5 Qualities of an Effective Matter Manager
Why have a matter manager?
A good manager turns your litigation strategy into action. She has the time and expertise to focus on your goals while delivering client work on time and on budget. How can you tell? Look for these five qualities:
Flexibility
Good managers bring their experience to the table but recognize that what worked for one matter may not work for another. They have the knowledge and expertise to tailor their approach to fit the needs of your case, your firm, and your client. You also want a manager who can adjust their approach as the matter evolves.
Collaborative
A matter manager works with a wide-range of groups, from partners, associates, paralegals, and assistants, to firm operations such as business development, accounting, and office services. To do this well, a manager must foster a culture of collaboration – a sense that everyone is working toward the same goal.
Communication
This may seem obvious, but it is too critical not to include. Your matter manager is the central source for all things related to your matter. While that is a powerful advantage to having a manager, the power is lost if the communication only flows one way. A good manager ensures information flows to the people who need to act on it. She also is not afraid to have honest conversations so that problems or concerns can be addressed before they risk the success of the matter.
Authenticity
No, this is not where I tell you to “be yourself.” While that is good advice, what I mean here is that a manager should not hide behind consultant-speak to impress (or more likely, confuse) attorneys. While a matter manager is similar to a project manager in other fields, that does not mean your manager should be throwing around a lot of cool-sounding words that don’t mean anything to the team. This is what I call “project management theater” – it looks and sounds like project management, but the audience lacks the experience to really understand it.
Strategic Partner
A good matter manager understands the highly-competitive, often intense environment your law firm operates in. She knows the unique pressures in today’s legal marketplace and can articulate how her work will enhance your law firm’s business goals.