Full Description
Key report features In-depth advice on the need, impact, and profitability of hiring a pricing director Detailed insight into the function and skills of a pricing director Clear definition of the strategic position of pricing within a firm How to evaluate the benefit of a pricing director for your firm and its clients Real-world scenarios. The new path to profitability is paved with pricing directors. That's the trend we're seeing, with more than 50 pricing positions created for Am Law 200 firms in 2012. Put the 'ah!' in RFP The push is on for law firms and clients to focus on their pricing and matter management strategies. By hiring a pricing director with skills in analytics, technology, commerce, and communications, you're set to create effective pricing strategies and support your firm's competitive advantage. Who's in the hot seat? Your pricing director is the budget builder, the profit modeller, the counsellor, the monitor, and the approver: you want to make sure that those already in this role are comfortable with its evolution, or that a new hire can confidently take on the challenge. Brown and Cordo's Law Firm Pricing: Strategies, Roles, and Responsibilities clearly defines the skills and remit of the person required to fill this demanding and responsive role. It provides practical guidance into hiring and developing a strategic pricing role within your law firm that drives successful relationships and profitability.
Contents
Executive summary ... V About the authors ...VII Acknowledgements ...IX Chapter 1: Why a pricing role? ... 1 Chapter 2: The roles and responsibilities of the pricing director ... 3 The fee conversation role ... 3 Case study: The fee conversation in action ... 4 The budget building role ... 5 The profit modeling role ... 7 The counseling role ... 8 The monitoring role ... 9 The approval role ... 9 The knowledge role ... 11 So many roles... 12 Lateral evaluation - Future role? ... 12 Chapter 3: Pricing and profitability ... 15 Law firm profitability ... 15 The profit drivers ... 17 Why does this all matter? ... 20 Chapter 4: The importance of a pricing strategy ... 23 Key law firm and client needs ... 24 Defining quality ... 25 Important points to remember ... 26 What to do if hourly rates are too high ... 26 Chapter 5: Developing the right pricing model based on data ... 29 Know exactly what clients want ... 29 Should firms create their own AFAs? ... 30 A pricing model based on the firm's tacit data ... 33 Chapter 6: Engagement monitoring ... 37 How to monitor ... 37 Complications/variations ... 38 Tools and approaches ... 39 Conclusion ... 39 Chapter 7: Delivering the pricing message effectively to the client and within the firm to gain buy-in ... 43 The client focus ... 43 Internal support ... 45 Keeping your message crisp and compelling ... 45 What are the benefits? ... 47 Chapter 8: Pricing technology ... 49 The impact of technology ... 49 Differences in technology and technological advances ... 50 Disruptive technology ... 51 Technology caution: Build it and they will not come ... 51 Chapter 9: Beyond finance ... 55 Value ... 55 Beyond the status quo ... 56 Knowledge management redefined ... 57 Where does legal project management fit with alternative fee arrangements? ... 57 What does the client want to see? ... 58 Chapter 10: Pricing - A very challenging role ... 61 Educate... 61 Motivate ... 62 Regulate ... 62 The three roles together... 63 The practice knowledge challenge... 63 The gravitas factor ... 64 A legal pricing community ... 65 Chapter 11: Appointing the pricing director and team ... 67 Moving forward ... 68 The main characteristics ... 69 Building the team ... 71 Measuring the time spent on monitoring the matter versus pricing support ... 74
