A lot of lawyers and law firms have often done things the same way a long time. They like doing things the same way. Doing things the same way makes them comfortable. It feels like a safe place. It does not involve risk. It does not involve learning something new.  Just like an old dog, they don’t want to learn a new trick.

If others talk about trying something different, too many law firms and lawyers will automatically resist. They will likely fall back on their cliche that they have always done things another way. They do not want to try anything new. They want to keep doing what they were doing — whether it works or not.

Instead of simply doing the same thing because that’s the way you’ve always done it, it’s critical to ask whether what you’ve been doing works? From a marketing, management or other legal management perspective, has your prior policy or strategy been successful?

If it has been successful, by all means keep doing it. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it as the saying goes. But you really need to analyze this from an objective standpoint by looking at numbers, data, success rates, growth, etc. You cannot get sentimental. You cannot just keep doing the status quo because it’s comfortable.

If what you are doing isn’t working, or is causing you to flat-line, you have got to mix things up. You have to open yourself up to new ideas and strategies. Of course, what worked at a time in the past might not even work today.

So, look at what you have done from a marketing perspective. Has what you’ve done grown your practice or law firm? Has it brought in new cases and clients? Has it increased the quality of legal work performed? If it has, keep doing it. If it hasn’t, or you are flat-lining, it’s probably time to try something new or at least adjust in some way.

From a management perspective, while there is always going to be struggles, has what you’ve done caused your law firm to progress? Is the firm being running well? If it has, keep doing it, if it hasn’t or you are flat-lining, it’s probably time to try something new or at least adjust in some way.

The same is true as it relates to other areas in your law firm. By nature, we’re all naturally change resistant. This is certainly true for most lawyers and law firms. Many lawyers or law firms will naturally buck when presented with new ideas — even when they would legitimately further the vision of the law firm or practice.

Lawyers, law firms and practices that succeed always analyze what is working and what isn’t. Instead of simply doing the same thing because it makes you comfortable, when something isn’t working, it’s likely time to try something different. At a minimum, you should sharpen the saw and fine-tune what you are doing.

You do want to stay on mission. You don’t want to change the vision of your law firm or your practice. But, if you want to be successful, you do need to buck the mindset that you have to keep doing what you’re doing simply because that’s what you’ve always done.

If you have any thoughts, feel free to share them below.