10 Rules For Effective Law Firm Committees (Perspective)

After our story about committees posted, Jim Rishwain, the chair of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, wrote to us about 10 of what he calls “guiding principles” in forming a committee.

“If a committee follows these guidelines, then it can and will be effective,” he wrote.

We’ve published the full list below for all to view, and sprinkled in some art to keep it light (and tight), thanks to Getty Images.

Here it is, Rishwain breaks it down:

• 1) Each committee should be small and tight.
• 2) Each committee should be diverse… diverse in practice, region, ethnicity and gender, with partners that are long standing coupled with partners that have joined laterally.
• 3) Committees should not have co-leadership. They should be led by a single partner leader.
• 4) The committee should have a designated staff member.
• 5) Each committee should have a budget.
• 6) Each committee should have a clear mission.
• 7) The work and decision making of the committee should be given great weight by the Board and Executive Team — if you ask a group to do work, their work should be given weight.
• 8) A committee should be formed to help execute on a clear strategy of the firm armed with guidance from the Chair and/or board.
• 9) The committee should be working on a definite timeline.
• 10) The work product to be generated by the committee should be clear from the outset.
• Have an experience or opinion to share about law firm committees? Write to us at BigLawBusiness@bna.com.