By Legal Futures Associate Osprey Approach [1]
Osprey Approach [2] announces that the latest episode of its Empowering Law Firm Leaders podcast [3] is now available to watch and listen to on YouTube, Spotify, and Amazon Music. As law firms face increasing pressure on profitability, retention, and performance, episode 28 sees the return of Simon McCrum [4], who shares practical guidance from his latest book on the behaviours and disciplines that define high impact law firm partners.
In conversation with Amy Bruce, marketing director at Osprey Approach, Simon – author of The Perfect book trilogy and a former managing partner of one of the UK’s fastest-growing law firms – shares insights on what it takes to lead as a modern partner, from building trust and running effective partner meetings, to empowering the next generation of leaders.
The latest podcast includes:
- What’s required of a high impact law firm partner
- How to run partner meetings that deliver results, not derail progress
- The importance of building ‘rails’ for long-term success
- Business development beyond winning new clients
- Empowering the next generation of law firm leaders
Simon explains that although the legal profession prizes technical excellence, the foundation of successful partnership is far more human: – “If I was to give a very short answer… what makes a good partner? The answer is: a good human. That’s the beginning.” He adds that trust is the currency of influence and leadership, built through everyday behaviours such as consistency, fairness, and doing what you say you will do.
A key theme throughout the discussion is the difference between positional authority and real leadership. Simon notes that leadership isn’t guaranteed by a title: – “Leadership can arise on the part of a secretary… a partner… can simply fail to attain leadership.” Instead, he encourages partners to make people feel valued, supported, and stretched, creating a culture where colleagues want to follow.
Another standout topic is Simon’s concept of building “rails” – shared principles that guide decision making across service, profit, culture, and compliance. Unlike rules, rails are co-created, building alignment and momentum across the firm. As Simon puts it, – “Get them to design the rails that we are going to stick on.”
Watch the full interview with Simon McCrum now [4]; you’ll also hear Simon’s exclusive guidance on partner business development, culture change, and the difference between being a boss and being a leader.
Future episodes of the Empowering Law Firm Leaders podcast series will feature more industry experts including Shona Kaye of Laterna Consulting, who shares practical advice on legal tech adoption, Abby Winkworth, Principal Consultant and Ambire Advisory and Chair of the Leadership & management section at The Law Society, and Nusrat Siddique, Associate solicitor at Birketts and member of the Law Society’s junior solicitors network.