You are here: Home:
>> Law Office Management >> Management Consulting:
Law Office Management Consulting
A recent survey conducted by Consulting Intelligence found that a majority of executives, 82 percent, rated the client–consultant experience as positive.
The survey asked senior–level managers, CEO”s and other business professionals to rate overall experiences when working with consultants. Industry experts predict continued growth and upsurge in the field based on strong client satisfaction and the fact that a quarter of the respondents reported spending over $1 million on external consultants each year.
According to the respondents, the top-five qualities of the ideal consultant are competence, effective communication, accountability, experience and integrity.
Survey results also suggest that the consulting profession is viewd as trustworthy. Consulting was ranked as 5th most trustworthy behind nurses, doctors, teachers and accountants and ahead of sales representatives, corporate executives, attorneys, journalists and politicians.
The Consultant/Client Relationship:
The role of the management consultant is to advise and/or recommend; the role of client management is to accept or reject that advice or recommendation and to make management decisions.
The nature and scope of work is determined solely by the agreement between the practitioner and the client.
The Consulting Process:
The analytical approach and process applied in a Consulting Service engagement. It typically involves some combination of activities relating to determination of client objectives, fact–finding, definition of the problems, obstacles to overcome, opportunities, evaluation of alternatives, formulation of proposed actions, communication of results, implementation, and follow–up.
Consulting Services:
Professional services that employ the practitioner”s technical skills, education, observations, experiences, and knowledge of the consulting process. Consultations, in which the practitioner”s function is to provide counsel in a short time frame, based mostly on existing or acquired personal knowledge about the client, the circumstances, the technical matters involved, client representations, and the mutual intent of the parties.
Advisory services, in which the practitioner”s function is to develop findings, conclusions, and recommendations for client consideration and decision–making.
Implementation services, in which the practitioner–s function is to put an action plan into effect. Client personnel and resources may be pooled with the practitioner–s to accomplish the implementation objectives. The practitioner is responsible to the client for the conduct and management of engagement activities.
Transaction services, in which the practitioner–s function is to provide services related to a specific client transaction, generally with a third party.
Staff and other support services, in which the practitioner–s function is to provide appropriate staff and possibly other support to perform tasks specified by the client. The staffs provided will de directed by the client, as circumstances require.
Product services, in which the practitioner–s function is to provide the client with a product and associated professional services in support of the installation, use, or maintenance of the product.
What to Look for When Choosing a Consultant: A true professional knows when to tell you no, they will only engage in a project when they can reasonably expect to complete that project with professional competence.
They will have a plan for implemantation and supervision of the project.
A professional will obtain sufficient relevant data to afford a reasonable basis for conclusions or recommendations in relation to any professional services performed.
The consultant should establish with the client a written or oral understanding about the responsibilities of the parties and the nature, scope, and limitations of services to be performed, and modify the understanding if circumstances require a significant change during the engagement.
The consultant should inform the client of conflicts of interest that may occur, significant reservations concerning the scope or benefits of the engagement and significant engagement findings or events.
The
Business of Law continues to look for ways to help
you become more profitable and more effective in the
way you practice law
IOMA’s
audio conferences are designed especially for
today's busy business professional
