We will begin this inquiry into innovating to "future-proof" our practices, not with the question of how to innovate, but rather with why we should concern ourselves with innovation. Because if we don't get the why right, none of the rest of our work on innovation will matter. We will move on from the question of why innovate to the business context in which all innovation occurs in this age. We won't dwell on the changes in the legal market already amply covered in the legal press-flat de...

Legal services providers today need to innovate in their business models, delivery methods, and moreover in their value propositions in order to compete against competition coming in all shapes and sizes (and from unexpected quarters). New Directions in Legal Services examines the fast pace of change in the legal services sector, driven in part by new technologies, and considers what the future holds. We also look at some examples of new business models and service delivery methods that ar...

Mid-sized law firms in today's legal marketplace are often given three choices: merge, grow, or die. That's accepted wisdom. Mid-sized firms may try to compete for profitable corporate litigation, deals and other bread-and-butter work, but everyone knows they (1) don't have the IT and other systems heft to innovate with the big players (2) don't have the scale to market and compete for global business and (3) can't attract the talent they need to go head-to-head with Big Law on major work....

The legal sector is facing a period of major metamorphosis - disruptors are making waves in the structuring, process, and service-delivery models, and client's needs are becoming more demanding and value-focused. As the landscape of law transforms many firms will be left facing a situation of, in John Alber's words, change or die. How will law firms keep up with upcoming rapid and volatile changes to the legal sector, and what form will they take after the transformation? What will the law...

For decades, companies in other industries have refined techniques to better understand their customers' needs, uncover insights, and develop new-to-the-world ideas, which are now products and services we use every day. Organisations have concluded that successfully adopting these methods, known as Design Thinking, have greater financial returns than pursuing more traditional ways of operating. As the legal industry grapples with increased complexity, accelerated market deadlines, and budg...

Innovation. How to go about it, what it can do for your business - what even is it? Can innovation be applied in the legal environment? Such is the interest and appetite for legal innovation that, in the last 18 months, ARK has published over a dozen titles with innovation in their remit, covering everything from knowledge management to pricing, from marketing to recruitment, and everything in between. This compilation deep-dives into the key areas that drive innovation forward in the lega...

Could you benefit from expert guidance on how to stay competitive and streamlined in a legal marketplace that is increasingly competitive? Law firms are finding it harder to adapt quickly to a legal landscape that is constantly evolving. That's why it's imperative for law firm leaders to recognise and respond to this change in order to stay competitive. While the economy has improved, key challenges from the recession remain. Clients are more demanding, reducing cost is as important as it ...

In today's modern, techno-centric world with its endless endless supply of data, and the multitude of ways to collect and utilize it, Intelligence has become the best tool for law firms when it comes to understanding client needs, offering quality value-oriented services, and garnering and retaining business. Ark Group's new report Strategic Intelligence for Law Firms offers a robust overview of how, and why, strategic use of intelligence can foster real results in your firm. Featuring adv...

The Resilient Pacific Northwest Garden is an inspiring, practical, and science-based guide that is both a hopeful manifesto and a comprehensive roadmap to creating beautiful, climate-resilient sanctuaries that will survive and thrive in a hotter, drier future. Richly photographed, it features:Detailed strategies for water-wise gardening, building healthy soil, prioritizing native plants, and restoring habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlifeSpecif...

Evergreen your landscape with the beauty and benefits of conifersGrowing Conifers is a beautifully photographed, comprehensive gardening guide for selecting and cultivating conifers. Coverage includes:Conifer taxonomy, classification, and geographic distributionSelecting conifers for size, shape, color, and textureBest practices for placement and planting of trees, shrubs, and groundcovers in urban and rural gardens

Gardens are extensions of our homes, places in which we get outside to relax, entertain, and get some physical exercise. But our gardens are also extensions of the natural world. Through our gardens, as well as other neighborhood greenspaces, we can help counter some of the woes faced by larger environments: rampant development, loss of plant and animal habitat, spread of invasive species, exploitation of natural resources, air and water pollution, and the impacts of global warming. Yes, e...

This is the Center for Effective Organizations’s (CEO) fourth national study of the human resources (HR) function in large corporations. It is the only long-term national study of this important function. Like the previous studies, it focuses on measuring whether the HR function is changing and on gauging its effectiveness. The study focuses particularly on whether the HR function is changing to become an effective strategic partner. It also analyzes how organizations can more effectively ...