ABSTRACT
There is nothing really new in client management, other than that it is more important now than ever before. What is new about client management is that it should be a managed and consistent process and that it can be learned and that it should involve everyone in the firm. The old style general practitioner who looked after all the legal affairs of a client and his business is not very different in some respects to the modern client manager. It has been recognised that a solicitor can no longer be an expert in all branches of the law and it was this relentless drive to specialisms which caused so much harm to the traditional solicitor/client relationship. Client management does recognise that clients should have one main point of contact, that specialist work is done by the specialist but that the overall product and service supply to the client is co-ordinated by the client partner. The difference and the opportunity is that with client management we are able to more actively manage and develop our relationship with our clients.
