Simon McCrum – författare

What makes a perfect lawyer? Tostart answering this question, we need to use a classic lawyer approach - itdepends! In The PerfectLawyer, former Managing Partner and law firm management consultant SimonMcCrum deep dives into what makes a perfect lawyer in a perfect legal business.It is someone who does a great job from the client’s perspective but also doesa great job from their law firm’s – and they are very different things. Whencombined effectively, such lawyers not only change their clients’ lives, butalso the destiny of the legal business they work in, and the lives ofthemselves and their colleagues.The perfect lawyer’s attributes include making a materialcommercial contribution to the business, which is wider than just billing. Theyneed to be self-aware and to exhibit leadership behaviours. They see clients asclients rather than just as cases, and they are an active member of a teamwhere everyone is rowing in the same and right direction. A perfect lawyer isintolerant of inefficiency on their part, and they are determined to securemaximum value for both the client (in terms of the experience and the outcome)and for the business (in terms of profit and cash and pride) in return fortheir expertise and passion. Whether you are part of a largelegal firm or a small one, the themes explored in The Perfect Lawyer examinethe symbiosis between a law firm’s team members and the organisation, asthey both evolve into higher-earning and more effective entities.The Perfect Lawyer is the culmination of the manythings that Simon has seen repeatedly in law firms of all sizes. Indeed, alawyer who embraces all the things detailed in this book can rightly be called theperfect lawyer. In becoming that, they will inevitably help create the perfect legalbusiness.Note:This book is the updated edition of The Perfect Lawyer, originallypublished in 2023. It is the sister book to The Perfect Legal Business inthat it looks at many of the same themes in that book, but from the viewpointof the individual lawyer. As such, it contains material that crosses bothtitles. If you already have a copy of The Perfect LegalBusiness or, indeed, the first edition of The Perfect Lawyer, youwill not need this one.About Simon McCrum: Simon McCrum qualified as a commercial lawyer in1990 at Pannone in Manchester, and during his time at the firm, his roleevolved from fee-earner into wider positions including Head of various teams,Marketing Partner, Director of Business Development, Equity Partner, and partof the Management Team at the 1,000 person firm. In 2007, Simon became ManagingPartner at a full-service Top 200 law firm in Oxford, Darbys Solicitors. Thefirm made a trading loss in 2007, but after going a long way backwards - andexperiencing the 2008 Credit Crunch - the firm emerged to be the country’sfastest-growing law firm and was acquired by Knights in 2016. Simonsubsequently exited to form McCrum Consulting and the McCrum Training Academyto help the business performance and growth of law firms, teams, and lawyers.Simon helps partners, teams, and firms to secure ongoing growth in a safe,sustainable way.Simon is the author of theLaw Firm Management and Leadership Trilogy of which this book forms part, alongwith The Perfect Legal Business and The Perfect Partner.

What if a law firm's sustained success isn't about billingmore and more hours, but shaping its structure, approach, and attitudedifferently?In The Perfect Legal Business, former ManagingPartner and law firm management consultant Simon McCrum unlocks a freshframework for the modern legal firm, built around a number of key pillarsincluding: intelligent client selection, proactive client care, purposefulsenior and middle management, higher pricing for a higher level of service,lawyer inputs (not outputs), and the importance of cash to the business - allbrought together into a powerful force by the glue that is leadership. This book invites you to dig deep into law firm managementas a constant and fluid problem-solving enterprise - one driven by lawyers atall levels - that seeks to change the fortunes and destinies of law firms,their owners, their people, and their clients. Whether you are part of a small legal firm or a large Top 50organisation, the themes explored in The Perfect Legal Business armyou with the outlook, examples, and reasoning that lead to smarter decisionsand wide-ranging law firm growth. These things work, as has been provenrepeatedly in law firms of all sizes with which Simon has worked. Note: This book is the updated edition of ThePerfect Legal Business, originally published in 2020. It is the sister bookto The Perfect Lawyer and contains extensive material that crosses bothtitles. If you already have a copy of The Perfect Lawyer or, indeed, thefirst edition of The Perfect Legal Business, you will not need this one.The first edition has sold thousands of copies in over 50countries, and this edition includes Simon's very latest thinking on how tobest secure fast and sustainable profit-rich and cash-rich growth in law firms,borne from the further experience he gains each year as he works with law firmsaround the world. About Simon McCrum: Simon McCrum qualified as acommercial lawyer in 1990 at Pannone in Manchester, and during his time at thefirm, his role evolved from fee-earner into wider positions including Head ofvarious teams, Marketing Partner, Director of Business Development, EquityPartner, and part of the Management Team at the 1,000 person firm. In 2007,Simon became Managing Partner at a full-service Top 200 law firm in Oxford,Darbys Solicitors. The firm made a trading loss in 2007, but after going a longway backwards - and experiencing the 2008 Credit Crunch - the firm emerged tobe the country's fastest-growing law firm and was acquired by Knights in 2016.Simon subsequently exited to form McCrum Consulting and the McCrum TrainingAcademy to help the business performance and growth of law firms, teams, andlawyers. Simon helps partners, teams, and firms to secure ongoing growth in asafe, sustainable way.Simon is the author of the Law Firm Management andLeadership Trilogy of which this book forms part, along with The PerfectLawyer and The Perfect Partner.

If you've made it to Partner, or you're determined to become one, whatare the key qualities and strengths required of a Partner in a modern-day lawfirm? In The Perfect Partner, former Managing Partner and law firm management consultant Simon McCrum examines what makes a Perfect Partner from the viewpoint of numerous keystakeholders, including clients, colleagues, and the businessitself. Detailing the characteristics and behaviours that a Partner needs,the book digs deep into a Partner's commercial contribution to the business,their relationships with staff and other Partners, business development,accountability, compliance, and much more. And all under the central umbrellaof making a profit and growing a business. Working through the layers of value (ordestruction) that a Partner can bring, Simon arrives at a surprisingconclusion. Measurable things count, but other more human things count more.If that law firm rocket is going to take off, and prove able to shoot for thestars, each Partner - and all the Partners together - need to focusunequivocally on a 'magic ingredient' to make the firm unstoppable. Based on 35 years as a lawyer, Partner, andlegal sector management consultant (including his time as Managing Partnerduring the credit crunch), Simon brings his extensive experience, wisdom, andinsights to bear in The Perfect Partner. The book also includesinterviews with legal professionals at every level. Have you got what it takes to be a PerfectPartner? And, just as importantly, have your Partners got the right stuff,too? AboutSimon McCrum: Simon McCrum qualified as a commercial lawyer in1990 at Pannone in Manchester, and during his time at the firm, his roleevolved from fee-earner into wider positions including Head of various teams,Marketing Partner, Director of Business Development, Equity Partner, and partof the Management Team at the 1,000 person firm. In 2007, Simon became ManagingPartner at a full-service Top 200 law firm in Oxford, Darbys Solicitors. Thefirm made a trading loss in 2007, but after going a long way backwards - andexperiencing the 2008 Credit Crunch - the firm emerged to be the country'sfastest-growing law firm and was acquired by Knights in 2016. Simonsubsequently exited to form McCrum Consulting and the McCrum Training Academyto help the business performance and growth of law firms, teams, and lawyers.Simon helps partners, teams, and firms to secure ongoing growth in a safe,sustainable way.Simon is the author of the Law Firm Management andLeadership Trilogy of which this book forms part, along with The PerfectLegal Business and The Perfect Lawyer.