Free Consultations, Free Services and Free Lunches

By Jim Calloway, Director
OBA Management Assistance Program

"OK, folks we’re over-stocked on these things and my manager says we gotta move them out! We’re taking any offers. Come see us."

Well, we are not a car lot, but we have decided to run a "summer special" offering some of the "top of the line" services of the Management Assistance Program for free. For those of you familiar with the OBA Management Assistance Program, you will recognize that many of our services are totally free to OBA members already. We have a free telephone hotline for management and technology questions. We have a free lending library of law practice management books, audiotapes and videotapes. We go to speak to any county bar association meeting for free. (Well, OK, we do like it when you buy lunch. Everyone likes a free lunch.) Our newest county bar presentation is called "Legal Technology Potpourri." Our Law Practices Tips article is published monthly in your free Oklahoma Bar Journal.

But our most personalized service to lawyers, the in-office consultation "Health Check," is a fee-based program. Typically it costs attorneys $500 plus mileage for a one-day consultation. But this year we have decided to give away 10 of these consultations for free. Ten in-office consultations. Over $5,000 dollars in retail value of consultations will be given away for free in the next few months. Here’s how you can qualify to win!

We gave away two free consultations to attendees of the 2001 Solo and Small Firm Conference, and we’re going to give away two more free consultations to registered attendees of the OBA Annual Meeting this fall. And we are going to have a drawing to give away six free consultations. To be eligible for the drawing just complete the coupon accompanying this article and mail it in so that we receive it by August 15, 2001. Good luck.

So what is an OBA MAP "Health Check" anyway? Why would a law firm engage the services of an outside consultant, whether for free or for fees ranging up to thousands of dollars?

In the June 9, 2001 Oklahoma Bar Journal we discussed the various roles of outside consultants. (See "Conferences, Consultants & Computers - Post - 2001 OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference Report" 72 OBAJ. 1713. This is also available online by going to www.okbar.org, clicking Bar Journal and then Feature Stories.) As mentioned there, a consultant is one who uses specialized knowledge and expertise to solve problems and develop plans for clients. We tailor our health check consultations according to the wishes of the lawyer or law firm involved.

Some law firms have an open-ended approach to getting a second opinion on their operations. They want OBA MAP to come in and take a look at everything and make suggestions for future improvement. We spend a lot of time talking with the staff and examining law office operations. As with all of our health checks, we send confidential questionnaires to all lawyers in staff in advance and review them carefully before the actual visit. Then we develop an "Action Plan" to set a timetable to implement the changes.

Other law firms or lawyers have a more specific agenda. They want to develop a law office technology purchasing plan or a marketing plan. They may have an internal problem that they cannot solve or they are seeking a second opinion.

Whatever the need, we try to adapt to the specific situation. Getting information in advance allows us to study on particular problems if needed. I often ask "hypothetical" questions of other practice management advisors in other states and jurisdictions to assist me. So a one-day health check actually involves more time than just the day of the visit, just like a court appearance involves more time to prepare than the actual minutes in the courtroom.

Our rates are typically less expensive than other outside legal consultants. But there are some exceptions. We don’t install software. So if you know what product you want, sometimes buying it from a reseller-consultant who will install it and do some training right then might be better deal for the lawyer. This is particularly true for installation of new sophisticated systems. Some consultants criss-cross the country setting up implementations of new software, with macros, data conversion and the all important training. There is no way to equal the skills and knowledge of someone who does the same installation many times a year.

When can your firm benefit from an outside consultant? That’s a hard question to answer.

There’s no point in developing a plan if you don’t have the resources to implement it. A lot of firms use large fees from contingency fee cases to finance technology upgrades for example. Time is a scarce resource, too. If you are flooded with work right now, there’s not much time to implement a new plan. On the other hand, if your firm has operated in the crisis mode for years, then maybe you do need to take some time out for planning.

One thing that we have noticed over the years is that we get far fewer requests for consultations with law firms actually in trouble or in crisis. Most of the time we hear from law firms who are doing good, but want to do even better.

Many times the most important aspect of a law firm visit is just setting aside the time to focus on improving your law practice.

The first step is to give us a call at (405) 416-7008. If you have a simple question, we’ll try to answer it for you. Even with a complex question, we may be able to refer you to a book or other resource. But we can discuss more in-depth planning and consultations with you at that time.

Of course, you may just be one of the lucky ones who wins a free consultation.

Sign me up for the drawing for a free OBA Management Assistance Program "Health Check" in-office visit and management consultation.

Deadline for Entry — Received at Oklahoma Bar Center by close of business — August 15, 2001

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Name ____________________________

OBA Number _____________________

Phone Number ____________________

City, State ________________________

Mail to OBA MAP "Free Health Checks," P.O. Box 53036, Oklahoma City, OK 73152

Terms & Conditions — OBA members only. One entry only allowed for each OBA member. Only one attorney can win per law firm. OBA MAP Health Checks are confidential in nature. Appointments must be scheduled during the next six months at times agreeable to both the firm and OBA Management Assistance Program. Out of state OBA members are eligible, but telephone consultations may be substituted for an in-office visit. You may use a photocopy of this form, but you can only enter once. (We know, we meant to repeat it.) Post office will not deliver mail without proper postage. No shirt, no shoes, no service. No animals were injured in creating this offer. Some assembly required. Do not remove tag under penalty of law. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy machinery.

Originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal July 14, 2001 - Vol. 72; No.21