4 TIPS FOR YOU TO SET UP YOUR LAW FIRM
The time to set up the law firm is very important for every lawyer: it is the first step to really start the career, do what you like and start serving clients.
To have security at this time, it is necessary to make a good planning and pay attention to some important points in the administration of any office, avoiding extra expenses and surprises that may delay your work.
In this post, we will give you 4 tips for you to set up an office with confidence, considering some points so you don't regret later. Check it out!
1. Plan ahead
The first step in setting up a law office is to make a good plan. It is important that you consider everything you will need to be able to consult, file petitions, analyse cases and perform other routine activities of a lawyer.
Look at everything that is essential: computers, printers, tables, bookshelves, chairs, sofas, etc. Then, write down the things that are not necessary but are important in an office, such as a fridge or mini fridge, decoration (pictures, statues), sink, coffee machine, etc.
You should also estimate what the monthly costs will be, such as rent to be paid, price of daily materials, internet, telephone, energy, water, among others. This should all be included in the budget to make a good planning and avoid any surprises.
2. Define the area of activity
When planning, you also need to define your practice area. This process depends on the specialisations and affinities of each lawyer, and you can choose to work in several areas or try to restrict your work to a few branches.
When there is more than one lawyer per office, it is necessary to make a division by matters, for example: one will be in charge of criminal, labour and social security matters; while another will attend to clients in the civil, family and consumer areas.
This definition is important to provide a better service and to avoid confusion at the time of the first contact with the client, as everything must already be organised so that he can be directed to the correct lawyer.
3. Identify potential customers
When setting up the office, it is also fundamental to identify potential clients. This depends mainly on the lawyers' area of practice and is important because some things depend on this factor.
If the office intends to serve companies with several partners, make extrajudicial agreements and other procedures of this type, it will be necessary to have a meeting room, with a larger table and equipment to provide comfort to clients.
However, if the focus is on individual consultations or with few people, it may be better to invest in more comfortable chairs for the clients, but keep them in the lawyers' own rooms.
Here, the ideal is to check beforehand what will be necessary for your type of client, providing them with the essentials for a good consultation and further care during the process.
4. Invest in marketing
The final step in setting up the office will be the investment in marketing. It is not enough to open a business if no one knows about it, so it is essential to advertise your services. But remember that you must always respect the code of ethics, which imposes some restrictions at this time.
Even so, it is possible to make a good disclosure: make your business cards and distribute them to friends, family and acquaintances, asking them to refer you if someone needs a lawyer. Join WhatsApp and Facebook groups of lawyers and be present, answering questions and helping wherever you can.
A good tip is to always introduce yourself as a lawyer and keep in touch with members of the OAB in your region and with your classmates. Establishing a network of contacts is fundamental for publicity in the legal profession.
Don't forget to keep up with new technologies in the legal field, such as artificial intelligence. It is very common to encounter difficulties in this part due to the great growth in the area, but it is essential to keep up to date with the trends, thus facilitating networking.
By following our tips, you will be able to set up your law firm with greater confidence, knowing which steps to take and what is essential to have a successful business, without unnecessary expenses and unpleasant surprises.
If you enjoyed this post or know of other tips, leave a comment and share your experience with us!