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With the legal profession often driven by competition, two separate firm owners who have joined forces to establish a new law firm argue that collaboration is a far superior approach to being successful.
In a landscape where competition often reigns supreme, Danielle Zetzer, the owner of Respect Legal, and Nadya Voloshina, the owner of V Legal, have merged forces to establish a new firm, Respect Wills & Estates.
Speaking with Lawyers Weekly, the two firm owners highlighted the benefits they have experienced through collaboration instead of pursuing individualistic strategies and the essential steps law firms should undertake to adopt a collaborative approach effectively.
What is the value?
The two firm owners view collaboration as more than just a strategy for enhancing international operations and creating a supportive workplace but also as a powerful avenue for achieving “stronger outcomes” for clients.
By embracing collaboration instead of working in silos, they highlighted how it gives lawyers the opportunity to “share knowledge, leverage diverse perspectives, and provide more well-rounded legal advice”.
The pair pointed out that lawyers who prioritise collaboration over competition often find themselves experiencing a refreshing “positive attitude” towards their work and their presence in the workplace. This transformation yields significant benefits, with the two firm owners noting a “significant reduction in burnout”.
Lawyers at firms that embrace a collaborative approach can experience substantial advantages for their culture, the pair noted, as it “strengthens internal relationships, boosts morale, and enhances client trust”.
The two firm owners explained that demonstrating a positive organisational culture instils a sense of “reassurance” to their clients that their legal support is “comprehensive and well thought out”.
How to implement this approach
For law firms aiming to embrace a more collaborative approach, Zetzer and Voloshina have outlined several key strategies they have implemented within their new firm to facilitate this objective. These include:
Establishing “regular team meetings, knowledge-sharing sessions, and [instilling] an open-door policy”, as it facilitates an environment in which employees feel comfortable seeking “input and advice without hesitation”.
Instead of zeroing in on the “budget”, you shift that focus to concentrate on the “collective success of the firm”. By embracing this mindset, the pair noted that you start to prioritise “collective firm success” over “individual success”.
Their firm has also implemented a pod system, which allows their junior lawyers to be paired with “a senior lawyer mentor and a shared assistant”.
Utilising communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp to have channels for work-related communication and more social, light-hearted conversations among team members.
Addressing hesitation
Zetzer and Voloshina recognise that many lawyers are reluctant to embrace a collaborative approach, expressing concerns that such a strategy may “dilute their individual success or make them less competitive”.
However, they argue that “the reality is quite the opposite”, stating, “a collaborative approach enhances credibility, strengthens client relationships, and leads to better legal outcomes”.
The pair explained that adopting this approach allows lawyers to “improve their problem-solving skills, expand their professional network, and build a more fulfilling career”.
The two firm owners expressed firsthand that they have observed the advantages of such an approach, highlighting how it has transformed their workplace into a “more positive and rewarding environment”.
They said: “The culture of collaboration starts at the top, so we encourage any principal or partner to consider the benefits of focusing more on collaboration and the overall success of the firm and less on individual budgets and KPIs.”
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