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Message: Hi, I thought you might be interested in this article I found. How to Compete with Large Law Firms Starting a solo law practice or managing a small law firm can be intimidating, especially if you have to compete with large, well established law firms. However, being in a solo practice or a small law firm can mean more freedom, flexibility, and less internal red tape. On the other hand, it can also mean having to compete with firms that have a long list of talented attorneys, well known clients, and expensive advertising campaigns. In spite of the challenges, there will always be a portion of the market that will prefer working with smaller law firms and solo practices. It is your job to use your firm’s size to your advantage. Instead of focusing on what a small firm or a solo practice can’t do compared to big firms, think about what you can do. Small firms can offer speed, flexibility, and a level of value that is often lost in large law firms. Many attorneys claim that “clients don’t hire firms, they hire lawyers.” Believe this, and use marketing and common sense to compete with large law firms. Don’t leave image building to the big guys. Whether it is online, in your printed materials, or the way you answer the phone. Potential clients want to make sure that your small firm can handle their big problem. One of the most important hurdles for you to overcome is the idea that you may not be competent or resourceful enough to handle a client’s problem. Don’t let potential clients believe this about your firm. One of the most common mistakes made by small law firms and solo practices is not having a website or having one that is thrown together by a cousin. Unless your cousin is Steve Jobs, then this plan will not do. Your firm’s presence online and in printed materials needs to rival that of larger firms. Don’t sacrifice professionalism to save money. Market your law firm’s size as an asset not a liability. In our ever changing, digitally based world, many people see large, established law firms as old and set in their ways. It can be perceived that they are too large to change with the times and to shift gears or get creative. Use this to your advantage. In your printed materials and your website, talk about how your small law firm offers personal service. Let potential clients know that you want a long term relationship with them. One of the areas where large firms tend to fail is in truly understanding the client’s goals and objectives. The client may come to you with a particular problem, but it is your job to get to the heart of what they really want for their business or for their life. Provide out of this world customer service. Be creative in how you attack their problem. Some large law firms can leave clients feeling like they are going down an assembly line and that they’re getting the same answers that the previous client received. Don’t do this. Always remember to refer to your client’s overall goals when talking about how you are handling their case. This will make the client feel that you truly understand that their legal matter is not the only thing that matters to them. One of the best ways to overcome some of the challenges inherent in smaller law firms is to create alliances with other small law firms. There are hundreds of law firm networks across the country and the world. They rely on each other for referrals, cases that have requirements in multiple states, and sometimes basic questions. One of the challenges of running a solo practice is that you may need to do a large amount of research if you come across an aspect of a case that is unfamiliar to you. Being part of a network means being able to pick up the phone, call an attorney and ask for some advice, all the while saving you hours of research. Saving time means saving money. Use technology to expand the area in which your firm provides services. You can market to clients who are across town or even across the state. Today’s technological advances have created a world where you can meet face to face over a computer screen. With email, fax machines, blackberries, and other forms of technology, you can provide an in person level of service, from a distance. Being in a solo practice or a small firm creates a variety of challenges. Don’t be deterred by them. Use creative strategies to emphasize what your firm can do that a large firm can’t. Link: http://www.rainmakerlawyer.com/site/permalink/how_to_compete_with_large_law_firms/