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16 September 2010 / Mike Jones
Issue: 7433 / Categories: Features , Profession , Marketing
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Improving performance

Activity, ability & focus: Mike Jones discusses the key steps to increasing market share

Lawyers do not like the term “sales”. In recent years they have accommodated—in some cases embraced—business development and marketing. But, please, don’t mention the “s” word. This prejudice towards sales has meant that firms and individuals have been slow to grasp the concept of sales, sales performance, and sales management. As a result much of the “prep” work done via business development and marketing is wasted.

A different art

Selling is not marketing. It is not “business development” either—this label simply adds to the confusion. The role of marketing in law firms is to create goodwill. The role of selling is to convert that goodwill into fees. The term “business development” is often used to avoid the dreaded “s” word, however it is also used to describe the entire sales and marketing continuum, and therein lies the confusion. This lack of clear definition leads to misunderstandings and misplaced strategies.

Most law firms focus time and money on just one

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

HFW—Simon Petch

HFW—Simon Petch

Global shipping practice expands with experienced ship finance partner hire

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Infrastructure specialist joins as partner in Glasgow office

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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