Opening a case is what you trained for in law school, but opening a law firm was never taught. You may be highly skilled in the legal field, but what about marketing skills, managerial skills, administrative skills, HR skills, etc., which are all essential to open and run a successful law firm?
Infrastructure
The first thing you would need to start your solo practice is office space. You will have to be prepared to be able to shell out a good amount of money on infrastructure. You would need to rent out an office, buy furniture, and also invest in staff. However, if you try to work from home or get into the trend of the virtual office, you may be able to save some of the infrastructure cost. Even if you save on office investment, you would still need to spend on computers, printers, business cards, and other software to be able to cater to clients. You could easily save on all these investments if you decide to join a law firm, but the choice is entirely yours.
Sell yourself
It is important for the clients to notice you and hire you. You need to use your marketing skills and sell yourself. It’s as simple as that! Or is it that simple? No. Marketing is in itself a challenge and it requires special skill. You will need a detailed plan, where each and every aspect of your business has been incorporated. You need to identify your business, your clients, and their needs; and you need to serve your clients well. Funds permitting, you may want to hire a marketing expert to help sell your firm to clients.
Marketing tools are in abundance. Based on your budget, you may choose to use them. Some of the essential tools, which give great results include:
Business cards
Brochures
Websites
Mailers
Display Ads
Networking
You may consider doing pro bono legal services, which, along with benefiting the community, will help in getting clients. You will be exposed to other executives in positions to hire you. They may hire you in the future to represent them. Most importantly, though, pro bono work is superior service, which works as the best marketing tool. Quality service delivered on time or before time is sure to get you more clients. Your clients can become your most-trusted referral source.
Keep in touch with clients
Now that you have all your infrastructures in place, you need to focus on the most important element of success: clients. Your clients are your biggest asset. They play a vital role in the success of your firm. The clients need to perceive you and your firm as reliable and dependable. Clients look for attorneys with whom they are able develop a good, working rapport. Your dressing style, your body language, and your mannerisms should all convey positive signals to the clients so that they feel comfortable hiring you. Clients may not always be able to judge the quality of legal service delivered, but they can definitely judge the quality of customer service given to them.
Communication is another great channel to be in touch with your clients. You can generate a list of clients and can communicate with them. You could update them on any new law that may affect their lives, and you could even send them thank you and birthday cards. Other effective means to keep you in circulation include attending seminars, writing articles, taking lectures, public speaking, etc.
Earnings
Joining a firm gives you a possibly limited but assured income every month. Starting your own firm requires you to be prepared for some months or maybe even some years of lean income. You will need to work extremely hard with excellent client service and marketing skills to be able to establish yourself and your firm. Once that is done, then of course there is no looking back.
Conclusion
You may wish to practice law on your own, or you may prefer to join a law firm; both these options, however, have their advantages and disadvantages. It is entirely up to you to decide what you want to do. Starting a solo practice, when you have just finished your school may involve some initial hiccups like investment, infrastructure, building a client base, and most important selling yourself. On the other hand, joining a firm will save you from all these hassles. You will have a ready office, fixed salary, ready clientele, and professional guidance to name just a few. However, you will miss out on being your own boss. If that is important to you, you may not be satisfied working in a firm. A wiser choice would be to work for some years with a firm, gain experience, learn the nitty-gritty of the trade, and then move on to establish your own firm. The choice is completely yours.
Solo vs. Group Practice
Solo Practice
Group Practice
Implement your own philosophies.
Need to follow firm’s philosophies.
Initial investment needed.
Zero investment.
Service can be customized.
Must follow company policies.
Work independently.
Group head dominates.
May be professionally secluded with no quality check.
Team of professionals may provide better insight.
No guarantee of earnings.
Fixed salary.
You may lose focus due to administrative work.
You can remain totally focused on the case.
One person may not be suitable to handle all cases/clients.
Cases can be handled by different team members based on their expertise.
May not be taken seriously.
Firm's name sufficient for clients' comfort level.
It was a great experience using LawCrossing as it is a very well designed site with a userfriendly approach Kevin
Facts
LawCrossing Fact #190: Every single job -- whether from an established corporation or a rapidly expanding startup -- is available to you.
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