September issue of FD Legal. And welcome back from your summer holidays – if you were able to take them that is. Or actually enjoy your holidays without the constant beeping of your blackberry, the continuous application of hand gel and avoiding anyone coughing or sneezing (or maybe you were one of the unfortunate that got struck down with swine flu?)

What a year it has been. Who could have predicted the assortment of events that have befallen us in the past 12 months? If the recession wasn’t enough to put a dampener on your spirits then I’m sure swine flu finished the job nicely.

And with the virus set to capitalise on our colder climate as from September, aside from ensuring your professional indemnity insurance is all done and dusted, you must make sure your business continuity plan takes into account the inevitable office pandemic. Another new risk to manage this year! And manage it well you must or else… but that’s a topic for the next issue of FD Legal.

Given the way in which the world is changing, this issue focuses on the future and looks at various areas affecting the profession. But fear not, the worst is over… maybe. Well, no it’s not.

Following the recent trend of (musical) comebacks, we can announce that the recession will be looking to make a comeback in 2010 (so it’s predicted). I have a feeling that most of us would rather suffer a bout of swine flu than see the recession return for a second, and probably much worse, go.

What else will be sent to test us I wonder?

Potential law students are already fighting a losing battle to join the industry, and now they have to contend with the Law Society putting them off as well, with a campaign to warn potential lawyers of the costs involved (elitist?) and the shrinking number of training contracts available. Priceless. Why couldn’t they have started this campaign in 1999 just before I started my LPC? My life would be considerably richer in more ways than one…

I would like to thank all those who have helped me with this issue of FD Legal, and, as always, if there are any issues you would like to see covered or if you wish to contribute please do get in touch. Any feedback would also be very gratefully received.

Joanna Lee

Editor

Features

Last word This article is for subscribers only
Using business intelligence to improve operations.

Regulatory risk - hot topics This article is for subscribers only
Michelle Garlick outlines what’s hot in regulatory risk management.

Business continuity management – necessary evil or real benefit? This article is for subscribers only
Malcolm Cornish outlines the key fundamentals of business continuity management, highlights
some of its benefits and identifies some of what is needed to satisfy the various requirements.

It looks just like a law firm, but smaller! This article is for subscribers only
Patrick Harwood tackles law firm size, working to a plan, focusing on a clearly identified outcome or just fighting for survival.

The future of legal offshoring This article is for subscribers only
Jack Diggle looks at the role of offshoring in the future of legal services.

Back to school - if the building is still standing... This article is for subscribers only
Francis Dingwall and Frank Maher identify some of the challenges law-firm management teams should be addressing on their return from their summer break.

Intelligent funding This article is for subscribers only
Andrew Allen explores the drivers for law firms interested in the trading structures available to them and considers the options available.

Cover story: Convergence: Assessing the impact of today’s changing world This article is for subscribers only
Robert Millard explores some of the changes in today’s world and how they might unfold, especially in the case of law firms.

Regulars

Risk focus: Climbing out of the mire This article is for subscribers only
By Frank Maher

Thought Leader This article is for subscribers only
As the insurance market cycle has turned from benign to adverse, many firms have come under significant financial pressure. Yet, last year, for the majority of firms, renewal proceeded smoothly.