Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/74024
www.iltanet.org The problem was scale: Could a class action matter template have the same phases and tasks as a criminal trial matter template? Shouldn't investigations and counseling matters be treated differently? How many templates would each group need to have, and could the firm benefit by harmonizing templates across practice groups that did similar types of work? Tackling Time Entries One clear conclusion we determined from creating the budget templates was the need to change time entry protocols. The purpose of the phases and tasks was to provide a mechanism for future budgeting; by determining the cost of various phases and tasks across similar types of matters, we would be able to budget more reliably. But in order to do this, we would need the ability to correlate each time entry with particular phases Social Media-Inspired Legal Project Management by Eric Hunter of Bradford & Barthel, LLP Firms are beginning to accept that consumer culture does indeed drive business culture: in the habits we bring to work; in the instant, all-the-time-access mindset we as individuals are developing; and with social media blurring our workplace and personal identities. With this realization, legal practices are rethinking their business and project models. As social media processes and business process management models merge, it's important for your collective legal project management (LPM) approach to incorporate all of these elements. At Bradford & Barthel, LLP, we've deployed LPM through an account management team. Starting at the equity level with our managing partner of client relations, we built a team and 32 ILTA White Paper structure within the firm that applies dedicated resources to internal client relations and to the clients themselves. This has altered the work structure of the managing attorneys and select frontline attorneys — they have essentially become account managers with a main goal of enhanced client relations. We've deployed enterprise-level Google+ accounts to allow these "account managers" to communicate and share information through shared circles with dedicated streaming, video and document-sharing capabilities between team members and with clients. This strategy is based on the familiar reality of information overload, with no (or too many) avenues in which to share information. What is most advantageous