How to Set up a Law Office

While many solos have moved towards virtual desktops or office communities, it`s still important to have your own dedicated physical office space for a variety of reasons. On the one hand, you need a professional environment where you can meet customers and run your business. In addition, it is necessary to have a physical location with a unique address or suite number to rank organically well in search engine results (and virtual desktops or desktop communities don`t work) – a reason many lawyers don`t consider. Lawyers who build client-centric businesses recognize the importance of documented systems and procedures. You`ll streamline your work, create a better customer experience, reduce errors, delegate work more easily, manage your team better, and create a business that is easier to scale and eventually sell. Forward-thinking lawyers stay ahead of their office management needs by focusing on a few key principles: When you buy office supplies, you`re only buying what you need. We were all excited about a new space and bought fancy chairs, expensive espresso machines, art and so on. Buying a cool office décor can be a huge distraction from working on your actual business plan. Don`t fall for it! My boss walked into the office around 11:00 a.m. and appeared angrily at my door: “I can`t believe you made that argument in this urgent motion.

What were you thinking?! Review it! Office management seems stifling, but it`s so important to be right at first. Dig deeper into key areas to streamline your office management and set your business up for success. The office comes next. We know lawyers who started with a desk, a computer and a few boxes. Whatever you start, do it. Don`t waste too much time finding the perfect office space before you start. You can get into buying furniture, technology and accessories very quickly – and you`ll soon find yourself drowned in trifles and above your heads. In your offices, you will need a computer, backup drive, document scanner, printer, and phone. If you`re not sure which basic material is best for your solo or small law firm, check out our Legal Technology Buyer`s Guide. Try to curb the urge to make your office look expensive.

If you have clear, customer-centric services and a human touch, your customers won`t care about how your office looks. When you end up buying or renting a space, think mostly about your office neighbors, as they can become a PRS: potential source of reference. Because when you run your own business, everyone is a PRS. You`re in charge now, and every dollar adds up faster than you think (especially if you`ve just invested in that awesome new laptop!). One of the biggest potential expenses is office space. Determine what type of location works best for you and your customers: Do you need office space in a central location or will your home office work? While staffing may be the furthest from your head, the second you think about expanding your business (independent contractors, part-time employees, accountants, office managers), you need to consider your values and how you treat those who join you. That means a fun part of starting your solo business is, of course, naming it. But before you imitate these big, well-known companies around you, be careful.

There are rules for the names of law firms. If you want to call your firm Smith Law Offices – note the plural “offices” – but you only have one office, this could get you in trouble. It can also go without saying, but you can`t be Smith and Johnson, LLP if there`s no Johnson. Also, remember that it`s never too early to network. If you plan to start your solo practice in six months, let people know about your plans now. Then, remind them closer to your official start date. You need help growing your law firm, whether from colleagues and mentors, or dedicated help in creating scalable processes. Your first question: Are you ready to own and run a business? Really and really? The first step in any marketing strategy is to ask yourself what an ideal customer looks like, where those ideal customers are currently looking for solutions, and what types of messages resonate with them. Once these questions are answered, you can begin to develop a focused and easily customizable strategy based on measured results that you can compare to your law firm`s KPIs. The practice of law is a business and a profession. To successfully start your own law firm, you must accept to see it as both. Plan for business expenses such as licensing, legal training, conferences and events, malpractice insurance, and memberships.

Obtaining a driver`s license and legal education are not optional. You will also need different types of insurance. There may be times when a lawyer has to close a law practice, for example when they are sick or want to retire. To help lawyers start their own practice successfully, Clio has created the industry`s most comprehensive guide to starting a law firm. Filled with advice from legal experts and founding partners, Clio`s guide to starting a law firm gives you everything you need to do your firm right. • Credit card: Law firms often have cash flow problems (especially new businesses); Therefore, it is essential to have a business credit card. Many lawyers also like to use their corporate credit cards as their primary payment method to earn points or get higher status with various rewards programs. Regardless of your area of expertise, some publications are useful as essential parts of your personal legal library.

But where do you start building your law firm`s library? Save yourself the time you need and start the process today with this article, which covers the top publications by field. Creating a website for your business, creating social media profiles, and listing online directories will help potential customers find you online. Legal software and online services will be the tools you will use most frequently in your daily practice. You need a wide range for optimal productivity, including: Tip: If you want to know how your business will perform, check out our Small Business Scorecard. Maybe you, too, are a lawyer with a jerky boss. Or you are underpaid and/or overworked. Or you practice in an anesthetic area of law.