Law Firm Client Relationships

The New Reality, for which law firms are scrambling to equip themselves, is that law firms no longer define their own service levels. Now it's the clients, and they have clear expectation parameters.

In the current talent war, many law firms are hunting for talent with a focus on traditional "industry experience" and prestigious educational backgrounds as familiar criteria in their candidate search process. But what if law firms are missing high value talent — on both the legal and administrative side — that may be right under their nose?

The "best choice" provider pitch may not be the optimal sales strategy. It's better to adjust to where the prospect is in their buying decision process — whether that means they are looking for providers, they are studying the situation, they already have counsel, or they have decided not to address the issue.

Recognizing the many degrees of severity and activity levels is crucial when a matter presents itself. Is it time to go scorched earth or take it in stride and allow a situation to fizzle? When defining the spectrum from minor issue to crisis, it is vital to understand how a problem can become a crisis if left unattended or how jumping the gun and overreacting can be disastrous.

Driving Growth Through Client Success and Thought Leadership Business development is a critical part of a law firm's growth strategy. It balances client success, competitive marketing and new acquisitions in order to sustain the firm's reputation as a high-quality service provider. It is the bridge between marketing and sales. Here are six steps to building a modern business development plan that is guaranteed to drive growth through client success and thought leadership.

Do your attorneys know the difference between a customer and a client? I have always defined the difference as a customer is someone who buys something from you once, while a client is someone who keeps coming back to you over and over again; mainly, since the legal industry is becoming more transactional daily. And that subtle difference is what makes a lawyer just a lawyer and one who becomes a rainmaker.

If savvy law firm attorneys haven't done so yet, they should take this time to adjust their expectations and increase their comfort levels with new technologies, processes, and workflows. Going forward, their clients will expect the emphasis to be on relationships and outcomes, not billable hours.

a customer is someone who buys something from you once, while a client is someone who keeps coming back to you over and over again. And that subtle difference is what makes a lawyer just a lawyer and one who becomes a rainmaker.