Managing People in a Legal Business

If someone gave you this book or suggested you read it, would you be delighted or concerned that someone is implying you do not know how to manage people? Lawyers are not marvellous at managing people; their partners or staff and worst of all themselves. We can sort out others people's problems but not always our own.

This book does a lot more than it says on the tin; it is about more than managing people. It is an excellent and readable guide to employment law for lawyers. It covers the whole legal minefield of recruiting, promoting and employing people and gives useful guidance on how to keep everyone reasonably sane and safe. Most solicitors would benefit from reading these sections. It is up to date and relevant. Law for lawyers.

There is no shortage of 'how to' books on management for solicitors and this is one of the better ones. The sections on policies are good and made me make a mental note to review my office manual and written procedures. It is strong on those things a busy lawyer may overlook like keeping staff safe and well, and guarding against stress and office hazards such as sitting badly and operating a keyboard. It gives sensible down-to-earth advice about how to prevent people tripping over themselves or each other.

Some of the other sections are not so universally useful. They are written by experts whose expertise was gained at the higher-value end of the legal market. The harassed managing partner of a small firm trying to recruit a secretary or trainee will not gain much from some sections of this book. Some parts are based on interviews with firms large enough to have HR departments.

So, if you are given this book or decide to buy it you will find much that is readable and practical.