Gordon Fischer highlights on May 1 the importance of succession planning for lawyers, drawing parallels with best practices in nonprofit governance.
Fischer argues that succession planning is often postponed by legal professionals, but doing so can create risks for clients and disrupt legal practices. He says that nonprofit organizations handle transitions more effectively when they plan ahead, and lawyers can benefit from adopting similar strategies.
He explains that succession planning should be seen as a continuity issue rather than just a retirement concern. Unexpected events such as illness or emergencies can interrupt practice at any time. Fischer references Iowa Court Rule 39.18, which requires private practice lawyers to designate representatives and maintain client lists, but notes this is only a starting point for effective continuity planning.
Documentation of institutional knowledge is also emphasized. Fischer writes that successful nonprofits avoid relying on single individuals to hold all critical information by developing written policies and systems. He urges law firms to do the same: “Succession planning requires converting private knowledge into usable systems.” Governance structures are another key lesson; without clear authority defined in writing, even willing successors may struggle to manage transitions effectively.
The article outlines additional lessons learned from nonprofits: acting proactively before crises arise and viewing succession as an act of stewardship for clients and communities. According to the official website, the Iowa Bar Association supports its members in serving clients, the community, and the judicial system while promoting professional growth. The association serves over 6,500 lawyers and judges licensed in Iowa through resources aimed at enhancing practice and advancing justice across the state according to its official website. The organization promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, honors excellence through awards for contributions to public service according to its official website, utilizes headquarters in Des Moines for operations according to its official website, and is governed by a board of 47 members elected from judicial districts according to its official website.
Fischer concludes that thoughtful succession plans help protect both practitioners’ legacies and their communities: “Succession planning is more than self-protection. It is part of responsible professional stewardship.”