Whether you are looking for a law firm to help you with a business transaction or need a lawyer to help you with a criminal case, you should be aware of some important factors. Those factors include the size of the law firm, the office space standards, and whether it is a large firm or boutique firm. In addition, you should consider the partnership models and how well the firm works with other firms.
Large vs. boutique
Compared to a large firm, a boutique law firm is more specialized and nimble. Boutiques are usually smaller firms with less than 20 attorneys. They specialize in a particular area of law, such as patent law, litigation, or tax law.
Boutiques often use referral systems to gain clients. Their clients are also more likely to get personalised attention.
Boutiques are more nimble, which means they can offer clients more personalized services, like customized fee structures. They can also slash time spent on administrative tasks.
Boutiques are also more selective, which means they will take on a limited number of clients. This means clients get personalized attention and aren’t just passed off to lower level attorneys mid-case.
Boutiques can also introduce innovative fee structures, like having a senior attorney sign off on the final product. Boutiques are also able to introduce the right tech tools for lawyers, such as legal document management systems.
Changing office space standards for law firms has been a trend for the past two decades. Law firms have cut their square foot per attorney ratio. Now the average office size for an attorney is less than 700 square feet. However, most firms still do not follow the newer space standards.
The standard office size for an attorney used to be 800 square feet. This was directly related to the status of the firm. But today, a law firm does not need a large office to be successful. Instead, it needs a variety of space sizes to meet the needs of its attorneys.
Attorneys at law firms need private offices and a variety of meeting rooms for client-facing events. Additionally, they may need conference rooms, lunch rooms and open workstations.
Working well with others
Fortunately, many law firms have opted to make it a bit less painful by building a supportive culture. The aforementioned perks of working in a law firm include a friendly office environment, a work-from-home culture and the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the firm’s success. Despite these benefits, lawyers still need to do their part to ensure their own personal well-being. As such, the requisite trifecta of legal professionals may not be a perfect match. The best way to ensure a smoother ride is to ensure that each member of the family is well-informed about their respective roles and responsibilities. One way to accomplish this is to hold a weekly conference call with each member to discuss the firm’s future goals and challenges.
Sustainability
Increasingly, the sustainability of law firms is becoming an issue of debate. Some say it’s simply the revolving door effect, as some former Am Law 200 firms merge into larger firms, while others have a bullish view, pointing to the increased competition from the Big Four. The issue, however, isn’t just a matter of competition; it’s about creating a healthy work-life balance for employees and cutting down on environmental impact.
One of the most prominent sustainability issues for the legal industry is outdated business models. Most firms are still relying on old operational models, and this affects their ability to operate. These models consume excess resources, require a surplus to continue operations, and negatively impact the environment. Changing conditions call for new business models.
When you are looking for lawyers to represent your interest, choose Gold Coast lawyers that get results.