Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/12204
TEACHING ATTORNEYS TO DRIVE ON THE KM HIGHWAY practicing attorneys who are comfortable with technology and willing to give feedback. Include practice leaders so that they are involved from the beginning and will support the implementation of best practices. You may need to conduct separate focus groups for each practice area to address practice- specific needs. • Explain to Attorneys How They Benefit What’s in it for me? Answering that question is crucial in getting attorneys to help develop best practices. Explain to attorneys that the implementation of best practices will personally benefit them and address important business needs of the firm. For example, having a firmwide set of best practices for the DMS helps attorneys, their practice and the firm to locate the most current and accurate information easily and quickly. • Finalize Your Best Practices After getting feedback, redraft and circulate the revised set of best practices for additional comments. An agreed-upon set of best practices can then be finalized for use by the firm. DRAFT A BEST PRACTICES DRIVER’S MANUAL After you’ve finalized your set of best practices, create a “driver’s manual” or documentation that can be distributed to the entire firm for easy reference. When drafting best practices, be clear and concise. The layout of the information should be presented in an easy-to- follow format that can be made available online and in print. Work with your graphics and reprographics departments to make a professional-looking document that can be used as a quick reference guide. OPEN A DRIVING SCHOOL FOR BEST PRACTICES Create a “driving school” program to educate attorneys on following the new rules of the road. Develop a comprehensive communication and training strategy. If possible, have practice leaders send out e-mail communications to their practice groups to emphasize the importance of best practices. The communication should announce the best practices and invite attorneys to a practice meeting where more detailed information will be provided. Presenting the guidelines at a practice group meeting ensures that the focus is on the practice rather than computer training. If possible, a KM professional should present the best practices at the meeting. The beginning of the presentation should address why best practices were created and how it benefits the attorneys to adhere to them. It is also important for attorneys to know that best practices support the business needs of the firm, such as KM, matter management, business development and risk management. These benefits are important motivators for adoption. Education on best practices should be a part of training for summer associates, new associates and lateral hires. Teaching new arrivals best practices ensures they know what is expected of them from the start. Administrative personnel also need to be trained on best practices. They use the firm systems for their own work and on behalf of attorneys, but they’re often unsure of the proper way to use these systems. Best practices give the staff confidence that they are following accepted rules of the www.iltanet.org Knowledge Management 41