Practice Group Leaders (PGLs) play one of the most influential—and often underestimated—roles in a law firm. They serve as the bridge between firm leadership and the attorneys who execute the work. When a PGL performs well, the entire practice thrives: productivity increases, profitability strengthens, team culture improves, and client service becomes more consistent.

This guide outlines the essential leadership skills, core responsibilities, and practical strategies every Practice Group Leader must master to lead with impact and confidence.

1. Build a Strong Personal Leadership Foundation

Effective practice group leadership begins with self-awareness.
Before a PGL can lead others, they must understand how they lead, why they lead, and how their habits influence the team.

Key components of a strong leadership foundation:

Self-Awareness

This is the cornerstone of leadership. Understanding your strengths, blind spots, motivations, and communication style helps you lead authentically and effectively.

Tools that support self-awareness include:

  • The DiSC Personality and Management Profile

  • Executive coaching

  • 360-degree feedback assessments

These resources help PGLs:

  • Make better decisions

  • Improve emotional intelligence

  • Earn trust through consistent behavior

Intentional Professional Growth

Great PGLs remain perpetual learners. They invest time in:

  • Leadership development programs

  • Strategic planning workshops

  • Conflict-resolution training

  • Communication coaching

The more a leader understands themselves, the more effectively they can guide a diverse team.

2. Strengthen Influence and Leadership Presence

To lead a practice group, a PGL must be able to influence and motivate attorneys at all levels. Influence is not about authority—it is about credibility, consistency, and connection.

Core influence skills include:

Executive Presence

A PGL should project confidence and clarity, whether speaking to partners, clients, or prospective hires. Executive presence includes:

  • Professional communication

  • Strong listening skills

  • Calm under pressure

  • Clear reasoning and direction

Conflict Resolution

Practice groups naturally experience tension—from workload distribution to performance issues. Effective PGLs:

  • Address conflict early

  • Communicate with respect and empathy

  • Remain objective and fair

  • Create solutions instead of blame

Relationship Building

Thriving groups rely on trust and collaboration.
PGLs should cultivate:

  • Strong internal relationships within the practice

  • Partnerships with other firm groups

  • External professional networks that support business growth

These relationships foster innovation and strengthen the group’s reputation.

3. The Four Essential Roles of a Practice Group Leader

PGLs wear many hats, but their responsibilities fall into four major categories. Excelling in these areas ensures a high-performing, profitable, and cohesive practice group.

Role 1: Strategic Architect

A PGL’s most critical responsibility is creating a clear, achievable vision for the practice group.

Strategic responsibilities include:

  • Establishing annual goals and long-term objectives

  • Developing growth strategies aligned with firm priorities

  • Making informed trade-offs when allocating limited resources

  • Communicating strategy clearly to partners and associates

  • Ensuring team buy-in and shared commitment

A strong strategic plan keeps everyone focused and accountable.

Role 2: Financial Steward

Every PGL must be financially literate.
Understanding the numbers ensures the group operates sustainably and efficiently.

Core financial responsibilities:

  • Managing budgets

  • Interpreting financial statements

  • Monitoring productivity and realization rates

  • Reviewing profitability metrics by matter, client, and attorney

  • Making data-driven decisions on staffing and workload

Financial insight empowers PGLs to advocate for resources and improve operational performance.

Role 3: Operational Leader

Practice groups depend on effective daily operations to function smoothly.

Operational duties include:

  • Assigning work fairly across the team

  • Ensuring attorneys have adequate support and resources

  • Facilitating efficient meetings with agendas and outcomes

  • Identifying workflow bottlenecks

  • Improving processes that enhance productivity

Operational leadership ensures the group delivers consistent, high-quality work.

Role 4: Talent Developer

Perhaps the most impactful role of all.

A thriving practice group depends on talented, engaged attorneys—so developing people must be a top priority.

Talent development responsibilities:

  • Recruiting diverse, high-potential attorneys

  • Setting clear expectations and performance standards

  • Providing regular feedback and coaching

  • Supporting career advancement goals

  • Creating an inclusive, collaborative team culture

Great leaders don’t just manage talent—they cultivate it.

The Bottom Line: Strong PGLs Strengthen the Entire Firm

Successful Practice Group Leaders combine strategic thinking, financial insight, operational excellence, and a commitment to developing people. When these skills come together, practice groups become:

  • More profitable

  • More collaborative

  • More innovative

  • More resilient

  • Better positioned for long-term success

By mastering these essential management skills, PGLs not only elevate their teams—they elevate the entire firm.

 

 

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