There is no denying that the legal profession has been through an unprecedented period of change. Alternatives to the traditional - in terms of service providers, business models, workflow systems, delivery vehicles, pricing strategies, and so on - are becoming normalized. An excellent example of this is business process improvement.

For a profession suffering from aggravated clients, shrinking revenues, competitive inertia, archaic business practices, and system waste, the continual implementation of process improvement strategies (Lean/Six Sigma/Project Management) will be the key to future success. It is easy to understand, is inexpensive to implement, lowers costs, improves quality, enhances communication, facilitates lawyer training, makes fixed fees profitable, and makes clients happy.

Lean Six Sigma for Law Firms, authored by Catherine Alman MacDonagh, is the first report of its kind to provide in-depth strategic and tactical guidance on the application of Lean and Six Sigma in law firms, the different approaches firms are taking, where to get started, and case studies highlighting the results have been for those who have already implemented it.

This report:
Defines Lean and Six Sigma as they relate to the legal profession
Highlights the interdependent relationships between Lean, Six Sigma and Project Management
Demonstrates the different ways in which Lean and Six Sigma may be employed in law firms

With contributions, case studies and insight from leading law firms, corporate counsel and a wide range of internationally renowned experts on legal process improvement and project management, it also covers topics including:

The methodologies and toolkits of Lean and Six Sigma
Deciding when and where to start an improvement program
Applications, obstacles, benefits and lessons learned
Building the business case - the drivers for employing process improvement
The use of process improvement to deliver greater value to clients
Developing competitive advantages through Lean and Six Sigma
Structuring a process improvement program
DMAIC - The framework for Lean Sigma in law firms
Creating culture of continuous Improvement

This report provides you with the tools and best practices needed to reap the benefits and face the challenges of implementing Lean and Six Sigma strategies in your firm.

Catherine Alman MacDonagh, JD is a Legal Lean Sigma Black Belt and a certified Six Sigma Green Belt. A former corporate counsel, Catherine is known for her thought leadership and successes as a law firm marketing and business development executive. Now a highly rated instructor, speaker, and consultant, she works with law firms and legal departments to improve the way work is done and delivered. She is focused on creating competitive advantages and organizational transformation through the development, planning, and implementation of innovative strategies, process improvement projects, and business development training and coaching programs.

Catherine is an adjunct professor at Suffolk Law School and at George Washington University (Master's in Law Firm Management). She is also the Chief Enthusiasm Officer of Mocktails LLC, which offers The Mocktail and The Legal Mocktail, experiential networking training programs. She also has her own consulting practice, FIRM Guidance.

Catherine recently published Lean Six Sigma for Law Firms and is the co-author of two books: The Woman Lawyer's Rainmaking Game and The Law Firm Associate's Guide to Personal Marketing and Selling Skills. She is a Co-Founder of the Legal Sales and Service Organization, a long time volunteer and leader in the Legal Marketing Association and an elected Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management.