There are big changes afoot in the legal world today. The credit crisis and ensuing recession have forced law firms up and down the profession to take a critical look at themselves and the challenge of Legal Services Act reforms lie in wait.

As turnover has stalled, headcount has been slashed, costs cut and some firms have even done an bit of restructuring. But whilst the downturn may have precipitated fundamental change and a proactive re-think for a few, Linklaters "New World" (old expression ) springs to mind; there are plenty of firms (most) that just went into survival mode instead. And there they wait to see what the economic Spring will bring.

Nick Jarrett-Kerr, a former managing partner of Bevan Ashfoird and more recently a leading management consultant and author on law firm management and development believes that "the instinctive reaction of law firm leaders is still to remain in defensive mode until they have experienced a few better quarters of trading activity."

But that’s not what he advocates. He has a five point plan for radical pro-activity discussed in a recent podcast with Charon QC which includes:

1. Remodelling the firm’s infrastructure and platform

2. Rebuilding Esprit de Corp

3. Cross-selling revisited – the ‘carrot and stick’ approach

4. Revitalising core teams

5. Making a radical strategic move

The discussion covers a myriad of issues that his plan seeks to address – are there too many lawyers? how do you restore lost morale? Legal Services Act: threat or opportunity? And so on. The podcast is well worth a listen for anyone who intends to join/remain in the profession through and beyond its current evolution…