Solo attorneys choose coworking for its affordability, collaborative opportunities and access to referral income.
What is coworking?
Coworking is a style of work where professionals, who are not necessarily employed by the same organization, share a physical work environment. Any shared law office space is technically coworking. For attorneys, the benefits that come with coworking are typically a steady stream of referrals and saving legal research time by asking an experienced colleague a practice question when it comes up.
Coworking also describes a type of office space where the act of coworking happens. Coworking spaces are generally large, airy rooms with a more casual feel than traditional office space. Think ‘Last Supper’ style tables and chairs, clever decor, white board walls, lots of coffee and sometime beer.
3 Reasons why solo attorneys choose coworking?
1. It is much cheaper than a typical office rental.
Coworking can be a perfect option for newly solo attorneys who are looking for all the benefits associated with a shared law office space such as collaboration, referral sharing, community, and co-counsel opportunities, without the monthly carrying costs associated with a full-time physical office.
2. It offers collaborative opportunities in a social environment.
In our experience, the lawyers that receive the most benefit from a shared office space are the ones who most frequently use the space. Coworking allows attorneys to use a dedicated space on a first-come-first-served basis with like-minded colleagues.
Lawyers in certain practice disciplines often need the advice of other attorneys in complementary practice disciplines to fully and competently service client matters.
For example, in a B-to-C practice such as immigration, attorneys often have practice questions in family law, criminal defense and employment.
In a lawyers-only coworking center, attorneys have access to clients for quick answers to practice questions, or otherwise have them sit-in on meetings or co-counsel on a case. In a shared office space with a robust community, by co-counseling with colleagues, solo attorneys in niche practice areas can offer clients a more “full service” style of representation should the need arise.
3. There is an opportunity to increase your income through referral sharing.
Collaborative work environments, like those found in coworking centers, often result in client referrals.
Coworking centers are designed to accelerate networking and collaboration. The best example of this is the absence of physical walls. An open- aired space promotes easy access to conversation among colleagues, which can create long-lasting professional relationships. This professional rapport ultimately manifests itself in referral sharing, which can offset the cost of your coworking facilities’ monthly fee.
That being said, this level of referral sharing directly depends on the types of members within the community. If a coworking facility is not heavily comprised of lawyers, the referral exchange may be weak or non-existing at all.
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