A Law Firm With Personality?

In this month's Fast Company, there is an interesting profile of a law firm from LA called Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges which is making waves in the legal industry for being less formal and actually having a personality. Unlike other firms, they focus only on business litigation, take some cases on contingency, and have an on-staff barista. The photos in the article show a business that looks a lot like a Silicon Valley startup environment where all the lawyers are wearing (gasp!) jeans. A part of their story is a decentralized structure and far fewer management layers ... but I suspect an even greater element is the fact that they have a powerful recruiting story to tell.

What lawyer stuck in a stiff and formal environment wouldn't dream of working at a firm like Quinn Emanuel? When you are the envy of your industry, recruiting the best people is far easier. If you can get the best people and let them do what they do best, you can have the best company. It's not a difficult formula, and it all starts with personality for this law firm shaking up their industry and making millions along the way. And it just might inspire you to think differently about what you do everyday as well. After all, if a law firm can understand and use the power of personality, what's holding you back?

* The photo above is used without permission from the Fast Company article online. If they sue me, maybe I'll try to hire Quinn Emanuel to represent me ...

Comments

[makis]

Loose outfit and loose environment definitely makes you feel more comfortable, more chilled. This in turn can boost your creativity.

However, this loose environment may lead to a loss of productivity and seriousness to the work. Perhaps people would spend more time drinking their coffee with the barista wearing jeans, than wearing a suit.

In my mind, loose enviroment is a good idea even for the proffession of the lawyer. But it should come with well-defined principles.

[ADMAVEN - The Interactive Advertising Blog]

I think every company's dream is to be able to pick their own clients, employees, and business transactions. That is the benefit of being the best in your industry!

In the agency world it is considered the ultimate goal to have clients knocking down your door in such a way that you can pick the client that you feel will be most beneficial for a long term relationship!

[lucas law center]

"I think every company's dream is to be able to pick their own clients, employees, and business transactions. That is the benefit of being the best in your industry!" Yes, that's what I was thinking of too, after i read the article.

LLC