A law firm cannot ensure that everyone is happy all the time. Disagreements occur in healthy firms. Most important, however, is that everyone feels that he or she is being treated fairly most of the time. Willingness to Place the Interests of the Firm Ahead of Personal Interests Selfishness and an unwillingness to compromise weakens and ultimately destroys law firms. Individuals must subordinate individual interests and personal aspirations for the good of the whole.
Consensus legitimizes important decisions.
Consensus-building, however, can go too far and paralyze a firm. All decisions do not need unanimous consent or agreement. In too many firms, an individual's willingness to place the good of the firm above more parochial interests is declining. An Understanding of What the Firm is and Where it is Going Lack of direction is a serious weakness in many firms. There must be common goals and aspirations which lawyers and staff understand.