In the television show, Undercover Boss, executives disguise themselves and go undercover within their companies or organizations. The “boss” poses as a trainee in different positions and at different locations within the company, speaks with employees who are on the front lines performing the daily work of the company, and gets to experience what they experience on a daily basis.

At the end of each episode, the executive reveals him or herself to the employees, often providing bonuses or other perks to outstanding workers or those who have been involved in personal struggles, and also revealing changes made or planned in the company as a result of the experience.

In each of the episodes, the executive learns valuable lessons about the daily obstacles encountered by employees and the ways the company could better support them. Many of the employees the executive encounters during this journey have valuable ideas and suggestions to make things better at the company, whether it is improving infrastructure, procedures, equipment, working conditions, etc. Other times, the boss encounters unhelpful or difficult employees who make the work harder for those around them, compromise the company’s culture or reputation, or cause other problems. Either way, the boss gains valuable insights from their experience and found that getting to know their employees better reaped rewards for the company.

While it might not be possible or practical for law firm leaders to undertake an undercover mission within their firms, there are ways law firms can use the concept and lessons of Undercover Boss to improve their law firms.