Grant Dixon has a proven track record in increasing the productivity, quality and profitability of clients and has been extremely successful in applying these commercial skills to legal practices. He has acted in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer of a large number of law practices and all have shown significant increases in profitability.

While Grant has consulted to firms of all sizes, from small practices to major firms, the graphs below show the actual results achieved for one of Melbourne's Top 10 law firms where over a 15 month period revenue was increasing by 28% with profit increasing by 473%. This performance has been sustained and further improved as shown in the graphs below.

Clients have faced numerous challenges which include:

	Other professional institutions encroaching into the traditional legal market
	A shrinking population base
	Pressure from clients for a higher standard of Quality Service Delivery
	A loss of work as a result of legislative changes

The method:

	Development of a fully functional decision making process
	Encouragement of focus on client quality service delivery
	Decisiveness - Information and Control Systems - Accountability
	Strict management policies
	Progressive steps to control overheads
	Proper use of technology
	A commitment from partners and staff to achieve a client focussed successful business with a professional standard of conduct at all levels
	Development of multi-skilled practices

Grant Dixon & Associates have demonstrated past proven performance in these areas.

The first step with any new client would be a meeting with partners to discuss the above and undertaking an Operational Needs Analysis of the firm.

Initially we would need to determine the clients’ needs and the problems they face. These may be:

	Partner / staff disharmony
	A lack of or poor management systems / structure
	Outdated internal systems
	A shrinking client base / fee income
	Excessive overheads
	Aggressive competition
	Other

We would need to clearly establish our brief.

1. At one end of the spectrum will be the client who requires us just to address one particular aspect of the law firm’s operation, such as their computer system or management structure. It may be a firm is experiencing some partner or staff disharmony, the business may generally not be going well, or the firm simply wants some external input as to how to get their business back on track. The budget for employing consultants may be limited and the job may only call for a short visit by Grant Dixon to speak to partners, key staff and to visit firm key clients. The latter will provide specific feedback on how the client measures their quality service delivery and the firms performance. Grant would also look at financial data, office systems and technology, and report (either orally or in writing or both) to the partners. This report would identify specific areas where improvements can be made.

2. At the other end of the spectrum would be the law firm who requires a full overview of their operation. Grant Dixon and team would conduct an operational needs analysis by interviewing staff, management, associates, partners, clients and would construct a review of existing information systems in order to:

a. Develop Multi-skilled Practice Functions

b. Identify areas where productivity can be increased by enhancing:

Skills Training Career Path Planning Selection & Recruitment Quality Improvements

Personal Development Training Systems and Procedures Performance Appraisals Marketing

c. Identify opportunities to increase Profitability by improving;

	Business Planning Practice Structure	Staff Productivity and Morale Management Information
	Development of new marketing initiatives

We can also offer services such as:

	Litigation skills training
	Dealing with issues of risk management and professional indemnity
	ISO accreditation
	Employment contracts
	Mediation of partnership disputes
	Development of second tier and support staff
	Marketing, management information systems
	Marketing initiatives and planning
	Project management
	Selection and recruitment of staff
	Assistance with the tendering process

The Operational Needs Analysis recommendations would be presented to the partners of the firm. The choice of which recommendations are implemented is theirs. Time and disbursements would be charged as appropriate.

Grant Dixon & Associates would use their experience, industry knowledge, marketing and business skills to implement the partners decisions on which course of action in a cohesive and cost effective manner so that the practice can begin to enjoy the benefits of these changes as soon as possible.

Restructuring may include:

	Grant Dixon becoming the Chief Executive Officer on a contract basis. This has worked successfully in the past and allows: Partner focus on fee generation rather than management issues Authority to make management decisions while implementing the policy and vision set by the partners - "we will make it happen".
	Development of multi skilled practice concept
	Developing 2nd tier
	Career path planning
	Personal skills and development training
	Solutions to problems
	Decision making process
	Management structure (decision making - commercial focus - discipline)
	Marketing (targeted measurable with strategy)
	Computers systems, management information and controls
	Mediate partner disputes
	Staff morale and productivity
	Key client concept / Quality service delivery