Measuring Law Firm Culture

Law, Politics and Society, Vol. 52, pp. 1-31, 2010

NYLS Legal Studies Research Paper No. 10/11 #9

32 Pages Posted: 23 Nov 2010

See all articles by Elizabeth Chambliss

Elizabeth Chambliss

University of South Carolina - Joseph F. Rice School of Law

Date Written: November 23, 2010

Abstract

This paper proposes a research agenda for the study of large law firm culture and explains how the research would contribute to both legal ethics and organizational theory. It focuses on two sets of questions that are uniquely suited to investigation in large law firms. First: what is the significance of organizational culture, relative to that of professional networks and subgroups? To what extent does organizational membership shape lawyers’ understandings about “how things are done”? Second: how is organizational culture sustained? What are the mechanisms of cultural integration in volatile, multi-office firms? The paper draws on a pilot study of law firm culture in one 500-lawyer firm.

Keywords: law firm culture, practice group, organizational culture, legal ethics

Suggested Citation

Chambliss, Elizabeth, Measuring Law Firm Culture (November 23, 2010). Law, Politics and Society, Vol. 52, pp. 1-31, 2010, NYLS Legal Studies Research Paper No. 10/11 #9, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1713999

Elizabeth Chambliss (Contact Author)

University of South Carolina - Joseph F. Rice School of Law ( email )

1525 Senate Street
Columbia, SC 29208
United States

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