The Law Offices ofThe Law Offices ofJordan, Madrigal, Nicolotti Jordan, Madrigal, Nicolotti

& Youngberg& Youngberg

LI805 Scenario ActivityLI805 Scenario ActivityCase 5Case 5

Scenario 5Scenario 5

In order to save money, a medium-In order to save money, a medium-sized law firm has decided to close sized law firm has decided to close its law library.its law library.

Build a scenario in which there are Build a scenario in which there are positive and negative consequences positive and negative consequences of this decision.of this decision.

Internal EnvironmentInternal Environment

Workers’ Compensation Law FirmWorkers’ Compensation Law Firm Modernist structured Modernist structured

environment/traditionalenvironment/traditional Integrity of firm tied into winning Integrity of firm tied into winning

cases and individual performancecases and individual performance Employee competitiveness expectedEmployee competitiveness expected Compassion and understanding when Compassion and understanding when

dealing with clientsdealing with clients

Organizational ChartOrganizational Chart

Senior PartnerLillard

Partner Jordan

Partner Madrigal

Partner Nicolotti

Partner Youngberg

Associate Attorney Associate Attorney Associate Attorney Associate Attorney Associate Attorney

ParalegalParalegal Paralegal

Law LibrarianOffice Manager

Library ClerkParalegal Paralegal

Senior Secretary

Senior Secretary

Secretary Secretary SecretarySecretarySecretary

Runner Office AidReceptionist

External EnvironmentExternal Environment

Competing forcesCompeting forcesIs the organization adding or duplicating the Is the organization adding or duplicating the

services of other organizations? services of other organizations? The internal law library duplicates the services The internal law library duplicates the services

of the local law library.of the local law library. Is the duplication necessary? Is the duplication necessary? No. While it may save some time and leg work No. While it may save some time and leg work

the law library offers the same resources as the law library offers the same resources as the in-house library.the in-house library.

By concentrating the practice in Workers’ By concentrating the practice in Workers’ Compensation the need for extensive research Compensation the need for extensive research is diminished.is diminished.

External StakeholdersExternal Stakeholders

Courts/legal systemCourts/legal system ClientsClients other law firms (competitors)other law firms (competitors) Insurance companies (Adversaries)Insurance companies (Adversaries) Doctor’s officesDoctor’s offices EmployersEmployers UnionsUnions LobbyistLobbyist Vocational rehabilitation servicesVocational rehabilitation services

Social StructureSocial Structure Organizational chart – hierarchicalOrganizational chart – hierarchical Complexity of organizationComplexity of organization

The firm is somewhat complex due to the many levels The firm is somewhat complex due to the many levels reflected in the org. chart.reflected in the org. chart.

Size Size This is a medium size law firm.This is a medium size law firm.

Communication channelsCommunication channels Communication moves up and down the chain of Communication moves up and down the chain of

command. command. Administrative structureAdministrative structure

The partners make all of the administrative decisions.The partners make all of the administrative decisions.

Max Weber’s Theory of Max Weber’s Theory of BureaucracyBureaucracy

This law firm (and most law firms) This law firm (and most law firms) follow a traditional social structure of follow a traditional social structure of bureaucracy as defined by Weber.bureaucracy as defined by Weber.

This includes: This includes: Division of laborDivision of labor Hierarchy of authority Hierarchy of authority Formalized rules and proceduresFormalized rules and procedures

Hierarchy of AuthorityHierarchy of Authority

The firms hierarchy can clearly be The firms hierarchy can clearly be seen from its organizational chart.seen from its organizational chart.

The partners make all of the The partners make all of the decisions and pass down the decisions and pass down the information and work through the information and work through the chain of command.chain of command.

Each employee reports to the person Each employee reports to the person directly above them.directly above them.

Division of LaborDivision of Labor

The division of labor is set by the The division of labor is set by the partners and is divided according to the partners and is divided according to the title of the position.title of the position.

Each partner is responsible for a certain Each partner is responsible for a certain area of the practice some with area of the practice some with administrative duties and some administrative duties and some focusing strictly on the practice of law.focusing strictly on the practice of law.

The work then trickles down from there.The work then trickles down from there.

Formalized Rules and ProceduresFormalized Rules and Procedures

The firm’s organizational chart notes The firm’s organizational chart notes the flow of power and responsibility the flow of power and responsibility within the firm’s structure.within the firm’s structure.

Written policies, employee Written policies, employee handbooks, and job descriptions handbooks, and job descriptions would be other examples of would be other examples of formalized rules and procedures.formalized rules and procedures.

Physical StructurePhysical Structure

One location – College Woods One location – College Woods Urban settingUrban setting

Close to a prominent university that has Close to a prominent university that has a graduate school for law and a graduate school for law and library/information management.library/information management.

Kansas City MetroKansas City Metro A close network of many small to A close network of many small to

medium sized law firms with law medium sized law firms with law libraries libraries

Core TechnologyCore Technology

Intranet/ in house networkIntranet/ in house network Internal form databaseInternal form database Internet at every computer with Internet at every computer with

access to libraries databasesaccess to libraries databases

Organizational CultureOrganizational Culture

SubcultureSubculture PartnersPartners ManagersManagers LawyersLawyers SecretariesSecretaries Professionals vs. ParaprofessionalsProfessionals vs. Paraprofessionals

Corporate CultureCorporate Culture Business attireBusiness attire Offices vs. cubiclesOffices vs. cubicles

Organizational CultureOrganizational Culture

Modernist ApproachesModernist Approaches

National Culture InfluencesNational Culture Influences

Individualism/CollectivismIndividualism/Collectivism Cohesive groups ex: Consortium, Type of ClientCohesive groups ex: Consortium, Type of Client

Masculine/FeminineMasculine/FeminineStrong interpersonal relationshipsStrong interpersonal relationships

Clients and organizations treated equallyClients and organizations treated equally

Short/Long term OrientationShort/Long term Orientation

Organizational CultureOrganizational Culture

Old CompanyOld Company Basic AssumptionsBasic Assumptions

All that matters is profitsAll that matters is profits

ValuesValuesLeadership, Individualism, Competition, Profits, Leadership, Individualism, Competition, Profits,

Marginalizing, MoneyMarginalizing, Money

ArtifactsArtifactsBusiness Suits, Court house, Settlements, Jargon.Business Suits, Court house, Settlements, Jargon.

New CompanyNew Company Basic AssumptionsBasic AssumptionsSuccess measured by helping clients and profitsSuccess measured by helping clients and profits

ValuesValuesCommunity, Compassion, Volunteering, Education, Community, Compassion, Volunteering, Education,

Teamwork, Citizenship, EmpoweringTeamwork, Citizenship, Empowering

ArtifactsArtifactsHomepage, Email, Newsletter, K.C.W.E.N., , Email, Newsletter, K.C.W.E.N.,

Management, JargonManagement, Jargon

Schein’s Theory

Organization CultureOrganization Culture

Symbolic-InterpretiveSymbolic-Interpretive

Organizational NarrativeOrganizational Narrative

Personal- Origins of the law firm, Personal- Origins of the law firm, Ex

Generic- Explain business plansGeneric- Explain business plans

Situational- Used to diffuse conflict or explain procedureSituational- Used to diffuse conflict or explain procedure

ProposalProposal Eliminate salaried librarian position and Eliminate salaried librarian position and

have legal interns and paralegals do have legal interns and paralegals do research. Hire outside services if needed.research. Hire outside services if needed.

Join a law library consortium as well as use Join a law library consortium as well as use KC metro libraries.KC metro libraries.

Keep physical library with printed Keep physical library with printed materials for reference but discontinue materials for reference but discontinue print acquisitions.print acquisitions.

Keep all important databases current for in Keep all important databases current for in house research.house research.

Obtain a library school student for Obtain a library school student for additional upkeep.additional upkeep.

New Organizational ChartNew Organizational Chart

Senior PartnerLillard

Partner Jordan

Partner Madrigal

Partner Nicolotti

Partner Youngberg

Associate Attorney Associate Attorney Associate Attorney Associate Attorney Associate Attorney

ParalegalParalegal Paralegal

Office Manager

Paralegal Paralegal

Senior Secretary

New Org Chart ContinuedNew Org Chart Continued

Senior Secretary

Secretary Secretary SecretarySecretarySecretary

Runner Office AidReceptionist

Law StudentInternship

Library StudentInternship

ProsPros Save money by eliminating a high salaried Save money by eliminating a high salaried

librarian position and employing law school librarian position and employing law school interns, and paralegals take up the legal interns, and paralegals take up the legal research.research.

Employ a library school intern to assist in Employ a library school intern to assist in essential library upkeep. The use of students essential library upkeep. The use of students from surrounding schools will increase the from surrounding schools will increase the firm’s reputation as a strong leader in the firm’s reputation as a strong leader in the community.community.

By retaining the current print materials that By retaining the current print materials that we own and continuing subscriptions to we own and continuing subscriptions to databases that highlight workers’ databases that highlight workers’ compensation, the majority of research will compensation, the majority of research will still be done in-house.still be done in-house.

ProsPros

Research that cannot be conducted in-Research that cannot be conducted in-house can be done at the local law library house can be done at the local law library because of the firm’s urban setting.because of the firm’s urban setting.

By specializing in workers’ compensation By specializing in workers’ compensation the firm will be able minimize the need the firm will be able minimize the need for in-depth research and save money.for in-depth research and save money.

By maintaining a small in-house library By maintaining a small in-house library the firm can assist smaller, independent the firm can assist smaller, independent firms with some of their research needs.firms with some of their research needs.

ProsPros

In extreme cases, an information broker In extreme cases, an information broker can be used for extensive and specialized can be used for extensive and specialized research needs.research needs.

Library collection can be evaluated Library collection can be evaluated annually to maximize use and reduce annually to maximize use and reduce expenses on unused materials.expenses on unused materials.

The firm will join a law library consortium The firm will join a law library consortium to maximize use of it’s existing library to maximize use of it’s existing library materials and take advantage of what materials and take advantage of what other law libraries can provide.other law libraries can provide.

ConsCons

Loss of librarian’s research skills.Loss of librarian’s research skills. Loss of flexibility in handling a Loss of flexibility in handling a

variety of cases.variety of cases. Potential for increased workload for Potential for increased workload for

paralegals.paralegals. Increased supervisory role for lead Increased supervisory role for lead

secretary who would supervise secretary who would supervise internsinterns

In SummaryIn Summary By reducing paid staff, eliminating By reducing paid staff, eliminating

costly materials, and using the costly materials, and using the resources of the KC metro resources of the KC metro community, the law firm of J.M.N.Y community, the law firm of J.M.N.Y will be able to continue high quality will be able to continue high quality legal research that will enable them legal research that will enable them to fulfill their corporate goals of to fulfill their corporate goals of helping those with worker’s helping those with worker’s compensation litigation. compensation litigation.