At the start of 2021, we were all wondering what would happen next—especially after the chaos of 2020. 2021 revealed some surprises, but other things progressed more or less in line with expectations. Ultimately, clear patterns have emerged from the past year that can guide law firms planning for the year ahead. Hybrid and remote working is here to stay … Read More
Outsourcing for Lawyers: Ethics and Considerations
Let’s face it. The billable hour crunch is real. Most lawyers only get a few hours of billable work each day, and the rest of their time is eaten up with administration, billing, and other tasks. Why? Because running a law office also means you’re managing a small business. Unfortunately, however, billable hours are what keep the lights on. If … Read More
What Makes a Good Lawyer?
What makes a good lawyer? The answer will vary somewhat according to whom you ask, but there are a handful of skills and traits that come up repeatedly. These shared traits speak to the core of what a lawyer does—practice law in service of others—and cultivating them allows a decent lawyer to move beyond simply checking the proverbial box to … Read More
How Can You Measure Law Firm Productivity?
Measuring law firm productivity is the first step in identifying areas for improvement. After all, you can’t address a problem if you don’t know it exists. To measure and improve your law firm’s productivity, you need to start by gathering data and analyzing key metrics.[1] Utilization Utilization rates measure how much of a lawyer’s time working ends up on an … Read More
Can My Law Firm Automate Fee Agreements?
When it comes to running a law firm, automation can save you valuable time. For instance, document automation allows you to quickly create standardized agreements, including documents like fee agreements. Speed and consistency To harness the time-saving power of automation, start by having your clients fill out client intake forms online. This is typically more convenient for them—and it saves … Read More
Which Processes Should My Law Firm Automate?
Automation can save time, streamline, and decrease the chance for human error by reducing the number of repetitive tasks you need to do as part of running your law firm.[1] Understanding these goals can help your firm determine which processes you should automate. Save time Make a list of the processes at your law firm that are repetitive or fairly … Read More
How Can Law Firms Increase Client Retention?
Once your firm does the work of developing a lead into a client, it’s generally in the firm’s best interest to retain the client if possible. While there’s no one-size-fits-all cure, offering a positive client experience (including strong communication and active engagement) certainly helps. Responsiveness No one likes feeling ignored, especially when they’re paying a lot of money for a … Read More
What Does the Future Look Like for Law Firm Tech?
After a dramatic shift to remote working during the pandemic, the path forward continues to strike a hybrid balance of remote and in-person work. This means legal tech will continue to play a big role in law firm offices (and home offices!) across the country. Where’s law firm tech headed? Collaboration One of the key benefits tech has been able … Read More
Should My Law Firm Hire Another Assistant?
Historically, law firms that want to improve the efficiency of their office operations have hired an additional assistant. Bringing on another person helped the team stay on top of routine tasks and workflows. But today’s technology has developed to the point where a modern practice management system can pick up the slack for you. Understand your workflows Workflows are the … Read More
What’s the Must-Have Tech for Law Firms?
As with any other kind of business, law firms can benefit from staying on top of tech trends in their field. Leveraging the latest tech can give them a leg up with the competition and save on an especially valuable commodity: time. So, what are today’s emerging legal tech trends? Live chat Even before the pandemic, clients were increasingly seeking … Read More