Do you want to run your own law firm one day? Maybe you already do. But if you aren’t emulating habits of success from other proven firms, you’re liable to screw things up.
Through our experience with working alongside practitioners of all types, we’ve noticed some consistent habits of highly successful law firms that set them apart from their competitors.
I’m sure you’d love for us to give you the magical formula for success. Unfortunately, there is no across-the-board answer. However, there are some consistent practices that every prosperous practitioner follows on a daily basis.
Let’s jump right in!
Keep the Long Term in Mind
It’s easy to get caught up while focusing on the nitty gritty details of managing a law firm. While managing the day-to-day tasks of a firm is imperative for your success, it’s also important to think about your long-term goals. Don’t let the small details that come with the day-to-day of running a successful practice get you down, and get in the way of your progress towards your eventual goal. Instead, utilize tools and work with partners that share your long-term vision.
The best way to keep up with the everyday inertia that comes with running a firm is to find the tools that work for you. These tools can include collaborative practice management dashboards, CRM systems, and billing software to stay on top of incoming revenue.
With the right toolbox, you can automate and manage your daily to-do’s and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Create a Positive Work Environment
Your team is your greatest strength.
Work to cultivate a healthy work environment in order to empower your team to achieve to the best of their abilities. When people come to work happy, they come to work productively. I’m sure you’ve been in career situations in which you’ve absolutely loathed who you work for or with; did you feel motivated to try your hardest for these people? The same is true for your firm.
Always make your team feel valued, and they’ll always be there when you need them.
Deliver Excellent Customer Service
Word of mouth is the cheapest, most effective form of marketing. When you serve your clients well, they’ll tell their friends about how amazing you are and send them your way. If they add an online review, even better; about 59% of people begin their search for legal representation by checking out reviews.
On the flip side, negative reviews (either online or through word of mouth) can completely tank an opportunity with a potential client. If someone is researching legal services before committing to a lawyer and sees a flood of negative reviews, they’ll run in the opposite direction.
Optimize Your Website
Every successful law firm has a highly efficient website that drives potential clients deeper into the funnel. In order to make the most out of your traffic, you have to make sure it clearly and succinctly demonstrates your value to potential clients.
It’s also important that your website sets you apart from your competitors. Consider what would make you choose a lawyer over another and position yourself as a knowledgeable, trusted thought leader in your practice area.
Additionally, it’s important to make sure your site is mobile optimized. Mobile accounts for about half of web traffic worldwide, so it’s crucial to request a cellphone-friendly version of your landing pages from your designers. If you don’t, your prospective clients will have a poor user experience and leave before signing up for a consultation.
Provide a Secure Experience for Your Clients
Data breaches happen – but it’s your responsibility to protect your clients from them to the best of your ability. Experiencing a data breach can negatively impact your firm’s image, eat up the bandwidth of your team, cost you money (as well as credibility).
The most successful law firms always take the proper precautions to protect their clients as well as themselves. Enlisting the help of a savvy IT specialist can save you a lot of trouble in the long run, so don’t skimp out on covering all your bases.
Collaborate with Your Team
Collaboration is key.
If you alienate any facet of your team, your output will suffer immensely. You hired these people for a reason: you trust them to be good at what they do. Let them speak their mind and do their job without hovering over them or dropping any “because I said so’s.” If you’re in the position to do so, be the boss you’ve always wanted. The more your team works together, the more productive you’ll be. The results will speak for themselves.
Wrapping Up
The most successful firms always share the same consistent habits. They know the value of teamwork, exemplary customer service, and maintaining a strong digital presence.
With these tips in mind, you’re sure to launch your firm into the stratosphere. The key is to be as consistent as possible and take note of what works for your team; don’t be afraid to push different buttons and see what happens.
Good luck!
