Running your law firm from home can be a big challenge at first, these tips will help!
You may choose to work from a home office simply because you can, or for other valid lifestyle reasons. After all, it is one of the perks of being your own boss.
There’s no question, working remotely has plenty of benefits. For many, working from home helps people to do things that they wouldn’t be able to do if they worked in an office in the city. You can have more time to do the things that you want or spend with the people that matter most. Still, if you’re not used to working from home, the transition can be difficult.
With more solo and small firm lawyers starting to work remotely, there’s a good chance that you might be considering whether it’s right for you as well.
If that’s the case, follow this article to get tips on how to build a home-based practice to ensure your practice is as profitable and productive as possible.
Have Your Own Workspace
Professionals who work from home find that it can be difficult to get into the work “mindset”. There are endless distractions at home, and it takes a lot of discipline to buckle down. If you have the financial resources, invest in a room transformation, so you feel like a professional when you sit down to work.
You will be spending a lot of time in this room. Decorate it in a way that makes you happy. Paint the walls yellow if you like. Make the room as comfortable for yourself as you can.
Even if you like working in the middle of the chaos of life, there will come a time when you’ll be glad you have a place to go when you’re facing a deadline or need some time to think
Shut the Door
Just like working in an office, remote working has plenty of distractions. If you want to work from home while also being productive, then you will have to eliminate as many distractions as possible. It’s a good idea to let everyone know that if the door is shut, it’s work time. For most people, the biggest distractions are the TV, my phone and social media. Overcoming these distractions is a matter of willpower. Keep the TV off during work hours and put your phone on “do not disturb” and keep the door closed. You can’t be distracted if you’re not accessible.
If you really need to focus, try using a conference room or workspace at Law Firm Suites and turn off my phone and internet.
Don’t Meet Clients at your Home
Temporary meeting room rentals offer home-based law firms a low-cost alternative to meeting in an unprofessional and potentially unethical location such as a coffee shop or your living room! Giving off an image of professionalism and confidence.
A temporary meeting room in an executive office suite provides all the coordination necessary for a successful meeting, such as catering options and professional reception services. This allows the law firm to make the best impression with the lowest financial outlay. And more importantly, it will help you to close more deals!
Set a Schedule and Share It
Interruptions are productivity killers. When you work from home, your family and friends can be the most frequent sources of interruption.
That’s why you need to be proactive, set a schedule and, more importantly, share it with everyone. Explain when you’ll be working. Describe how you work best: Whether that’s “You’re free to check in with me from time to time” (probably not) or “Only bother me unless someone is hurt of the house is on fire” (more likely).
Don’t assume people will automatically respect the fact that you’re working from home. They won’t.
Letting them in on your schedule and by setting the precedent when it comes to interruptions, you’ll help them to better understand.
Get the Right Technology
The cost for commercial grade office technology has come down so much, running your small practice from home has never been easier. To run a successful law practice however, you can’t rely solely on residential quality technology.
Consider investing in business-grade internet at home to keep everything running smoothly when interacting with clients.
Legal practice is still very heavily phone-based. It may be tempting to rely solely on a mobile phone for your practice’s needs, but this is a mistake. Cell phone quality can be unreliable and sound poor. This won’t send a great message to prospective clients and adversaries, resulting in fewer clients won and weaker negotiation strength because the competition may not take you seriously.
Invest in a “law firm grade” telecommunications system. High-quality telecom systems can be affordably obtained using VOIP technology, provided you have sufficient bandwidth to support the traffic. It may seem like an unnecessary expense at first. But, how will your most important client feel when your $20.00 a month phone drops calls every two minutes?
