Tips For Young Lawyers

Are you Ready to Start Your Own Law Firm?
By: Sonia M. Gallagher, Esq.

Are you tired of working for someone else? Have you realized that partnership is not the path you want to take? Are you ready to step out on your own? Was that choice made for you by forces beyond your control?
Many attorneys are finding themselves in that position now more than ever. A lot of them are working for a Firm that has laid off people already and are still cutting the fat. Others are simply tired of working for someone else and want to feel the fulfillment of being their own boss.

If you fall into either of these categories and are ready to take the steps necessary to establish a successful law firm, there are specific things you need to be aware of. These are the key elements that separate the successful law firms from the short-lived ones. They are also the things that will give you the most fulfillment AND profit in the long run.

We all know that having passed the bar does not guarantee clients. The fact that you passed the bar merely enables you to practice law in your State. That’s it. It’s the foundation for establishing your legal practice. Yet, it takes knowledge and development of skills to get ahead and secure your success.

1. Communication. Communication is a key element that can make or break your law firm’s chances of success. The frequency in with which you communicate with clients is just the beginning. It is the bare minimum. The manner in which you communicate with them, the dynamics between the two of you, and your communication style is a fundamental part of your Firm’s growth.
2. Time- Management. As a lawyer, you sell your knowledge of legal concepts and your time. The popular saying: “Time is money” doesn’t hold as much truth in other businesses as it does for law firms. This is why organizational systems play such a profound role in the success of a law firm. When you become aware of and implement systems in your Firm, you receive a higher payoff for your efforts throughout the day, you create more free time for yourself, and you get much more done in shorter amounts of time. This all translates to more money and more business for your Firm.
3. Rainmaking. A law firm will not survive without clients. You get these clients through strategic techniques that cost you little if any money. Networking plays an enormous role in rainmaking. It expands your circle of contacts and includes you in the circle of others. It is one of the most effective ways of creating referrals for yourself. Aside from networking, article writing, interviews on the radio, and public speaking are all incredibly powerful techniques to catapult your level of authority over the subject matter and your exposure to larger groups of potential clients.
The three activities above are essential in being a successful business owner. After all, a law firm is a business that sells legal services. Isn’t it?
Although you may not have learned these techniques in school, you can learn and develop them easily with practice. Believe me; passing the Bar is much more difficult! Best yet, the return on investment is a huge motivator as these are techniques you can start applying to your law practice right away.

Sonia Gallagher, Esq. is a business development consultant at www.TimeForLifeNow.com. She works with small and medium law firms to implement strategies to get more clients, more profits, and more free time. Sonia helps them to position themselves as experts in their legal field, to leverage the internet to enhance their visibility, and to connect with their potential clients.