Knowledge Management in Law Firms

Topics covered include: building the business case for a knowledge management plan; implementing an agreed strategy; organising the knowledge management function; implementing enterprise search technology; and fostering the contribution of lawyers to their clients’ perspective on learning and quality.

Knowledge has always been at the heart of the legal profession. This is because an essential component of practising law involves applying knowledge and expertise to solve clients' legal problems. In the rapidly changing contemporary legal world, where cases, transactions and legal issues become increasingly more complex and globalised, managing the firm’s knowledge and expertise becomes crucial for finding innovative solutions to legal problems, serving clients effectively, reducing risks and delivering profitability to the firm.In this timely book produced in association with the International Bar Association, more than a dozen renowned knowledge management professionals provide their expert insights on all aspects of managing knowledge in a law firm. Topics covered include: building the business case for a knowledge management plan; implementing an agreed strategy; organising the knowledge management function; implementing enterprise search technology; and fostering the contribution of lawyers to their clients’ perspective on learning and quality.The wide range of topics covered, coupled with the depth of the authors’ experience in real-life legal knowledge management, make this book an invaluable reference work for law firms looking to shape their knowledge management function, both in smaller firms where know-how sharing is a limiting factor for expansion and in larger firms interested in developing their knowledge management function further. For that reason, the book should be of interest to anyone looking for an insight into legal knowledge management, including law firm partners, knowledge management professionals and consultants, professional support lawyers and fee earners.

Introduction: knowledge management in law firms 5Luis Felipe MohandoSorainenImplementing knowledge management strategy in practice 15Allie LustigmanCharles TaylorKM governance for law firms 31Porcia NewellLicensed attorneyAnthony J RhemAJ Rhem & Associates, IncKnowledge professionals in law: demonstrating value and retaining talent in a changing legal environment 43Tara Pichardo-AngadiNorton Rose Fulbright LLPTaxonomy, informal tagging or both: master data, processes and benefits 51Jonna VainikainenCastrén & Snellman Attorneys LtdImplementing enterprise search in a law firm 67Silke GottschalkLuther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbHKnowledge management and HR: evolving together for positive growth 79Stephanie AbbottJanders DeanGetting lawyers to contribute content to KM systems and to use KM resources 91Martin R SchulzGerman Graduate School of Management and Law (GGS)Aligning knowledge management goals to legal project management 101Jonna VainikainenCastrén & Snellman Attorneys LtdKM in legal project management 111Anthony J RhemAJ Rhem & Associates, IncClient-facing knowledge management 121Raffael BüchiBär & KarrerKnowledge management in mergers and acquisitions 135Anthony J RhemAJ Rhem & Associates, IncLayered client portals for development of client relations 149Boyd HendriksInformationlandShowcasing outside the library walls: growth through collaboration 159Emily AllbonCity, University of LondonOrganising KM in a law firm – coordinating processes and resources 169Martina KuthCMS Hasche SigleMartin R SchulzGerman Graduate School of Management and Law (GGS)About the authors 181