Law is a dynamic and specific field. It requires a certain kind of person and a particular organization. Every law firm is different, but there are things that every law business should have. From the type of law that is being practiced to the size, each law firm should include a few things. Each law firm has its own set of requirements, lawyers, and bureaucratic process. Yet, they are more similar than one would think. Below are a few details that every law firm should consider.
A Niche Firm
One of the most important things about a law firm is that it comes with a unique perspective. Specializing in a niche form of the law is a great idea. You can start by practicing a certain kind of law—criminal, civil, business, family, environmental, whatever is your passion—and specialize as you go along. Even if you are interested in something specific already, it’s possible to develop a deeper niche in the business. Whether you defend corporations or fight for environmental law, find a niche that is both lucrative and satisfies your passions.
Savvy Lawyers
Not only do you need professional lawyers who know the law and what they are doing, you also want them to be skilled and aware of your specific niche. If you are working in an area that requires some passion to motivate the lawyers and not just money, you should be careful who you bring in on your law firm. Every law firm needs savvy lawyers who know how to navigate a particular field of law and the specifics of the cases that your business is taking on.
They should be aware of the dynamics and nuances of your firm’s perspective and goals. How do you make the most of your money? What part of the law firm is a passion project? How can the lawyers grow to synthesize both the pursuit of larger pay and the goals of the law firm? A lot of law businesses put money first, but if you have a cause you are tackling, the lawyers will need to understand the goals of your firm.
A Great Administrative Team
Another thing every law firm needs is an amazing administrative team. From the people who answer the phones to scheduling and cold-callers, everyone who is involved in your administration should be well-trained and experienced.
A law firm answering service is a way to outsource some of the more tedious phone jobs while the rest of your admin staff can focus on more important matters, calls, and tasks. When the incoming phone calls coming in are handled, rerouted to the person the caller needs to talk to, and performed by another company, you will be able to eliminate some of the nonsense that comes with answering random phone calls.
Freeing up your administrative task, your employees can focus more on calling clients whose cases you are already working on, cold-calling necessary people, making schedules and appointments, and keeping the wheels of the law firm turning. The people who work at your law firm who aren’t lawyers are incredibly important as well. When someone is there to do the logistical work, keep the coffee fresh, and interact with clients, you will be a lot better off.
Amenities
People in law tend to work long hours. One thing that every law firm should have is adequate amenities. For most people coffee will come first. A coffee maker, cream, sugar, and cups are vital to any law firm. Snacks should be made available to. A place to cook food, a microwave, and other kitchen appliances should be invested in.
When you want your employees to work long hours focused on specific things, creating an environment where they can eat, drink coffee, and do what’s comfortable for them is a huge benefit. Depending on the law firm and the employee, you can even allow music in their offices. You can even plan dinners and celebrations with the staff.
Teamwork Building Events
Law firms are complex, but it is always a good idea to plan teamwork-building events and other outings to encourage better synergy between employees. Of course, whenever you make an effort to get to know each other and relate on a level outside of the workplace, human resources should be involved.
But if you can walk this tight rope and create an atmosphere that is welcoming to different types of people and personalities, you will be able to build your team more effectively. You will know more quickly who doesn’t mesh with the company culture and who will thrive at the law firm. You don’t need to be best friends, but you can certainly get to know your team and allow them to get to know each other. When people empathize, they are better colleagues and workers.
A Sleek, High-End Website
Let’s be straight—the services of a law firm aren’t cheap. No one wants to pay a bunch of money to lawyers who don’t have a good website. You should take the time, make the effort, and invest the money into a high-quality law firm website design. The site should be intuitive, easy to use, and informative. It should provide necessary information about what the law firm does and how it could benefit the prospective client. It should be easy to contact the firm and get in touch with the right people. You want the website to grab attention and look great. If your services are expensive, put some of that money back into the website. It’s an investment that will make a difference.
Of course every firm, lawyer, business, and type of law has its own advantages and drawbacks. Still, creating the optimal environment for success is relatively the same for everyone in the field. Make sure you have the things that every law firm should have and you will be able to create a cohesive, dedicated, and savvy team of lawyers and administrators.
