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Writer's pictureKandice Thorn

Busting silos in big law firms

Updated: Oct 11, 2023

In law firms, we often tout the values of collaboration and teamwork. Even so, it's all too easy to allow silos – the very opposite of unity – to persist in law firm management. Recognizing and actively addressing these silos can unlock many opportunities.


We tend to think of silos as simply communication barriers between departments or individuals within a firm - the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. But silos can be much more than that. Competition, fear, or lack of trust can lead individuals to underestimate the benefits of collaboration and transparency and to withhold information, resources, or opportunities from colleagues within the organization.

Law firm silos can manifest in various ways – across practice areas, administrative departments, geographic regions, or hierarchical structures – and can have negative consequences for individuals as well as for the firm. Taking affirmative steps to break down silos can have many positive benefits, including:

  1. Maximized Efficiency: Silos can lead to duplication of efforts and wasted resources, impeding the firm's overall efficiency. When teams work together, they can consolidate resources and share ideas that can improve the firm's processes.

  2. Improved Innovation and Creativity: Innovation often thrives in interdisciplinary environments. The free exchange of ideas, knowledge, and perspectives among colleagues sparks creative thinking and problem-solving. Moreover, collaborative information-sharing fosters a culture where employees feel empowered to take risks and explore unconventional solutions, leading to novel innovations that can propel the organization forward.

  3. Stronger Firm Culture and Improved Employee Engagement/Retention: Silos can erode the sense of unity and shared purpose within the firm, leading to decreased job satisfaction and higher turnover rates. Conversely, collaboration fosters strong ties among colleagues, making employees feel more connected and supported. When colleagues collaborate and work toward a shared vision, it creates a sense of community that keeps employees happy and motivated, leading to improved employee engagement and retention.

Now let's turn to a few ways firms can proactively break down barriers and promote teamwork.

  1. Set the Tone at the Top: Firm leaders must champion a culture of collaboration and set an example by actively engaging with colleagues from various practice areas, departments, and levels of seniority. This might mean including more junior people on committees or in meetings, holding open and transparent (non-scripted) conversations with associates and managers, and practicing active listening when talking to colleagues of various levels of seniority.

  2. Facilitate Employees' Mobility and Growth Within the Organization: When employees are encouraged to pursue opportunities for professional growth by moving within an organization, communication, connectivity, and collaboration naturally follow. Before hiring outside talent, consider whether there are people within your firm who could be promoted into the role you're seeking to fill. If your firm has a culture of "talent hoarding," this may need to be addressed by firm leadership. Reward managers who support

  3. Provide High-Quality, Community Training Opportunities for Employees of All Levels: Training initiatives that bring together team members of all levels of seniority across the organization will show even the most junior employees that they are valued, and will help them learn more about how their role fits into the greater picture of the firm's work. When planning training for administrative staff, don't overlook these opportunities to promote a stronger sense of community.

  4. Utilize Collaboration Platforms to Increase Communication: While firms generally have a firm intranet, project management tools, and cross-functional meetings, it's important to evaluate how well these platforms are being utilized to increase the flow of information in a way that promotes collaboration. Consider how the firm can maximize the impact of these resources.

  5. Make Small, Individual Changes: Don't underestimate the power of your own actions. Lead by example. Make a point of getting to know colleagues in other areas of the firm and ask how you can help them. If you have a resource or process that you think others might benefit from, organize a "lunch & learn" session around that topic. Even small changes to your behavior can promote teamwork more broadly throughout the organization.

By: Kandice Thorn, Founder, WorkBetter for Lawyers

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