How it works
One week in Wemble.
Associates show how busy they are, now and in the weeks ahead. Partners see it next to each lawyer’s experience and decide whom to call. One week at Demo Firm LLP, step by step.
- Monday, 9:05 Associate
Associates report their workload.
An associate opens Wemble in Teams, Outlook, the iPhone app, the browser or TIQ Time. One click sets the level, from Available to Seriously busy, with Away for absences; there is no middle level, so each choice means something. A short note adds context.
- Monday, 9:06 Associate
Plan the weeks ahead.
A closing, a trial or a vacation is known in advance, so the associate sets it now: the rest of the week, next week or any dates. Absences come from the firm’s HR system where one is connected.
- Every night Wemble
Tomorrow’s plan becomes today’s status.
Overnight, each person’s plan for the coming day becomes their status, so a week planned on Monday is still right on Thursday. The calendar shows the whole group’s plans side by side.
- When updates slip Wemble
A reminder only when the habit slips.
People who keep their status current are never reminded. When updates slip, Wemble reminds them in Teams, on the iPhone or by email, and the firm chooses which. The email has one button per level: one click updates the status, without signing in.
- Wednesday, 2:00 pm Partner
Your team at a glance.
A new matter comes in. The partner opens the practice group: for each person, how busy they are, their note, their next planned change and how old the status is. Filters narrow it by group, office, title or competency.
- Wednesday, 2:05 pm Partner
Who has done this before.
With the time-recording system connected, such as Elite 3E, time entries become hours by client, work type, industry and practice area over three months, a year or all time. The partner filters by the work at hand; a star marks what a lawyer wants more of.
- Wednesday, 2:15 pm Partner
The partner makes the call.
The partner chooses and contacts the person directly. Wemble does not assign work. The associate who reported room on Monday gets the matter; that is what updating is for.
- Friday Leadership
Workload across the firm, over time.
Statistics show average workload over time for the firm or any group, how time divides across the four levels, and who has been at capacity, or had room, more than 80 percent of the time. An Excel export and an API carry the same data to the firm’s own reporting.
What associates gain from updating.
Wemble asks associates for one click when their week changes. The habit lasts only if it works in their favor too.
The work you want
Star the clients, work types or industries you want more of. Partners see the star next to your hours when they search for that experience.
Room to say you are full
“Seriously busy” on your card tells partners to look elsewhere before they ask. Add a note, such as “In court all week”, and the reason travels with it.
Fewer calls about availability
Partners can see your week, and the weeks you have planned ahead, before they reach out. You answer the question once, in one click.
Rollout plan
The first 30 days.
A typical start is one or two practice groups. The partners in that group matter more than any setting.
- Before day one
Setup
IT approves Wemble in Microsoft 365 and pins the Teams app for the group. Accounts are created when people first sign in with Microsoft.
- Day one
A short introduction
The practice group leader introduces Wemble at a regular team meeting and asks everyone to set their status and next week. It takes a few minutes.
- Week one
Partners go first
Partners check Wemble before they call around, and go first to the people who marked themselves available. That shows associates that updating is worth it.
- Weeks two to four
Reminders follow up
Reminders reach anyone who has not updated, and the practice group leader can see whose status is getting old.
- Day 30
Review
One test: nearly everyone has updated in the last week without a reminder. If so, decide whether to add more practice groups.
The same week, at your firm.
In a demo we walk through this week with the demo firm, then look at what it would mean for one of your practice groups.