RMB Lawyers site visit

On 23 August the LIP attended a site visit at RMB Lawyers, one of the largest regional based law firms in NSW. The visit was hosted by Managing Partner, Craig Osborne and lawyers Bradley Peterson, Ben Kuzman and Jade Cross. 

Craig delivered a high-speed presentation on Governance, where he explained what RMB Lawyers do to achieve continued success, sharing some methods and strategies that are relevant for all industries.

What did we learn about Governance?

• Governance is about being held to account, ethics, risk management, compliance and administration.
• Look at the industry you are in, measure everything but start at the top.
• State your organisation’s values and live by them, let these guide all decision making.
• The legal sector is one of the most competitive sectors in Australia. RMB Lawyers uses solid Governance principles, applied consistently, to ensure success. Their approach is applicable to other industries.
• How do organisations know what to Govern? Set strategies first and then create the Governance around that. Governance is about making sure people follow strategies and the business is getting the right results.
• Meet regularly to review the data measures you have set up, make sure the business is on the right track and not ‘going down the wrong path’. If not on track, take swift action.
• Include peer review and self-governance strategies.
• Use tools like a work allocation matrix to measure and monitor workload, assess utilisation, efficiency, avoid burn out and signal when more resources are needed.
• Measure customer advocacy (net promoter score) to learn and action feedback.
• Find and use best practice systems to be efficient and do more with less.
• Use a balanced business performance scorecard including financial, customer, internal perspective, learning and growth measures.
• Use an authority matrix so staff have certainty about their role and others’ roles.
• Use a service enquiries and complaints management system.
• Use continuous learning and feedback, mentoring and performance reviews.
  
  

Juanita Sieler delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the group, thanking Craig for covering the topic so thoroughly, it was 'Governance on steroids', and sharing his passion for the success of the Illawarra's leaders and regional businesses with the group.