The Inner Spark: Leading People in Law
Why do so many law firms struggle to keep talented people engaged, and why do traditional leadership approaches so often fall short?
The Inner Spark argues that the missing piece is intrinsic motivation: the sense of meaning, autonomy, and purpose that makes people want to do their best work. Drawing on UK evidence and case studies from law firms, Michelle Howard makes the business case for engagement and shows leaders how to build it into daily practice.
From fee earners to business support teams, this is a practical guide to helping every role matter, strengthening professional standards, and creating a firm where people and performance thrive together.
Coming in 2027.
Chapter listing
Chapter 1: Employee engagement in law firms
Chapter 2: Why traditional leadership approaches let law firms down
Chapter 3: Intrinsic motivation – the missing piece
Chapter 4: The economics of engagement
Chapter 5: The people behind the law firm brand
Chapter 6: Making work meaningful, the leader’s daily practice
Chapter 7: Elevating professional standards in law
Chapter 8: Every role matters – unlocking the potential of business support teams
Chapter 9: Better Together
Chapter 10: Freedom to practice
Chapter 11: Driving sustained employee engagement
Conclusion