Lean Blog Interviews - Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business, and Leadership

Karen Dunn Skinner & David Skinner on Lean in Law Firms and Legal Departments


Listen Later

My guests for episode #185 are Karen Dunn Skinner and David Skinner and our topic, for the first time on the Podcast, is Lean in law firms and the legal profession. David and Karen are husband and wife, attorneys, from Quebec, and consultants for their firm Gimbal. I had a chance to meet up with them in Montreal earlier this year, after connecting via social media, and they're a delight to talk to – in person and in our podcast.

I think there are a lot of fascinating parallels between Lean in healthcare and Lean in law. There are opportunities to focus on payment for value instead of activity, big opportunities to reduce waste and errors, and to make sure people are doing the right work for their job level. “The way it's always been” seems very powerful in both professions and the “but we don't make cars” objection can be powerful.

In the episode, we discuss topics including:

  • How do Lean methods apply in a Law firm?
  • What are some benefits to the clients and the firm itself?
  • How do you get past the “we don't build cars” objection?
  • How widespread is Lean in the legal profession?
  • How did Karen and David discover Lean (and Six Sigma) as attorneys?
  • What's the balance between using Lean and/or Six Sigma in law?
  • How can standardized work and checklists help?
  • Why are legal clients dissatisfied with the pricing and quality of legal work?
  • How do you strike a balance between law being an art vs. being a process?
  • For a link to this episode, refer people to  www.leanblog.org/185.

    For earlier episodes, visit the  main Podcast page, which includes information on how to  subscribe via RSS  or  via Apple Podcasts.

    Podcasts Sponsored by KaiNexus

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Lean Blog Interviews - Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business, and LeadershipBy Mark Graban

    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6

    4.6

    46 ratings


    More shows like Lean Blog Interviews - Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business, and Leadership

    View all
    HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

    HBR IdeaCast

    1,865 Listeners

    The Look & Sound of Leadership by Essential Communications - Tom Henschel

    The Look & Sound of Leadership

    1,173 Listeners

    Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast by Andy Stanley

    Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast

    2,270 Listeners

    Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

    Coaching for Leaders

    1,466 Listeners

    Rich Dad Radio Show: In-Your-Face Advice on Investing, Personal Finance, & Starting a Business by The Rich Dad Media Network

    Rich Dad Radio Show: In-Your-Face Advice on Investing, Personal Finance, & Starting a Business

    3,862 Listeners

    Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership by Ron Pereira: Lean Thinker & Co-Founder of Gemba Academy

    Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership

    198 Listeners

    Lean Blog Audio by Mark Graban

    Lean Blog Audio

    15 Listeners

    KaiNexus: Continuous Improvement, Leadership, and More by KaiNexus

    KaiNexus: Continuous Improvement, Leadership, and More

    28 Listeners

    Jocko Podcast by Jocko DEFCOR Network

    Jocko Podcast

    30,748 Listeners

    WLEI - Lean Enterprise Institute's Podcast by Lean Enterprise Institute

    WLEI - Lean Enterprise Institute's Podcast

    20 Listeners

    Maxwell Leadership Podcast by John Maxwell

    Maxwell Leadership Podcast

    2,446 Listeners

    Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey) by Mark Graban & Jamie Flinchbaugh

    Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)

    10 Listeners

    The Lean Solutions Podcast by Patrick Adams

    The Lean Solutions Podcast

    19 Listeners

    My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success by Mark Graban

    My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

    38 Listeners

    Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

    Huberman Lab

    28,598 Listeners

    Lean 911 by Mark DeLuzio

    Lean 911

    14 Listeners

    HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

    HBR On Leadership

    160 Listeners

    Lean Made Simple: Transform Your Business & Life One Step At A Time! by Lean Made Simple

    Lean Made Simple: Transform Your Business & Life One Step At A Time!

    21 Listeners

    Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement and Lean Change Leaders by Katie Anderson

    Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement and Lean Change Leaders

    26 Listeners