Master Class in Law Firm Management

What running a law firm like a business really means

Running a law firm successfully is a complex business requiring an array of operational and commercial attributes. In reality, many partners and potential partners are exceptional legal practitioners who enjoy client work, but often feel ill-equipped to manage or assist in running a commercial enterprise.

For many, there is a worrying assumption that they will simply acquire business ‘know-how’ organically - despite having had little or no exposure to finance, strategy, HR, or legal tech during their tenure as employed solicitors.

The Azets Master Class in Law Firm Management

This master class delivers the essentials on what partners, senior associates, and practice managers know they must do, but very often don’t have time or guidance to execute.

• 360° view: Complete coverage across strategy, cashflow, IT, HR, and marketing.
• Practical & relevant: Solves day-to-day management friction and sets long-term goals.
• Peer-to-peer cohort: Strictly capped at 15 attendees to foster genuine interaction & problem-solving.

Earn 14 CPD points in one integrated master class

Designed to fulfill statutory Law Society of Ireland CPD requirements while delivering real commercial value to your practice.

CPD hours allocation:

• 6 hours - Financial & business management
  Focus: Law firm financial models, profit drivers, working capital, cash flow cycles, and capital accounts.
• 2 hours - Practice management
  Focus: it infrastructure, cloud solutions, case management, data analytics, and operational planning.
• 2 hours - Self-management & solicitor wellbeing
  Focus: Developing partner identity, leadership resilience, culture, and driving practice change.
• 2 hours - Client care
  Focus: Strategic legal marketing, client acquisition, lifetime relationship management, and service delivery.
• 2 hours - Professional ethics & maintenance of standards
  Focus: AI compliance, risk management, data security, and maintaining regulatory standards.

Our 10 integrated workshop modules

Delivered in 2-3 hour workshop blocks from mid-January to mid-February 2027 by subject matter experts with deep legal industry expertise.

Module 1: Understanding the legal market

• Facilitator: David Rowe (Partner, Azets)
• Key topics:
  • Structure of the Irish Legal Market and overall legal spend.
  • Work alignment and achievable benchmarks across different market tiers.
  • Positioning your firm to capture high-value legal work.

Module 2: Marketing a law firm

• Facilitator: Joanne O’Brien (Founder, Applejack Marketing)
• Key topics:
  • Building a structured legal marketing plan with clear objectives.
  • Client acquisition vs. expanding lifetime value from existing clients.
  • Proven marketing channels for law firms and the strategic role of social media.

Module 3: Financial management of a legal practice

• Facilitator: Donal Maher (Partner, Azets)
• Key Topics:
  • The legal partnership financial model and funding practice growth.
  • Working capital management and the cash flow cycle of a legal practice.
  • Understanding the balance sheet and the crucial difference between profits and cash.

Module 4: What the partners need to know

• Facilitator: Trojan IT (Ciaran O’Connor & Declan Cooke)
• Key Topics:
  • On-site hardware vs. Cloud infrastructure for modern law firms.
  • Secure remote working, mobility, and case management software.
  • IT & data security, client collaboration tech, and data analytics for decision-making.

Module 5: Implementation of AI in a law firm

• Facilitator: Donna O’Leary (AI Consultant, DOL Consultancy)
• Key Topics:
  • Practical AI use cases in legal service delivery: What works and what doesn't.
  • Ensuring AI adoption complies with Law Society maintenance and ethical standards.
  • Mitigating AI risks: Managing malicious content and AI-armed litigants in person.
  • Strategic AI roadmap for law firms over the next 2–3 years.

Module 6: Financial impacts of an equity partnership

• Facilitator: Donal Maher (Partner, Azets)
• Key Topics:
  • Risks, rewards, and fiduciary responsibilities of Equity Partners.
  • Partner capital accounts and capital investment models.
  • Profit-sharing models, drawings policies, and separating profit from drawings.

Module 7: How to become a leader

• Facilitator: Katie da Gama (Leadership Mentor)
• Key Topics:
  • Leading organizational change and shaping firm culture.
  • Developing partner identity and leadership style from the inside out.
  • Creating and sustaining competitive advantage through people.

Module 8: The business of law & benchmarking

• Facilitator: David Rowe (Partner, Azets)
• Key Topics:
  • Profit generation drivers: Understanding cost base and cost-per-hour metrics.
  • Typical legal profit models, pricing strategy, and margin drivers.
  • Market benchmarking and practical budgeting for Irish law firms.

Module 9: Managing people - your greatest asset

• Facilitator: Aoife Stokes (HR Specialist)
• Key Topics:
  • Legal recruitment strategies, candidate screening, and structured interviewing.
  • Reward mechanisms and retention strategies for high-performing fee earners.
  • Performance management techniques to foster highly motivated teams.

Module 10: Successful business planning

• Facilitator: David Rowe (Partner, Azets)
• Key Topics:
  • Writing an actionable, realistic business plan for your firm.
  • Market opportunity assessment and strategic resource allocation.
  • Execution frameworks: Ensuring the business plan becomes reality.

Delivered by specialist rich in law firm experience

(Note: Speakers subject to change)

• David Rowe — Partner, Azets: Chartered Accountant with a primary law degree. Former Finance Director for Matheson Ormsby Prentice for 10 years before founding Outsource in 2000 (which joined Azets in 2026). Specialises in law firm strategy, mergers, acquisitions, profit-sharing models, and firm valuations.
• Donal Maher — Partner, Azets: Former Director of Outsource with 15+ years advising legal practices nationwide on financial reporting, strategic planning, funding structures, cost analysis, partner admissions, and pricing.
• Joanne O’Brien — Founder, Applejack Marketing: 20+ years of experience helping SME businesses and legal practices build brand awareness, implement online presence strategies, and drive sustainable growth.
• Katie da Gama — Leadership Mentor & Consultant: Lawyer turned Strategy & Change Consultant with 20+ years in the legal profession, offering specialized executive coaching and leadership development for solicitors and partners.
• Aoife Stokes — HR Specialist: 25 years of managerial HR and training experience across Maples and Calder, Ulster Bank, and medium-to-large corporate firms, specializing in performance management and legal talent retention.
• Trojan IT — Ciaran O’Connor & Declan Cooke: Ciaran O'Connor (Business Development Manager): 30+ years in IT, specializing in strategic tech partnerships and customer service. Declan Cooke (IT Consultant): 17+ years at Trojan IT, advising legal clients on secure infrastructure, cloud adoption, and IT ROI.
• Donna O’Leary — AI Consultant, DOL Consultancy: Dual-qualified solicitor and AI consultant bridging the gap between legal tradition and tech innovation, specializing in AI literacy, risk management, and upskilling.

Course summary & booking information

Dates: Mid-January to Mid-February 2027

Format: 10 integrated modules

Class Size: Strictly limited to 15 participants

Accreditation: 14 CPD hours & Master Class certificate

Cost: €1,300 per participant