Law Firm Operations
How to create a law firm operations register
A practical, step-by-step approach to building an operations register a New Zealand law firm will actually maintain.
A law firm operations register is the single view of everything the firm depends on to run. Here's a practical way to build one.
Step 1 — Start with technology
Every practice management, document management, accounting, communication and security system. One row each, with provider, owner and renewal date.
Step 2 — Add suppliers
Every recurring external provider — IT, cyber, insurance, consultants, premises services, professional advisors.
Step 3 — Add contracts
Every active agreement. Link each contract to its supplier and its renewal date.
Step 4 — Assign owners
Every entry gets one named internal owner. "The team" isn't an owner.
Step 5 — Add criticality
Rate each entry: what happens on day one if this supplier or system stops? Critical, important or standard.
Step 6 — Schedule reviews
Critical entries: every six months. Important: annually. Standard: annual sweep.
Step 7 — Move off the spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is fine for the first version. Move to a proper system once more than one person needs to maintain it, or once a renewal gets missed.
AvenorOps is built specifically for this.