Facilitator Guide

Introduction to Law Firms

Facilitator Guide

Introduction to Law Firms

Topic: Business of Law

What’s covered

Law Firm Basics
Associates and the Associate Track
Counsel and Partners
Practice Groups and Staffing
Other Lawyers and Support Staff
Non-Legal Departments

Before the session

Prepare the Attendees

Send the attendees an invitation for the session. Include this link, which has the videos and exercise they’ll need to prepare.

https://www.hotshotlegal.com/discussions/introduction-to-law-firms/attendee

Prepare Yourself

Watch the videos and read the exercise so you’re familiar with the Hotshot material.

Course

Introduction to Law Firms

Provides a practical foundation for understanding how large law firms operate. Covers the hierarchy of positions, practice group structures, key non-legal departments, and how firms are organized to serve clients.
Exercise
PDF

During the session

Part 1: Knowledge Check

Ask attendees these questions to ensure they understand the topic:

What does it mean that law firms are in the client service business?
What’s the general hierarchy of lawyers at a large law firm?
How are most law firms in the US organized, and how does that impact operations?
What is the difference between equity partners and non-equity partners?
What is staffing and how does it work in different firms?
What are some common non-legal departments at large law firms, and what are their responsibilities?

Part 2: Group Exercise

Lead a group discussion based on the exercise. To encourage collaboration, divide the attendees into groups to discuss the exercise, then have a representative from each group summarize their views to the larger group. Call on people to share their thoughts and ask others to respond.

Tip for remote sessions: use your web conferencing system’s breakout room feature to divide people into groups.

Part 3: Firm Specifics

Share your own experiences and guidance, including:

Anecdotes
General practice tips (dos and don’ts)
Firm-specific guidance and practices

After the session

To continue learning, attendees can check out related courses in Hotshot’s Business of Law topic.

About Hotshot

Hotshot helps lawyers develop their legal, business, and technology skills through short videos, quizzes, and summaries, and we help law firms and law schools plan and deliver engaging training programs. Our customers include Am Law 200 firms, top law schools, and regional and international firms.