Solo Practitioners and Small Practice Law Firms

How to build a small practice law firm and keep it running efficiently

Venturing out on your own to open an individual law practice is a scary thing. Rest assured, large firms face many of the same challenges as solo practitioners and small practice law firms, such as billing, calendaring and marketing, in addition to the daily practice of law. The difference is that they can afford an office staff to keep things running smoothly.

Overcoming these challenges on your own is daunting, but not impossible. Keep these things in mind when you decide to become one of the many small law practices opening around the country:

1. Learn how to market your small law practice to drive clients to your door.

2. Choose appropriate software for your practice to best manage your time.

3. Solo practitioners do not need to do everything themselves. They should know when to ask for help.

 

Work extra hard to get your name in front of potential clients if you are a small practice law firm

Marketing is essential to building a client base for a small law firm. Since your marketing budget is smaller than that of a large law firm, you must be more selective in how you market your business.
Try: Contact Lawyers Court to learn how their Internet design and marketing packages can work for you. Become a premium member of Law Marketing Portal to gain access to articles on the latest marketing tools as well as other suggestions to make your small law firm flourish.

Get more bang for your buck when choosing software as a solo practitioner

Of course, you are in business to make money. But manually managing a calendar, case notes and billing is not always plausible for solo practitioners or small law firms. There are software options made to assist busy attorneys with these and other features of their practice.
Try: DeskTop Business Solutions helps to manage your calendar as well as your billing by allowing you to post an appointment directly on the client's work-in-progress page for billing. Click on the power point presentation of your choice to view all the software's features. Request a free demonstration CD to learn how Needles Case Management Software can help your firm run smoothly.

Keep your small law firm on-task with a virtual assistant

Now that you have your calendar and billing under control, what do you do with all the work piling up because of your successful marketing campaign? You may not be ready for a full-time assistant and all the extra expense that brings, but you may need some help answering the phones, scheduling appointments or typing documents. A virtual assistant may be the solution.
Try: Team Double-Click's virtual staff can assist with all aspects of running an efficient firm from answering the phones to typing, all from their home. Additionally, the company pre-screens and tests the assistants so you can feel confident about their qualifications. You benefit from their experience without paying additional overhead costs such as health insurance. Send a description of your needs to Virtual Office Temps for a free quote on how they can help your small law practice succeed.

 

• Solo practitioners and small practice law firms need to consider billing and calendaring software which are compatible with each other and the other software already in place to be the most efficient.
• Small law firms should not become too dependent on the calendaring software incorporating local court rules for dates. Always confirm with the court to make sure nothing has changed.
• Small law practices and solo law firms should concentrate on a specific niche and learn to say no to clients who do not fall into that niche. Your firm will lose focus if it is trying to cover too many areas.

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