http://soloinchicago.com/1237/is-your-firm-too-small/ Down-To-Earth Advice for Legal Entrepreneurs in Chicagoland and Around the World! Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:47:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://soloinchicago.com/1237/is-your-firm-too-small/comment-page-1/#comment-6318 Peter Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:04:00 +0000 http://soloinchicago.com/?p=1237#comment-6318 I think practice area matters a lot...there's a big customer service need disparity between say having 20 estate planning clients and say 50 real estate transactions where there's a lot of "logistics." I would say there are a few areas that the lawyer should almost never do: billing/billing collections follow-up, pure logistical calls like client meeting scheduling, incoming phone calls, and keeping work processes flowing when you're in court or out of the office for extended periods. I think practice area matters a lot…there’s a big customer service need disparity between say having 20 estate planning clients and say 50 real estate transactions where there’s a lot of “logistics.” I would say there are a few areas that the lawyer should almost never do: billing/billing collections follow-up, pure logistical calls like client meeting scheduling, incoming phone calls, and keeping work processes flowing when you’re in court or out of the office for extended periods.

]]> http://soloinchicago.com/1237/is-your-firm-too-small/comment-page-1/#comment-6315 Tanya Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:57:26 +0000 http://soloinchicago.com/?p=1237#comment-6315 Attorneys can be very professional and busy without hiring support staff if they are responsive and leverage technology. Usually, I would much rather speak or email with an attorney than leave messages with the attorney's assistant. It is a shame that the professionals mentioned in the post above could not access their documents digitally and reply promptly to voicemail and email since these are easy things to do. Attorneys can be very professional and busy without hiring support staff if they are responsive and leverage technology. Usually, I would much rather speak or email with an attorney than leave messages with the attorney’s assistant. It is a shame that the professionals mentioned in the post above could not access their documents digitally and reply promptly to voicemail and email since these are easy things to do.

]]> http://soloinchicago.com/1237/is-your-firm-too-small/comment-page-1/#comment-6309 Julie A. Fleming Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:24:35 +0000 http://soloinchicago.com/?p=1237#comment-6309 They certainly should have some kind of back up plan. What disturbs me most is your example of the firm who's telephone message said they'd be away for over a week with no way to leave a message. That firm had many technological solutions, even without support staff. They could have checked messages from wherever they were visiting and returned important calls. They could have forwarded calls to their current location. While I understand them wanting to take a break, one of the consequences of running a small business is never being able to have a true vacation. They certainly should have some kind of back up plan. What disturbs me most is your example of the firm who’s telephone message said they’d be away for over a week with no way to leave a message. That firm had many technological solutions, even without support staff. They could have checked messages from wherever they were visiting and returned important calls. They could have forwarded calls to their current location. While I understand them wanting to take a break, one of the consequences of running a small business is never being able to have a true vacation.

]]> http://soloinchicago.com/1237/is-your-firm-too-small/comment-page-1/#comment-6303 Peter Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:01:10 +0000 http://soloinchicago.com/?p=1237#comment-6303 Me to...although I think early on it may be necessary. Personally I just have one support staff myself at the moment. I'm more amazed when I hear people almost exclaim as a badge of honor "I'm a true solo" meaning it's good they have no support staff. That surely shouldn't be the long-term goal even if it's a short term necessity. Me to…although I think early on it may be necessary. Personally I just have one support staff myself at the moment. I’m more amazed when I hear people almost exclaim as a badge of honor “I’m a true solo” meaning it’s good they have no support staff. That surely shouldn’t be the long-term goal even if it’s a short term necessity.

]]> http://soloinchicago.com/1237/is-your-firm-too-small/comment-page-1/#comment-6302 Russell Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:57:01 +0000 http://soloinchicago.com/?p=1237#comment-6302 I am constantly shocked by attorneys who have no support staff. I don't know how they can do enough work to make a living without support staff. I am constantly shocked by attorneys who have no support staff. I don’t know how they can do enough work to make a living without support staff.

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