If you run a law firm, you probably know the feeling. You’re constantly solving problems, answering urgent questions, and dealing with deadlines that refuse to budge. Strategy? That’s something you think about during a December break, right?
Wrong.
In fact, strategy is not a luxury reserved for big firms with a management team and budget line item. It’s a survival tool for every legal practice. But in many smaller and mid-sized firms, strategy is the first thing to disappear when the pace picks up. And that’s a mistake.
The Cost of Not Thinking Strategically
When strategy gets sidelined, firms don’t just lose focus – they lose money. Unused software subscriptions, team members working at cross-purposes, unclear marketing efforts, and missed opportunities all come at a cost. The real danger? You end up working harder without getting closer to your long-term goals.
There’s also a human cost. Team members become disengaged when they don’t know how their daily work connects to a bigger purpose. Client service suffers when there’s inconsistency in delivery or unclear communication. And leadership ends up stuck in a cycle of reactive management rather than purposeful direction.
Strategy That Works in Real Life
So how do you bring strategy back into a deadline-driven environment?
Here are a few small, practical changes that make a big impact:
- Just 15 Minutes a Week: Block off 15 minutes in your electronic calendar each week and schedule it as a recurring meeting with yourself. Use this time to check in on where your firm is headed: What’s working? What’s stalled? What needs adjusting? This isn’t about fancy slides – it’s about building the habit of consistent reflection and course correction. Treat it as a weekly stand-up for your long-term goals.
- Say ‘No’ with Purpose: For every new initiative, decide on one thing you’re going to say ‘no’ to – and take it off your to-do list. Strategy is about making choices, and saying ‘no’ is often the hardest one. But without the discipline to cut what isn’t gaining traction or isn’t mission-critical, we dilute our focus. Saying ‘no’ creates space to say ‘yes’ to the initiatives that matter most – those with the highest potential for impact and follow-through.
- One Strategic Goal: Give your team a single strategic priority for the quarter. Not five. One. It could be better client onboarding, improving billing discipline, or launching a new service line. Then talk about it. Weekly. Let people know how their work connects to the priority.
- Use What You Already Have: Most firms already use tools like case management systems, billing software, or collaboration platforms. Review them. Are they helping you achieve your strategic goals, or just adding noise? Simplify where you can.
- Give Strategy a Home: Whether it’s a whiteboard in the break room or a shared document, give your strategy a visible place in the firm. Don’t hide it in a PDF folder labelled “planning.”
Strategy Needs Protection
Treat strategy like a client. Give it a calendar slot. Defend it. Remind yourself and your team why you’re doing the work. Otherwise, you’re not building a firm – you’re just staying employed.
Making time for strategy isn’t about stepping away from the day-to-day; it’s about shaping the day-to-day to serve something larger. It’s about choosing the work that moves you forward, not just the work that shows up on your desk.
And for those wondering how to hold onto focus when client demands stretch you thin, I’ve been trialing a few lightweight approaches in my own work – systems that provide gentle prompts and human encouragement between sessions. They’ve proven helpful in keeping priorities alive without adding to the noise. More on that in time.
