As a lawyer in a small firm, you may wear many caps, from managing legal practice to making coffee. But as your firm grows, you will need to bring on a professional in law office practice management to make better use of your time and make you more money in the end.

If you spend more of your time on administrative duties than billing clients, then consider the following reasons to hire a specialist in legal practice management:

1. Law practice management software may be a good solution for you.

2. You can hire a consultant on a temporary or part-time basis to see if a full-time administrator is the right fit for your firm.

3. Law practice management is a growing career field with better training than in years past.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find the best legal practice management software for your needs

There is an abundance of software designed to help your firm run as efficiently as possible. Take time to research the best products on the market and ask other firms what software they use.

I recommend: Gavel & Gown Software, Inc. and Software Technology, Inc. are just two of the many companies offering legal practice management software.

Consider a temporary or part-time consultant if you are not ready to hire a legal practice manager

Think about having a legal management consultant work with you to get your firm more organized. Perhaps you will be better able to manage the day-to-day operations yourself once you have the ground rules in place.

I recommend: Contact John P. Weil & Company to find out how they can help your firm. Feel free to ask Best Law Firm Solutions, Inc. anything about your law office.

Hire an administrator trained in law firm operations management

There are many facets to managing a law firm. More than just hiring and firing personnel and managing payroll, law office managers must also be versed in the bar requirements for their state on such matters as file retention and attorneys' continuing education requirements.

I recommend: Find a school offering a legal office administration program in your state at Bee Line Web Site Promotions. At The The College Bound Network you can choose to view schools offering legal office administration courses on the drop down menu on the left of the screen and enter your zip code below for the ones in your area. You can then contact the schools to obtain resumes from recent graduates.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Investing in a professional of lawyer practice management is an investment in your firm. While it may seem like a high salary for legal office administrators, it is money well spent and can save your firm more money in the long run.