There’s no doubt about it; working for a law firm can be stressful. It usually involves long working hours and extreme dedication which often makes it difficult for lawyers to find a balance between their professional and personal life. This doesn’t mean that working for a law firm is all bad. Some lawyers look to alternatives to achieve a better work-life balance. One such example is being a Sole Practitioner.
When a lawyer chooses to be a sole practitioner, that means all the big decisions are made by them alone. That lawyer typically has more hands-on experience in handling the entirety of a practice compared to lawyers working for law firms.
Law firms accumulate their clients through the goodwill and reputation they gathered over a long time. However, a sole practitioner has to bring in the legal work themselves while also maintaining a healthy relationship with their clients. He/she must keep in mind that their client list will depend on the quality of their work. Hence, when starting out, sole practitioners should take several steps, discussed below, to ensure he/she can establish their brand name in the legal field.
Building a good network
Building a good network involves creating a database of potential clients and lawyers. The downside of this, is that since they’re working alone, it’s a time-consuming task that often lags behind. It is vital for sole practitioners to have comrades in their dedicated field as it will help them keep up with the evolving caselaw and give relevant advice to their clients. Having friends who are in the same field is also important as it facilitates the introduction of new ideas.
Being efficient
Sole practitioners have the opportunity to choose their own cases. This helps give them an edge over their peers who may be working for other law firms. Working alone means they have the ability to prioritize their projects with their schedule. It makes them flexible while managing their workload.
Many people wait till the water rises over their noses before seeing a lawyer. Clients require efficient services for this reason. When a schedule is flexible, the work can be done on time and ensure that the client is happy.
Communication skills
Sole practitioners must have a diverse skill-set to be able to communicate well with their clients. It’s their responsibility to make sure that communication between them and their client flows smoothly. This ensures that the client isn’t lost in the intricacies of complex legal procedures. Being the client’s lawyer, it’s their job to disclose the problems and all possible solutions in straightforward terms.
A sole practitioner also ensures high-quality work through effective communication. Clients are bound to have different preferences for communication. A good lawyer tailors their message accordingly. This skill also shows the lawyer’s sincerity. An attorney can show care by thinking about his/her client’s doubts and questions and addressing them to the best of their abilities.
Although many sole practitioners are competent, they may still lose their clients because they might be lacking in the above-mentioned qualities. A good network, efficient work and communication skills will help them make their practice stand out from the rest.