Running a small law firm is a lot to handle. From acquiring new clients to maintaining client satisfaction, there are many aspects of managing a firm that can be overwhelming.
Fortunately, there are tools and strategies to streamline firm processes, optimize team performance, and exceed client expectations. Here are six tips to help you manage a small law firm successfully.
1. Get Organized
Running a law firm is no easy task. From acquiring new clients to handling existing cases, it’s a lot to juggle without the resources and team size of Big Law.
Setting firm-wide goals and providing training opportunities are key to building a culture of efficiency that can drive growth. Streamlining processes and automating repetitive tasks can also help your firm improve its overall workflow.
Additionally, investing in client service can lead to more referrals and a stronger business reputation. Implementing a client relationship management software will also enhance your firm’s ability to organize and prioritize data in ways that will boost productivity and increase ROI.
2. Hire the Right People
When running a small law firm, the right people can make or break your success. It’s important to find the right team members who are not only capable but also invested in making a great impression on legal clients.
One of the best ways to do this is by using standardized interview processes and eliminating bias in job descriptions. Another is by encouraging team communication policies that fuel workplace camaraderie.
Effective marketing also plays a huge role when managing a small law firm. It helps to bring in ideal clients so your intake specialist doesn’t have to spend as much time disqualifying undesirable cases.
3. Delegate
Law firms can save a significant amount of time when they automate many of their workflows. This allows them to work with freelance lawyers who are highly skilled at the legal services they offer and enables their staff to focus on more important client-facing activities.
It is difficult to grow your small law firm without the right systems and automation in place. A recent trends report found that law firms using workflow productivity tools like legal CRM reporting collect 40% more revenue than those that don’t.
From when a potential client first calls to enter their contact information, to sending them reminders to schedule a consultation, these tasks can be time-consuming when completed manually. Client intake software puts these processes on autopilot, and lets your team focus on the client experience instead of administrative work.
4. Offer Alternative Payment Plans
When it comes to managing a small law firm, the best way to keep your clients happy is by giving them the legal solutions they need at a price they can afford. Oftentimes, small law firms will try to compete with larger firm rates by offering discounts. However, this can backfire and condition your clients to always expect a discount.
When training new hires, be sure to communicate why they need to learn the information and how it will impact their work. This will help them buy-in and understand how they can make the process better. Using software solutions that provide robust integration capabilities like Smokeball can make this easy.
5. Invest in Technology
Streamlining and automating your firm’s workflows and processes can save you time and money. It also enables your team to spend more time serving clients and less time on administrative tasks.
It’s vital to have a clear budget for your law firm that includes both costs and revenue streams. This helps ensure profitability and provides a foundation for future growth.
Effective law firm management requires that the whole team works together to meet goals and achieve client and business growth. This can only happen with strong communication and team training. Try SweetProcess’ free legal automation software today to get started. No credit card required.
6. Get Creative
In order to be successful, small law firms need a clear set of core values that everyone in the firm understands and works toward. They also need to provide an exceptional client experience, modernize processes with technology, and have a strong digital marketing strategy.
In addition, efficiency is key to success. This means streamlining processes like document management, scheduling, and client communications. This will give you more time to focus on quality work and revenue generating activities.
Finally, getting creative with your marketing can make a big difference. For example, using virtual receptionists can be a great way to screen leads and qualify them before passing them on to you or your attorneys.
