Big Law Life

#31: Building Effective Practice Management in BigLaw with Tara Kim Eberhart

Jul 31, 2024

Tara Kim Eberhart, Head of Business Innovation at Dentons US, shares her impressive journey from biochemical patent litigation paralegal to leading strategic practice integrations. She discusses the challenges of practice management in big law, emphasizing the crucial role of technology in enhancing efficiency and client collaboration. Tara highlights innovative strategies for streamlining operations and the evolving roles of paraprofessionals, showcasing how legal professionals can adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing industry.

37:28

Creator website

Episode guests

Tara Kim Eberhart

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Successful attorneys in big law must develop practical strategies and adaptability beyond legal skills to navigate firm culture effectively.

Integrating technology with practice management enhances collaboration and efficiency, transforming how legal services are delivered and client needs are met.

Deep dives

Navigating Big Law Success

Law school does not adequately prepare attorneys for the unique challenges of working within large law firms, where success hinges not only on legal skills but also on understanding firm culture and the business side of legal practice. It is emphasized that young professionals must develop practical strategies and adaptability to thrive in this high-pressure environment. The journey of a successful attorney often involves learning from seasoned professionals who have navigated similar paths, gaining insights into both personal and professional growth. By focusing on concrete skills and actionable steps, attorneys can effectively chart their career paths and achieve their goals.

Intro

4min

Innovating Legal Practice Management

7min

Streamlining Legal Practice Management Through Technology

3min

Navigating Practice Management in Law Firms

11min

Evolving Roles of Paraprofessionals in Law

5min

Navigating Practice Management Challenges

7min

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:

00:00 - 00:01:09 - Introduction by Laura Terrell
01:10 - 00:02:08 - Overview of practice management challenges in law firms
02:09 - 00:03:05 - Introduction of guest, Tara Kim Eberhart
03:06 - 00:04:18 - Tara’s professional journey and initial experiences
04:19 - 00:05:03 - Transition from a small firm to a larger law firm
05:04 - 00:06:00 - Tara’s role and responsibilities at Dentons
06:01 - 00:07:16 - Integrating technology and innovation in practice groups
07:17 - 00:08:03 - Collaborating with clients to enhance information exchange
08:04 - 00:10:16 - Example of document routing and distribution innovation ("ECFX")
10:17 - 00:11:14 - Importance of leveraging technology over manual processes
11:15 - 00:12:28 - Practical impact of new tools and technologies
12:29 - 00:14:09 - Empathy and credibility in process design
14:10 - 00:16:02 - Definition and scope of practice management at Dentons
16:03 - 00:17:36 - Supporting partners and practice group leaders
17:37 - 00:19:20 - Role of practice management in associate career development
19:21 - 00:20:50 - Collaborative approach to associate evaluations
20:51 - 00:21:48 - Integrating financial insights with practice management
21:49 - 00:24:40 - Changes in paralegal and legal assistant roles
24:41 - 00:26:55 - Continuous training and upskilling in the legal industry
26:56 - 00:29:41 - Challenges in gaining trust and collaboration with attorneys
29:42 - 00:31:00 - Importance of understanding attorney priorities
31:01 - 00:33:20 - Hub and spoke model in practice management
33:21 - 00:35:00 - Personalized support for practice group leaders

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts & Spotify

Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life? Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law.

For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast here!

For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars.

How to reach Tara Eberhart:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-kim-eberhart-b939924

tara.eberhart@dentons.com

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:

www.lauraterrell.com

laura@lauraterrell.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/

Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast