Steve has been an executive recruiter for nearly three decades and without naming names, he is ready to spill the tea on best practices (and maybe a few not so best practices) by firms and candidates he has seen during his career placing some of law's most driven and successful professionals into highly profitable and growing enterprises across the legal sector. Steve is a former lawyer and journalist and is a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management and a proud son of Wilkes-Barre PA. Master of Ceremonies for Steve's Rules is Murray Coffey Principal of M Coffey mcoffey.net
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June 5, 202618 min
President Trump's Executive Orders--One Year Later
Send us Fan MailLast year, we discussed what the impact of the executive orders would be on the firms that settled with the government. Now that a year has passed, Steve and his colleague David Ris provide some observations. Among the areas covered:How much turnover has there been at the settling firms, as well as those firms that challenged the government.Why some firms have seen significant departures, while others have not.The impact on associate retention.The impact on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.Contact SteveMcCormick Group
May 14, 202622 min
Deborah Farone on How Women (and Men) Can Build Thriving Law Practices
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I interview Deborah Farone, former Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at both Cravath and Debevoise, on her new book "Breaking Ground: How Successful Women Lawyers Build Thriving Practices." Among the topics:How Deborah is helping marketing professionals and law firms in her current consulting firm, Farone Advisors.The wide scope of her interviews for her book, including women rainmakers across the globe.Why the book is a great primer for everyone looking to expand their practices.Why women often fall victim to the "Imposter Syndrome".How artificial intelligence is revolutionizing law firm marketing and business development.Contact SteveMcCormick Group
April 8, 202620 min
A New Age of Partner Recruiting and Integration--An Interview with Chuck Curtis
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Steve's Rules, Chuck Curtis of CLCurtis31 Consulting and I discuss a myriad of issues relating to partner recruiting and integration. Chuck had a 25-year career working in high-level recruiting positions in law firms such as Pillsbury Winthrop and Latham & Watkins before starting his own consulting firm three years ago. Among the topics covered:The range of consulting services provided by Chuck to law firms, individual partners, and even legal recruiters.Determining early in the recruiting process whether there is a realistic compensation fit.The gap between originations and portability. The continued dominance in partner recruiting at the top 25 firms.Contact SteveMcCormick Group
February 15, 202631 min
Steve's Rules: Interview with Legal Strategist Wendy Bernero
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I am joined by Law Firm Strategist Wendy Bernero, co-founder of Yate Collaborative, and a veteran of senior marketing and business development roles at many premier law firms. We discussed:The background and scope of Yate Collaborative.The evolution of legal marketing and business development over the past 30 years.Advice to legal professionals on how to position themselves for leadership positions in law firms.Our work for the College of Law Practice Management, including our joint editorship of the organization's newsletter, which summarizes major developments pertaining to the practice of law.Contact SteveMcCormick Group
December 7, 2025Episode 1240 min
The Emergence of Practice and Legal Project Management----A Discussion with Susan Lambreth of Law Vision
Send us Fan MailIn the latest episode, I have a wide-ranging discussion with Susan Lambreth of LawVision, who is the nations leading authority on Practice Management in Law Firms. Among the topics we discuss are:What are most firms looking for when they retain her servicesHer various roundtables and what types of professionals are included in each.The importance of her certification programs.The evolution of practice management in the past 20 years.A summary of the various practice management models.Different structures encompassing practice management, legal project management, pricing, and other related disciplines.The emerging trend of Practice Group Directors transitioning to law firm COOs. Contact SteveMcCormick Group
October 1, 2025Episode 1131 min
Interview with Jonathan Greenblatt, Co-Founder of Legal Innovators
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Steve interviews Jonathan Greenblatt, Co-Founder and Chair of Legal Innovators, which is changingthe game when it comes to the recruitment of junior and midlevel talent in the legal industry. Among the topics addressed are:Why the current system of recruiting and training junior associates is flawed;Legal Innovators' process for selecting law graduates;Why the firm's training program is superior to that of most law firms;The firm's record of transitioning its attorneys to full-time employment at client firms;The firm's separate Performance Coaching program;The firm's relatively new track featuring JAG Corps attorneys;How the current disruption affecting government lawyer is impacting Legal InnovatorsContact SteveMcCormick Group
August 5, 2025Episode 1033 min
Law Firm Partner Compensation---An Interview with Tim Corcoran
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Steve's Rules, Steve has a conversation with Tim Corcoran of the Corcoran Consultant Group, a leading consultant on law firm compensation. Among the topics discussed were:The primary issues that are leading firms to retain your services?The most frequent flaws in law firm compensation systemsBalancing the contributions of rainmakers and key subject matter experts.How firms handle compensation of laterals, particularly in situations that those attorneys are not bringing all of their originated business to their new firms.How firms should design bonus programs for lateralsContact SteveMcCormick Group
May 27, 2025Episode 916 min
The Impact of the Trump Administration's Executive Orders on Law Firm Recruiting
Send us Fan MailThe Trump Administration’s executive orders aimed at various law firms has resulted in the most significant issue that the country’s leading law firms have faced in recent memory. Some pundits in the mainstream media have even predicted the demise of the firms that settled with the Administration. In this episode of Steve’s Rules, Steve and his McCormick Group colleague Dave Ris provide some insights on the impact of these orders and the law firm responses, with a particular focus on lateral partner hiring. SubscribeKey topics covered in this episode:Immediate impact on law school, associate and partner recruiting.Which litigators might be affectedHow corporate clients might reactImpact on the DC offices of the Wall Street and other elite firms that have settledPossible chasm between “transactional” and “litigation” firmsHow this may impact Government Relations practices in DC*Discussed in the podcast is Microsoft’s decision to drop one of the settling firms in shareholder litigation in Delaware. https://www.reuters.com/business/microsoft-swaps-law-firms-shareholder-case-hiring-trump-adversary-2025-05-01/*In the conclusion, Steve attributed a Bette Davis quote to the movie “It Happened One Night.” In reality, it was from “All About Eve.” Contact SteveMcCormick Group
February 6, 2025Episode 824 min
Under the Trump Administration the Legal Landscape is Shifting—But So Are Your Opportunities
Send us Fan MailWhile the current environment is chaotic, savvy government attorneys, particularly those with administrative law experience, may find this the perfect time to make a lateral move into law firm practice. In this episode of Steve’s Rules, we take a deep dive into the legal market implications of the new Trump administration—particularly the regulatory shifts, enforcement priorities, and job market changes that will impact law firms and lawyers. From antitrust enforcement and white-collar crime investigations to the rise of administrative law battles and state-level regulations, we break down how law firms and legal professionals can navigate this evolving landscape.We also touch on an important new resource: Steve and his team at The McCormick Group are launching a Legal Management Transitions Tracker, a monthly trend report on key Director and C-level hires and promotions in the legal sector. If you are a law firm leader or legal recruiter, this is a must-have resource for staying ahead. Subscribe.Key Topics Covered in This Episode:How the Trump administration’s regulatory approach is reshaping law firm opportunitiesWhy antitrust enforcement is shifting—but not disappearing The evolving role of white-collar investigations and corporate oversight How administrative law is becoming a critical battleground*The rise of state-level legal battles amid federal deregulation Essential career strategies for government attorneys moving into private practice The importance of building a digital presence for job seekers and legal professionalsAnd make sure you listen long enough the hear some spot on observational humor from Steve wearing his stand up comic hat. * In our discussion of the impact on administrative law related to "Chevron" we were referring to Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 603 U.S. 369 (2024). In this landmark decision, the Court overruled the Chevron doctrine, which had previously mandated judicial deference to federal agencies' interpretations of ambiguous statutes. The Court held that such deference was incompatible with the judiciary's duty to interpret the law.Contact SteveMcCormick Group
November 20, 2024Episode 756 min
Steve and Murray go deep with American Lawyer's Patrick Fuller
Send us Fan MailGet ready to uncover the dynamic shifts in the legal landscape with our esteemed guest, Patrick Fuller, Chief Strategist for American Lawyer Media. First, we discussed the ripple effects of recent elections on antitrust, international trade, and white-collar investigations, and even in mergers and acquisitions. Then Patrick provides a deep dive into the data that is being produced by ALM regarding law firm profitability and growth, dispelling some misconceptions about what are the signs of law firm health.Here are some of the highlights:PPL Over PPEP Patrick breaks down why Profit Per Lawyer (PPL) is a better indicator of a firm’s financial health than the traditional Profit Per Equity Partner (PPEP). It’s not just about the big numbers—tracking PPL alongside headcount and inflation gives a more realistic picture of growth and success.A New Wave of Legal Leadership With younger leaders stepping into corporate legal roles, expectations are changing. Law firms need to adjust how they build relationships and deliver services to keep up with these fresh perspectives.Succession Planning is a Must Planning for leadership transitions and addressing underperformance in senior partners is something many firms are still figuring out. Patrick and the team dig into why this is such a critical—and often overlooked—area for long-term success.The Buzz Around Lateral Hiring Steve shares insights on the hot topic of lateral hires, especially from government roles. He explains why it’s important to look beyond just the skills on paper and think about whether these hires are ready to rebuild their client relationships.Making Clients Stickier The group talks about how firms are focusing on institutionalizing client relationships. It’s all about making clients feel connected to the firm, not just an individual partner, to reduce risk and improve stability.This episode is packed with practical insights and real-world examples for senior law firm leaders looking to stay ahead in a fast-changing market. A big thanks to Pat Fuller for joining us and sharing his knowledge. Contact SteveMcCormick Group
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