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Profit from knowledge

02 October 2015 / Mark Collins
Issue: 7670 / Categories: Features , Profession
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In the first of a series of articles, Mark Collins describes some of the key elements required to build an effective knowledge management operation

In the world of legal services, knowledge management (KM) is really just good business management. For KM to succeed, an organisation needs:

  • Management vision and a clear commitment to KM.
  • A business strategy that incorporates explicit KM actions.
  • Resources (both human and technological) to deliver a measurable return on investment.

If you are in the business of selling cakes, the way you buy your ingredients, organise the baking, and manage the decorating and packaging of your cakes is essential to your success. Likewise, if you are a lawyer selling your legal and commercial expertise, then KM is key. In a knowledge economy, if you are selling knowledge, KM is really just good business sense. We need good quality raw materials (law, facts and business intelligence). We need to bake our legal advice carefully and cost efficiently. We should brand and price our product to best effect. KM can help with all

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

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Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
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The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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