By Legal Futures Associate Osprey Approach
Amy Bruce, marketing director at Osprey Approach, joined Emma Waddingham, editor at Legal News Wales, as a guest on the Legal Sector Resilience podcast. The conversation wasn’t about the latest tech trends or buzzwords: it focused on the practicalities of how to build a resilient law firm that will stand the test of time.
As host of Osprey Approach’s Empowering Law Firm Leaders podcast, Amy has spent the past 18 months speaking to managing partners, consultants and industry experts. She has encouraged them to share the habits, mindsets and strategies that help firms not only to cope with change but to turn it into an opportunity for growth.
Why resilience starts with a mindset shift
One of the strongest messages from Amy’s conversation with Emma was that resilience doesn’t begin with technology – it begins with clarity. Before investing in new systems or launching transformation projects, firms need to ask:
- What are we trying to achieve?
- Where do we want to go?
- Do we have the right people and resources in place?
Amy explained: – “Preparation and research is the only way to start a successful project before you even begin to look at tech.”
This mindset ensures that change is strategic, not reactive. It also highlights a truth that many firms overlook: technology is only as effective as the people using it. Without buy-in and clear objectives, even the best systems won’t deliver results.
The common challenges law firms face
Across over 20 episodes of Empowering Law Firm Leaders, Amy has heard the same obstacles repeated time and again. Time and resource are the biggest blockers to any innovation project. Whether it’s implementing new technology or improving processes, firms often struggle to prioritise change because day-to-day demands take over.
“Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to this,” Amy noted. “Time and resource are the biggest blockers to any change, any innovation project, any tech project that law firms want to implement.”
This reality makes resilience even more critical. Firms that can carve out space for strategic thinking – and empower their teams to lead change – are the ones that will thrive.
Three lessons every leader should hear
After speaking to dozens of experts, Amy has gleaned three universal truths:
- You’re not alone – Every firm faces similar challenges, from resource constraints to cultural hurdles. Recognising this helps leaders seek support and share solutions.
- Vulnerability builds trust – Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. Admitting what you don’t know and inviting collaboration fosters stronger teams and prevents burnout.
- Strength in numbers – Resilience grows when leaders embrace collective expertise, whether through internal champions or external consultants.
These lessons might sound simple, but they’re often the hardest to put into practice. Many leaders feel pressure to appear infallible, yet lessons learnt from many law firm leaders show that openness and collaboration are the real drivers of progress.
Insights from the experts
Amy shared some standout lessons from her podcast guests – practical advice that law firm leaders can act on today:
- Shaun Jardine – Shaun’s book on value-based pricing doubles as a blueprint for change. One standout idea? Create a pioneer group to champion new initiatives across the firm. As Amy noted, “Your IT manager isn’t going to influence all of the lawyers on the ground, but their peers might.”
- Peter Ambrose – Peter advocates for a “fail fast” mindset. Coming from a tech background, Peter believes in experimenting quickly, learning, and moving on. His approach shows why agility is critical for law firms.
- Matt Dixon – Matt highlights curiosity as the secret to effective business development. The best rainmakers aren’t those with all the answers – they’re the ones asking great questions and connecting generously. Amy highlighted that “Curiosity is key to effective sales.”
- Robert Flint – A simple but powerful tip from Robert: always thank your referrers. Gratitude goes a long way in building lasting relationships.
- Kate Burt – Kate shows how calculated risk-taking, supported by strong foundations and the right tech, drives growth. Her approach blends entrepreneurial spirit with compliance expertise.
- Lindsay Kidd – At HM3 Legal, Lindsay proves that investing in culture and wellbeing pays dividends. Her mantra? “If you’re not failing, you’re not trying hard enough.”
- Simon McCrum – His mantra – people, purpose, profit – reminds us that financial health and strong leadership go hand in hand. Simon’s practical advice on cashflow and profitability is essential reading for any law firm leader.
Why this matters now
The pace of change in the legal sector isn’t slowing down. Firms that stand still risk falling behind. Those that embrace resilience – through mindset, people, and practical change – will lead the way.
As Emma Waddingham observed during the conversation, many leaders know they need to adapt but struggle to find the time and space to do so.
Listen to the Amy’s conversation with Emma here: Legal Sector Resilience Podcast: Lessons from law firm leaders – Legal News. The entire series of Osprey’s Empowering Law Firm Leaders podcasts is available here
Leave a Comment