Leave A Buck In The Bowl On The Way Out

Christopher has written a thoughtful post about law firms as law schools (yes, the learning does continue - in theory) and where knowledge management systems fit into the equation. He observes that a large investment walks out the door when an attorney leaves. This is true whether the person is let go or decides to seek greener pastures (attrition is incredibly high in this profession). As our firm and its technology grows, I find myself considering the flip side: technology harvests a great deal of knowledge from us as we work. As anyone who has changed jobs can tell you, it is not all that easy to take it with you when you go, and even then, you're simply copying information that will stay behind in your absence.