Running Your Small Law Firm to look like a Large Law Firm

Author: Thomson Reuters

Let’s face it, as a solo or small law firm you’re pulled in multiple directions. Not only do you practice law, but you also need to run AND grow a small business. It’s a natural response to feel overwhelmed when you’re trying to manage multiple processes. Unfortunately, what typically happens is that an area of your business doesn’t get the attention it deserves– particularly if it’s an area you’re unfamiliar with. With 62% of law firm leaders saying clients are demanding more for less¹, how does today’s modern practice streamline their business processes without sacrificing the quality their small law firm delivers?

Transitioning into The Modern Practice

Seamless Integration

When many small law firms first open, they look at products and systems geared toward larger practices, but quickly find out that they don’t fit their unique needs. Once they’re informed on how Thomson Reuters’ tailors its products with the small law firm in mind, they quickly find out they can cost effectively streamline their business processes and work more efficiently. With Firm Central, solo and small law firms are able to integrate time and billing, research, and client documents all in one central location. Integration is key to today’s modern practice.

“Everything is organized, centralized and maintained by the professionals at Thomson Reuters. [Firm Central] has saved the hassle of intricate software and needless functions. It is a one-of-a-kind solution to small firm applications. I would recommend this product to any new, solo, or small firm practitioner. I use it every day.”
            – Jarica B. Cairns, Cairns Law, P.A.

Accessibility + Accuracy

As solo and small law firms evolve, they quickly outgrow their piecemeal, disconnected approach and look for a more integrated practice management solution. It’s important for them to adopt a new system that meets the needs of today’s digitally savvy and fast paced consumer. To do this, many Westlaw users add both Practical Law and Firm Central into their practice management solution. With Practical Law, you’re able to expand your expertise, deliver quick and accurate responses and efficiently run your practice. Integrating your practice with Firm Central allows for mobility so you can access your client information from anywhere and securely share information at any time. When small law firm, Roeder Smith Jadin, added Firm Central, they innovatively created a mobile work environment. Jadin says their integrated approach allows “anyone to work from home, the coffee shop, or at the courthouse.” Being responsive and precise – anywhere and at any time, are just a couple ways small law firms can look like they’re larger. Accessibility is vital to today’s modern practice.

“In a smaller law firm, you have to wear multiple hats. So, I have to both be a lawyer and take care of the clients, all with an eye on both the short-term and long-term cost and goals of our firm.”
– Alexander Jadin, Partner Roeder Smith Jadin

Secure + Up-To-Date Technology

At Thomson Reuters, many of our small law firms with a senior clientele are concerned that their clients don’t have access to digital technology. Once they learn the facts – that in 2015, 55 percent of seniors reported they owned a computer and 30 percent owned a smartphone² – they quickly realize their clients ARE digitally connected. When the small firm, Pennington Law Firm, partnered with FindLaw to create a website and extend their brand into the massive pool of consumers searching the web for an attorney, it didn’t take long for them to realize their senior target audience was online. The firm’s traffic increased almost immediately. Secure and up-to-date technology is essential to today’s modern practice.

Pennington Law Firm now receives 50% their clients from the online marketing campaign through FindLaw.

A Holistic Approach to Running Your Firm

From growing your clientele to managing your matter and finances, you’d love to integrate all your business processes so they work together or holistically. But, technology and the necessary infrastructure to keep it secure and up-to-date can get complicated. At Thomson Reuters we know that change can be an overwhelming thought. But we also know your clients’ expect quick and accurate responses, so it’s imperative to find a streamlined approach that aligns innovation with efficiency.

Today’s Modern Practice takes a holistic approach to running a Small Law Firm to look like a Large Law Firm. Thomson Reuters’ cloud-based integrated system provides you with everything you need to be business savvy: accurate, timely, secure, profitable AND perceived by your clients as a firm that “has it together”. It’s time to transition into The Modern Practice.

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¹ Altman Weil Chief Legal Officer Survey, 2016.
² Pew Research Center, 2015