#LPMHQ is a positive, progressive educational space for current and future legal project managers, process improvement specialists and pricing professionals. We focus on providing a learning environment to share ideas and best practices. There is no membership required. #LPMHQ is open to both practicing lawyers and business of law professionals including legal operations professionals from law firms, in-house legal teams, alternative legal service providers and consultants who have an interest in learning or sharing their relevant experiences. We strive to be open minded and discuss ideas with people sharing different views. You get out of these chats what you put in. So be candid. Come ready to share.
WELCOME TO #lpmhq Topic: "Where is the project management in Legal Project Management?" A Community Debate
Please introduce yourself, where you are from & what you do in legal. The chat starts... RIGHT NOW!
Nearly 10 years ago, I started a blog on #LPM with a shot across the bow, defining LPM as "the application of widely accepted project management standards, such as those promulgated by the Project Management Institute ("PMI"), to legal matters." https://t.co/Wp24iAjqHQ#lpmhq
Hi, Paul Easton, Minneapolis. I've been following and writing about project management tends in the legal industry for about a decade. I'm excited about today's discussion. #lpmhq
After nearly a decade, LPM gurus and law firms claiming to adopt LPM continue to sweep >80 years of PM experience and tools under the rug. Using tired claims of lawyer exceptionalism, they sweep the PMBOK under the run and ladle out weak-sauce substitutes. #lpmhq#lpm#pmi#pmbok
Nearly 10 years ago, I started a blog on #LPM with a shot across the bow, defining LPM as "the application of widely accepted project management standards, such as those promulgated by the Project Management Institute ("PMI"), to legal matters." https://t.co/Wp24iAjqHQ#lpmhq
After nearly a decade, LPM gurus and law firms claiming to adopt LPM continue to sweep >80 years of PM experience and tools under the rug. Using tired claims of lawyer exceptionalism, they sweep the PMBOK under the run and ladle out weak-sauce substitutes. #lpmhq#lpm#pmi#pmbok
For those of you working in PM roles or who work to implement PM in law firms -- how many such efforts are aligned to a national or international PM standard? #lpmhq#lpm#projectmanagement
The heart of the PM mindset is that you use what is useful. I always say that PM is like a toolbox, use the tools that are most useful for a particular project. #LPMHQ
WELCOME TO #lpmhq !
Please introduce yourself, where you are from & what you do in legal. WE ARE UNDERWAY! #LPMHQ
Today's topic: "Where is the project management in Legal Project Management?"
Agree - utilizing the entire PMBOK is overkill for the majority legal matters. The worst PMs are new PMPs who want to showoff their mastery of the PMBOK #lpmhq
Standards matter. Firms that build LPM programs starting w/ standards--whether PMI PMBOK, PRINCE2, or ISO 21500--will be better aligned with client perceptions and practices. #lpmhq#pm#lpm#pmi#pmbok#prince2#projectmanagement
Lawyers are trained in law school on how to meet dates. Each will find their own way of best doing that. I can't see any client hiring a lawyer who says they may or may not be ready for court or a closing. #LPMHQ
Agree - utilizing the entire PMBOK is overkill for the majority legal matters. The worst PMs are new PMPs who want to showoff their mastery of the PMBOK #lpmhq
When we implemented at Gowling WLG, we put a core model in place, but we don't force everyone to use every tool every time. Sometimes, the client doesn't even know what the scope is. #LPMHQ
Once again, if you're out there and just "reading," please let us know by introducing yourself. You are part of the #LPMHQ movement! Or even liking some tweets!
@RickK Does the "the professional to decide" mean only the law firm? Is it unreasonable for a client to expect planning and updates similar to other functions? I think we have to be wary of "lawyer exceptionalism" knocking the legs out from under #lpm#lpmhq
@SnarkyPez PM hat often put on people not empowered to keep projects in check. Perhaps the traditional law firm pyramid structure need to chance for LPM to reach its full potential. #lpmhq#projectmanagement#lpm
Professional has to decide based on all sorts of things, especially what the client wants. Law is a client service business and the client need always has a huge weighting. #LPMHQ
WELCOME TO #lpmhq !
Please introduce yourself, where you are from & what you do in legal. WE ARE UNDERWAY! #LPMHQ
Today's topic: "Where is the project management in Legal Project Management?"
We have engineering clients that are used to very detailed PM and want the same. And we have clients who just want the legal updates and to be alerted if there is a PM problem and leave us to manage it. Back down to the first step in LPM, Define including client need #LPMHQ
I don't see anything in traditional PM, even the much maligned "waterfall PM", that prevents giving client what it wants--if anything it will help facilitate that. #lpmhq#lpm#projectmanagement#pmi
As someone who was a PM before law school, and went back for my PMP after practicing law for 10 years, I'd say most lawyers have what I would call the "Common Sense" PM skills, but might not be aware of the full compliment of PM tools available. #LPMHQ
Agreed - putting a legal "spin" on it helps make it more digestible for the lawyer. Focuses it on the more common risks that need better management in legal. #LPMHQ
As someone who was a PM before law school, and went back for my PMP after practicing law for 10 years, I'd say most lawyers have what I would call the "Common Sense" PM skills, but might not be aware of the full compliment of PM tools available. #LPMHQ
PMO is not really the same in legal. You tend not to need to coordinate multiple related projects. The PMO in legal tends to be a PM department (for the firms that have one) Very different from an IT PMO. #LPMHQ
Once again, if you're out there and just "reading," please let us know by introducing yourself. You are part of the #LPMHQ movement! Or even liking some tweets!
@RIckK When you say "detailed PM" aren't your referring to reporting? The level and style of reporting set in comm. plan. PM processes / tools behind it can be same. Regardless of level/style of reporting. Traditional PMBOK has you covered. #lpmhq#lpm
We have engineering clients that are used to very detailed PM and want the same. And we have clients who just want the legal updates and to be alerted if there is a PM problem and leave us to manage it. Back down to the first step in LPM, Define including client need #LPMHQ
I've saw none of this when I was practicing, which was one of the most frustrating things about being an associate. I don't see much more nowadays. Most partners are pulled in too many directions, it seems the last thing they want to do is take the time to do "PM stuff" #lpmhq
We have engineering clients that are used to very detailed PM and want the same. And we have clients who just want the legal updates and to be alerted if there is a PM problem and leave us to manage it. Back down to the first step in LPM, Define including client need #LPMHQ
I've saw none of this when I was practicing, which was one of the most frustrating things about being an associate. I don't see much more nowadays. Most partners are pulled in too many directions, it seems the last thing they want to do is take the time to do "PM stuff" #lpmhq
@RickK Interesting point on Legal PMO's. Why wouldn't they coordinate multiple related projects? As firms adopt PM should they not start exploring program management? #lpmhq#lpm#projectmanagement
My cynical view? It doesn't really matter. You can teach associates good habits and practices until you are blue in the face, but if the partners and firm leadership aren't on board, the associates will eventually fall in line with the culture. #LPMHQ
@RickK Interesting point on Legal PMO's. Why wouldn't they coordinate multiple related projects? As firms adopt PM should they not start exploring program management? #lpmhq#lpm#projectmanagement
I find that legal is almost always both...Overall matter is waterfall - Litigation, you have a set schedule you need to meet which sets you waterfall plan. But everything in between works best as Agile. #LPMHQ
Agreed - New attorneys are like; "where do I start." And often don't get the initial guidance they want. How about just a simple system for check lists and such. We have some success there.. But, you need to teach them where to go. #lpmhq
@snarkypez I don't think partners have to do "PM stuff" -- but they need to respect the PMs and be willing to work on estimates, scope-change processes, etc. One wonders if major block is concerns of PM's effects on their ability to meet billable-hour requirements. #lpmhq#lpm
We're always looking for new topics. To help ensure the #LPMHQ chat continues to evolve, here is a Google form for you to share your ideas or simply tweet out a suggestion!
https://t.co/lGITyd74mn
Thank you for coming ready to share and being open. Next chat is 2 weeks! February 20, 2019, (stay tuned for time)
Topic: Law Students ask, "Will my job be replaced by robots when I graduate?" #LPMHQhttps://t.co/aeNRzKvWl2
Regarding Agile. The newest edition of the PMBOK incorporates Agile throughout. No longer need to be one or the other. Agile requires lots of client communication (GOOD), but can be an excuse for scope creep (BAD). I'm a fan of agile, but it is often poorly applied. #lpmhq#agile
I found agile worked really well for litigation as well because the docket changes constantly too and what you uncover during discovery can change the dates and strategy. #agile#lpmhq
Have you compared the pump and agile omg certifications? Would you advise sticking with PMP or supplementing with pmi’s agile certification? Or just doing agile? #lpmhq#PMI#PMP
Nice chat! 30 minutes just flies away. Let's try to get as many people from our network involved in Feb 20 discussion with law students. I'm wondering if we can lengthen the session to an hour to allow more q & a time with the students? #lpmhq
Time flies when you're having fun! More time is always good! We can certainly set for that and experiment is folks want to jump in and out during the hour. #LPMHQ
Nice chat! 30 minutes just flies away. Let's try to get as many people from our network involved in Feb 20 discussion with law students. I'm wondering if we can lengthen the session to an hour to allow more q & a time with the students? #lpmhq
