3 Types of Law Firm Meetings Every Growing Firm Needs (And How to Run Them Well)
Most law firm meetings fall into one of two categories:
Unnecessary and aimless
Nonexistent because everyone’s “too busy”
Both are a problem.
Meetings are where leadership happens. But only if they’re structured, consistent, and tied to outcomes and accountability.
Here are the 3 types of meetings every growing law firm needs — and how to run them like a pro.
1. The Weekly Tactical Meeting
Purpose: Keep the team aligned on priorities and progress.
Attendees: Partners, managers, or department heads.
What to cover:
Wins from the week
Roadblocks
KPI snapshots
Progress on key initiatives
Open issues or resource needs
What NOT to cover:
Every random client detail. This is not a status dump.
COO Tip: Same day/time each week. Same agenda. Start and end on time. Use a scorecard or dashboard to track key metrics.
2. The Monthly 1:1 Check-In
Purpose: Coach, support, and hold individuals accountable.
Attendees: Manager + direct report.
What to cover:
Personal and professional wins
Progress on goals
Feedback (both ways)
Training or support needs
Alignment to KPIs
Why it matters: People want clarity and feedback. Without 1:1s, your team is guessing — and disengaging.
COO Tip: Don’t cancel these. Protect them. They’re culture-builders (or culture-destroyers if you flake out on them) and retention tools.
3. The Quarterly Strategic Meeting
Purpose: Zoom out, assess the big picture, and align on priorities. Work ON the business, instead of just IN it.
Attendees: Leadership team or partners.
What to cover:
What worked last quarter
What didn’t
Financial review
People updates (hiring, performance)
Big picture: where are we headed?
Next quarter’s top 3–5 firm-wide priorities
Ownership + timeline for each priority
COO Tip: Don’t overstuff the plan. Fewer, more focused goals = more results.
Why This All Falls Apart Without a COO
Law firm owners mean well — but they’re in the weeds.
Builds the cadence
Creates the agendas
Tracks KPIs
Follows up on action items and holds the team accountable
Keeps meetings from becoming “just talk”
If your meetings feel like a waste — or don’t happen at all — let’s fix that. ING Collaborations can build the leadership rhythms that keep your firm on track.