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How to Keep the Attorney Office Neat and Tidy

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published February 01, 2013

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

An attorney's personal office, especially the desk, can have a positive or negative impact on a client. Orderliness is important and projects a favorable image. A desk cluttered with files, periodicals, and other papers can cause clients to believe that the attorney can never find anything, handles confidential matters poorly, and wastes time in responding to inquiries.

Jan frequently encouraged clients to visit her office to conduct business or discuss issues. As a sole practitioner, she generally found it easier to work there, where she could access files and random information in her library. She also did not like to visit clients' offices because of the time she had to spend packing and unpacking her briefcase. She never was sure which file to bring, and ultimately, she ended up taking everything. Also, it was implicit that client visits to her office were billable time.

Clients visiting Jan couldn't help but notice all the files, periodicals, and other papers on her desk and office tables, and some wondered how she ever found anything. Most had noticed that if they called her unexpectedly with a specific question regarding a particular matter, she would almost always have to return their call. Sometimes that return call didn't take place for up to an hour. After seeing her office, they realized it probably took Jan that long to locate the appropriate files.

Another concern for many of Jan's clients was that some of the paperwork on her desk lay perilously close to the guest chairs. A guest in Jan's office might easily glance over the papers and learn the nature of the business. Clients wondered if their confidential matters were really being held confidential. Most of Jan's clients chose to continue utilizing Jan and accepted her disorganization as a "necessary evil"; they felt she was a good attorney and genuinely liked her. But two of Jan's major clients ended up hiring another lawyer because of their discomfort with her state of disorganization.

Jan lamented to her secretary after losing the two clients that she did not know what the problem was. They had told her they wanted an attorney who was more "on top of things," with a quicker response time to questions. Jan's secretary told her candidly that she needed to present a better office image. The secretary knew this was a problem for Jan because the clients had made off- the-cuff comments to her on their way out of the office.

Marking three days off her schedule the next week, rearranging appointments, and completing work ahead of time, Jan set out to organize. She and her secretary purchased new file cabinets and file folders and began to file client business forms, periodicals, newspapers clippings, and all the other loose papers. Jan also organized her computer files, backing up outdated files onto floppy disk for storage and keeping only current, relevant files on her hard disk.

Visiting clients noticed the difference immediately and complimented Jan on the change. She invited her two former clients back to her office to display the improvement and to ask them to consider her for future work. Although the former clients made no promises for the future, they were clearly impressed with Jan's resolve to improve her office.

The Attorney's Office

Orderliness comes more easily for some attorneys than others, but for any one, keeping an office organized is easier than trying to bring order out of chaos. Clients expect attorneys to work efficiently when the time clock is running, and they certainly expect confidentiality.
United States

Response time to unexpected questions is a key issue for lawyers. Some clients do not understand the importance of research and expect their attorneys automatically to know many of the answers to their questions. For an attorney to say to a client, "I need to finish something, but I will call you back within ten minutes," is acceptable to a client. That gives the attorney the time to access necessary files, peruse the information, and make some general recommendations, either for further research or abandonment of the issue.

For an attorney to be asked the same question and tell the client, "I will call you back as soon as possible," and telephone with a response hours later is unacceptable. Clients will understand if the attorney is in a meeting and must wait to return a call, but a meeting is never an excuse for poor organization. Orderliness helps staff to work more efficiently and effectively. Imagine the litigator, calling his office during a court break to ask an important question and the secretary being unable to find the answer because she cannot, in the given time frame, locate the correct file! The attorney's secretary should always have easy access to all office information for the benefit of the attorney and the ultimate benefit of the client.

Style

The attorney's particular style in terms of his or her office should meet that attorney's desired image and client expectations.

The archetypical formal office gives a closed impression through the traditional furniture placement. The desk, which tends to be large, relative to the space available, is placed to serve as a barrier between the lawyer and the visitor. Further, visitor seating is usually limited with only two upright or wingback chairs, relatively close together and close to the desk. Usually there is no end table or other place for the visitor to put coffee or papers. Consequently, only a small space on the desk, at best, is available for the visitor. This office is a power statement; it is domineering for the attorney and belittling for the client.

Another option, the reverse of the formal office style, is an informal style. This is possible even in the smallest of office spaces and often makes visitors feel more equal to the attorney than the formal style. The most notable feature is that there is nothing of substance between the visitor and the lawyer, most especially the desk. The desk might be against a wall, or in a large office, off to the side of the room. Attorney and visitor meet in facing chairs, possibly at a shared table or with an occasional table between them. There is ample space for files, coffee mugs, and other relevant paperwork for both.

The informal style works well if the attorney is comfortable in a casual setting with clients and visitors. It requires a higher level of self-esteem than the formal arrangement, since the attorney really is on an equal level with his or her visitor. There are times, though, when the formal style is more appropriate for the office. Some clients might expect a formal arrangement and be uncomfortable in anything but that. It would be up to the attorney in that case to make the client comfortable in the less casual setting or opt for more formality.

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

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This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

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He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

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A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

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For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.
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