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Struggling to get #lawyers on board with a big change, strategic, or technology initiative? Here's a fun way to engage them (and the whole firm) and turn them into advocates for something they'd otherwise likely complain about. 1/
Start by announcing a competition pitting teams of lawyers and peer professionals against one another to craft and deliver a "closing argument" for a secret (for now) firm-wide initiative. Teams might be office vs. office, partners vs. associates, etc. 2/
The secret initiative might be the firm's new strategic plan, a new CRM tool, a client-service model, an alternative fee pricing strategy, etc. It doesn't matter what the initiative is so long as it has firm-wide impact and is something they've not paid a lot of attention to. 3/
Then, the day before their closing arguments, you host a big reveal (think Iron Chef) of the initiative that delivers to each team a "case file" with project details, user testimonials, use cases, cost/benefit analysis, ROI, etc. 4/
It is crucial the teams don't know what they'll be advocating for otherwise, the lawyers will burn a ton of otherwise-billable time to win. Keep the case files "under seal" in the managing partner's office if that's what it takes. 5/
After the reveal give each team 2-4 hours to formulate their strategy and build a five-minute closing argument advocating for the initiative/change (nobody gets to argue against it). They'll deliver it to a judge and jury during a happy hour reception or law firm retreat. 6/
The jury should include a cross-section of everyone in the firm -- though clients might be a great addition, too. Include a mix of advocates and heretics. If you want to be super-crazy, you can even do voir dire here (though it is probably unnecessary). 7/
After the closing arguments, (which should be captured on video), the jury retires to render their verdict and everyone else heads to happy hour. 8/
Did I mention the winning team gets a honking-big, gaudy trophy? 9/
In the end, you'll get the attention of the entire firm, you'll find new arguments that answer the "why?" and "WIIFM?" questions about the new initiative, and you'll have a hell of a lot of fun while people learn about something they'd have otherwise preferred to ignore. END/
