An impressive group of next-generation administrators is taking charge in law firms today. Firms are seeking professional management to not only keep the trains running on time, but to help engineer a better train. What role should an administrator play in your firm? What qualifications and competencies are important for success? Here are strategies for identifying the ideal hire for you.

From office managers to top business officers, Law Practice’s “Trends” columnist reports on one of the biggest developments in the legal profession: the rise of the professional firm administrator.

Once you realize it’s time to hire a full-time administrator, tough decisions are ahead. Here, the managing partner of a midsize firm discusses the crucial decision to either promote from within or seek help from outside the firm.

A managing partner prepares to welcome his firm’s first administrator and wonders what to do now to position her for success—and what potholes to avoid. Will his partners support her? Are the goals she’s being given realistic? Sharing the administrator’s perspective are law firm executives Russ Balcome, Cynthia Bauer, John Cummens, Robert Lalley and Paula Torke.

These days professional development directors do much more than track CLE credits or hold first-years’ hands through orientation. Officers from Fulbright & Jaworski; O’Melveny & Myers; Proskauer Rose; Stroock & Stroock & Lavan; and Theodora Oringher Miller & Richman explain how their firms are taking lawyer training to the next level.

Fresh from ABA TECHSHOW® 2008, highlights from the perennially popular 60 Sites in 60 Minutes session.