About Practice Management
There’s more to running a law firm than being good at law. If you want to succeed in today’s tough legal landscape you have to manage your business effectively. That means strategic planning, business planning, financial management, risk management, talent management, operational management, knowledge management, HR, IT, tax, pensions, business development, health & safety, learning & development and facilities.
Human resources (HR)
If you have a HR department or not, this topic can be a reference tool or way to understand why HR is important, what a firm needs to do, and how. We combine relevant employment law with practical HR guidance.
Health & safety (H&S)
Every business needs to be compliant with H&S legislation. Law firms often outsource this area due to a lack of knowledge. We can demystify these requirements and help firms do what they need to do themselves.
Lexcel Practice Management Standard
Any law firm that has or wants to get Lexcel accreditation (the Law Society’s practice management standard) will find this subtopic invaluable. Get practical pre-assessment, assessment day, and post-assessment guidance.
Running a firm
There's more to running a firm than being a good lawyer. If you want to succeed in today's tough legal landscape you have to manage your business effectively. Strategic planning, finances, business development and more.
Our Practice Management Experts
Jon Whittle
Louisa Winning
Jennifer Oswin
Alex Storer
Larry Cattle
Latest Practice Management News
The government has announced a number of changes to ‘reduce apprenticeship bureaucracy’:...
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced the renaming of the AI Safety Institute to the AI Security Institute,...
The House of Commons (HoC) Library has published a briefing on the progress of the Employment Rights Bill 2024-25 (ERB). The briefing provides a...
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published a final version of its guidance on keeping employment records. The guidance is designed to...
Law360: DEI is dead. Long live DEI. Findings in the World Economic Forum report published in January 2025 raise the question of whether reports of the...
Latest Practice Management Practice Notes
Introduction to social mediaThis Practice Note provides a high-level introduction to different types of social media services and websites and...
Setting up a panel of preferred legal services suppliersThis Practice Note provides guidance on the key steps to follow by an in-house legal team when...
Doing business in: the USUpdated in July 2024IntroductionThe US has one of the most competitive economies in the world. It is the largest national...
Adoption leaveAn employee intending to adopt a child under 18 may be eligible to take up to three different kinds of statutory leave:•ordinary and...
Doing business in: New ZealandUpdated in March 2023IntroductionThe business environmentForming a companyFinancing a companyOpening a branch...
Latest Practice Management Precedents
Confidentiality agreement—mutualThis Agreement is made on [date]Parties1[insert name of party] [of [insert details ] OR a company incorporated in...
Proposal evaluation sheet—final evaluation—legal servicesEach member of the procurement project team should complete this form in respect of each...
Legal services outsourcing meeting—agenda and meeting plan—HR directorAgenda itemSupporting documentation (to be provided before or after...
ITT schedule—criteria—legal services1CorporateAll Proposals must address the following key criteria:CriteriaDetailsFinancial strength of contracting...
Pro bono policy1Pro bono vision1.1We acknowledge that we have a responsibility to our clients, staff, suppliers and other stakeholders as well as to...
Latest Practice Management Q&As
Featured Practice Management content
Qualifying work experience (QWE)
Qualifying work experience (QWE)From 1 September 2021, there is a new route to qualification for aspiring solicitors—the Solicitors Qualifying...
Corporate social responsibility—CSR—regulatory requirements
Corporate social responsibility—CSR—regulatory requirementsThis Practice Note considers regulatory requirements relating to corporate social...
How to read and understand the financial accounts of a law firm
How to read and understand the financial accounts of a law firmThis Practice Note provides information about how to read and understand the financial...
Formulating a learning and development—L&D—policy
Formulating a learning and development—L&D—policyThis Practice Note provides information on formulating a learning and development (L&D) policy. It...
The impact of pricing on profitability
The impact of pricing on profitabilityBusinesses are constantly looking for ways to improve performance and effective pricing can be instrumental in...
How to conduct an effective attendance review meeting—law firms
How to conduct an effective attendance review meeting—law firmsThis Practice Note is intended for law firms. It provides guidance on how to conduct an...
How to prepare and deliver a training course or presentation
How to prepare and deliver a training course or presentationThis Practice Note covers how to prepare and deliver a training course or presentation. It...
What is pro bono?
What is pro bono?Many lawyers recognise it is a privilege to be able to provide legal advice and representation and be a part of the legal system....
Fee sharing agreement—law firms
Fee sharing agreement—law firmsThis Agreement is made on [insert date]Parties1[insert name of company] [of OR a company incorporated in [England and...
Health and safety in the workplace—regulatory requirements
Health and safety in the workplace—regulatory requirementsThis Practice Note covers regulatory requirements relating to health and safety in the...
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)Until 31 August 2021, the main route to solicitor qualification (training contract route) required...
Benchmarking—what are normal measures of financial performance in a law firm?
Benchmarking—what are normal measures of financial performance in a law firm?This Practice Note provides information about different ways of measuring...
The structure of a negotiation
The structure of a negotiationWhen entering into any negotiation, be it a multimillion pound business deal or an agreeing the office coffee rota,...
Completion of training contract
Completion of training contractThis Practice Note explains SRA requirements and guidance on the process for applying for admission as a solicitor,...
Preparing an effective tender presentation
Preparing an effective tender presentationThe interview stage is your opportunity to present your proposal to the prospective client. Lack of...
Diversity and inclusion (D&I) statement—law firms
Diversity and inclusion (D&I) statement—law firmsOur diversity and inclusion (D&I) statement articulates our commitment to a diverse workforce and...
The importance of good time recording
The importance of good time recordingThis Practice Note is intended for law firms. It explains why time recording is so important. It also explores...
Lexcel—assessment
Lexcel—assessmentLexcel is the Law Society's practice management standard. It is not compulsory although Lexcel accreditation can be helpful for firms...
Associated legal terms
Annual allowance
The maximum aggregate amount of pensions savings that can be made in any year by or on behalf of an individual under all registered pension schemes of which the individual is a member of without incurring tax penalties. Any excess gives rise to a tax charge known as the annual allowance charge.
FCO
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Funeral plan contract
This is a type of regulated investment as defined in article 87 of the Regulated Activities Order.
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