The Hidden Time Drains That Keep Law Firm Leaders From Leading
The Leadership Time Trap
Law firm leaders want to spend their time on strategy, growth, and client relationships. But most end up bogged down in the day-to-day.
The problem isn’t just workload — it’s hidden time drains that chip away at your week until there’s nothing left for real leadership.
Common Time Drains in Law Firms
1. Ad-Hoc Approvals.
Every staffing request, expense, or minor decision lands on the managing partner’s desk. Instead of setting clear rules and authority levels, leaders get buried in approvals.
2. Inbox Triage.
Attorneys and staff copy leadership on every email “just in case.” Leaders spend hours sorting through messages that someone else could handle with the right delegation.
3. Meetings With No Purpose.
Standing calls without agendas, check-ins that could be an email, or discussions that never end with decisions. Multiply that across weeks, and the time lost is staggering.
4. Unclear Delegation.
When roles aren’t defined, everything defaults back to the partner. Leaders become the “catch-all,” doing work that should sit elsewhere.
5. Firefighting Mode.
Without systems, problems escalate to leadership unnecessarily. Leaders become the permanent fire marshal instead of the strategist.
Example: The Partner With No Time to Lead
I worked with a firm where the managing partner was in the office 60 hours a week — but less than 10 of those hours were spent on strategy or business development. The rest was swallowed by approvals, email triage, and sitting in on meetings that had no clear purpose.
Once we put in clear delegation rules, meeting cadences, and staff accountability, the partner reclaimed 15+ hours a week for leadership and client growth.
The COO’s Role in Giving Leaders Back Their Time
Defines decision rights so not every choice escalates up.
Implements meeting rhythms that are short, focused, and actionable.
Creates role clarity so leaders aren’t the default doer.
Puts systems in place so fires get solved before they reach leadership.
The result? Leaders lead.
The Bottom Line
If you feel like there’s no time to work on the firm, you don’t need more hours in the week — you need better systems. Freeing leadership from time drains isn’t optional. It’s the only way to grow.
At ING Collaborations, I help firm leaders reclaim their time by installing systems and clarity. If you want more hours for strategy and growth, let’s connect.