The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50832
CANADIAN LAWYER'S ANNUAL CORPORATE COUNSEL SURVEY Combination of billable hours plus fl at fees 41.2% Billable hours 52.7% 4.6% Alternative arrangements 1.5% Flat fees WHAT TYPE OF BILLING ARRANGEMENT DO YOU HAVE WITH YOUR PRIMARY LAW FIRM? not been asked to complete any sort of sat- isfaction survey. Conducting these satisfaction surveys is HOW OFTEN DO YOU COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR KEY CONTACT AT YOUR PRIMARY LAW FIRM? Once every six months or less 3.4% 11.9% very important because it provides far richer information than can be obtained through anecdotal feedback, says John Rogers, CEO of Stewart McKelvey. The Atlantic firm recently hired an external company to complete one- hour, in-person interviews with its top clients, including many in-house lawyers. Rogers says the survey was a positive experience he wished the firm had done sooner. "The only risk for law firms who do carry out the sur- veys is that they must be prepared to act on what they hear," he says. Even though an overwhelming number No regular contact, we work on a case-by-case basis 18.6% At least once every three months At least once a month 31.4% At least once a week 34.7% of corporate counsel haven't been sur- veyed, it doesn't mean there is a total lack of communication between them and the law firms. When asked how often they communicate with the key contact at their primary law firm, 34.7 per cent of the respondents say they do so at least once a week and 31.4 say at least once a month. In 18.6 per cent of cases there was no regular contact as the corporate counsel say they chose to work with firms on a case-by-case basis and communicate with them only when needed. In this economy, keeping in-house WHAT STRATEGIES DID YOUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT USE TO DEAL WITH CHANGES IN THE BUDGET? 58.9% More work brought inside New agreement with outside counsel Reduced workforce Increased workforce More work sent outside 9.3% Salary cuts Sent legal work off shore (i.e. India) Salary increases 5.6% 4.7% 42 NO VEMBER / DECEMBER 2010 www. C ANADIAN Law ye rmag.com 36.4% 17.8% 17.8% 15.9% counsel happy is more important than ever as more than half, 56.5 per cent, of those surveyed say they were likely to review their working or financial relationship with their top outside law firm in the next six to nine months. In addition, 26 per cent of respondents say their lead law firm clearly provides better services than its closest competitor. That number is up slightly from last year's 19.5 per cent. An equal number, 30.4 per cent, believe their lead law firm's nearest competitor could do most of the work equally as well or that several other firms could do it equally as well. However, 65.3 per cent of the respond- ents say they have not replaced their top legal service provider in the past two years. But 34.7 per cent said they had. Although with much outside legal work now being contracted out through request for proposal processes, many are locked into agreements that last a set number of years. Latest trends This year's survey also looked at a couple of new trends that have been gaining ground