#31: Building Effective Practice Management in BigLaw with Tara Kim Eberhart
Big Law Life
Intro
This chapter explores the complexities of practice management in large law firms, focusing on the need for effective coordination among various legal and business roles. An expert guest shares insights on strategic integration and collaboration to improve overall operational effectiveness.
In today’s episode, I am joined by Tara Kim Eberhart, Head of Business Innovation at Dentons US. Tara coordinates the day-to-day business operations of the national Intellectual Property & Technology, Energy, Federal Regulatory and Capital Markets Practice Groups. Working closely with the Firm Chief Executive Officer, Managing Partner, Chief Practice Officer and Practice Group Leaders, she also plays a critical role in executing the Firm’s strategic plan and delivering on revenue and profitability objectives. During our conversation, Tara shares her journey from being a biochemical patent litigation paralegal to leading the strategic integration of practices at one of the world’s largest law firms.
We discuss the evolution of practice management, the importance of technology in legal operations, and how Dentons approaches innovation to enhance efficiency and client collaboration.
At a glance:
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00:00 - 00:01:09 - Introduction by Laura Terrell
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01:10 - 00:02:08 - Overview of practice management challenges in law firms
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02:09 - 00:03:05 - Introduction of guest, Tara Kim Eberhart
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03:06 - 00:04:18 - Tara’s professional journey and initial experiences
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04:19 - 00:05:03 - Transition from a small firm to a larger law firm
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05:04 - 00:06:00 - Tara’s role and responsibilities at Dentons
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06:01 - 00:07:16 - Integrating technology and innovation in practice groups
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07:17 - 00:08:03 - Collaborating with clients to enhance information exchange
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08:04 - 00:10:16 - Example of document routing and distribution innovation ("ECFX")
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10:17 - 00:11:14 - Importance of leveraging technology over manual processes
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11:15 - 00:12:28 - Practical impact of new tools and technologies
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12:29 - 00:14:09 - Empathy and credibility in process design
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14:10 - 00:16:02 - Definition and scope of practice management at Dentons
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16:03 - 00:17:36 - Supporting partners and practice group leaders
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17:37 - 00:19:20 - Role of practice management in associate career development
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19:21 - 00:20:50 - Collaborative approach to associate evaluations
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20:51 - 00:21:48 - Integrating financial insights with practice management
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21:49 - 00:24:40 - Changes in paralegal and legal assistant roles
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24:41 - 00:26:55 - Continuous training and upskilling in the legal industry
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26:56 - 00:29:41 - Challenges in gaining trust and collaboration with attorneys
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29:42 - 00:31:00 - Importance of understanding attorney priorities
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31:01 - 00:33:20 - Hub and spoke model in practice management
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33:21 - 00:35:00 - Personalized support for practice group leaders
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How to reach Tara Eberhart:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-kim-eberhart-b939924
Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? - here are ways to reach out to her:
laura@lauraterrell.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/
Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast
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