You flew through the LSAT and scored close to a 180. You went through law school and passed with flying colors, obtaining your degree. You still remember the day when you joined the bar. Now what?
Well typically, you’ll be recruited for one of the main law firms. But wait, because that’s not always the case. It’s true to say that the legal profession has become more competitive lately. You’ll probably only be recruited if you went to one of the top law schools.
If you didn’t, you might have to lower your expectations. It could take a while before you find a place in a firm as a lawyer. The top law firms are looking for the best. We’re not saying that’s not you, but the odds aren’t in your favor.
So instead, let’s think at another option. Rather than waiting for someone to hire you, you can start your legal practice. At the very least, this will give you a lot of experience that could lead to the future hire. So, let’s look at you can do this.
Show me the money
The first thing you need to understand is that a lot of people who study law don’t go on to practice in court. Instead, they use their legal expertise to set up an advice firm for big businesses.
You might find this is where the real money is. Today, almost every company is looking for constant legal advice. If you offer your services at a fair price, you might just win the client.
Get an office
There are countless businesses that can be run from home. A legal practice isn’t one of them. You need an office for your firm, particularly if you plan to expand, hiring more people. If you can’t afford a full-time office, use a virtual property.
This will give you somewhere to send legal documents from clients and a place to meet new potential customers. It’s a lot cheaper than renting or buying a full property.
Marketing
There are two forms of marketing. Online and offline. Online you need to think about SEO. Law firm SEO services will ensure that customers and client find your new practice online. Make sure that your website looks and feels professional. Otherwise, a large number of potential consumers are going to assume it’s a scam.
Offline, it’s all about marketing yourself and picking up possibilities. It’s not uncommon for lawyers to head down to the bars in the city at drinking time. They know this is when people head into wash away their troubles.
Some might be talking about legal problems they are having. At this point, you can present yourself as the solution. Be sure that you have professionally designed business cards to hand out to any potential clients that you find.
A fair price
Lastly, a big disadvantage of major legal firms is the price that they charge. Most people can’t afford to hire lawyers from firms like this. That’s why it’s important that you present your firm as the affordable alternative.
Don’t overcharge for your services. Let your client portfolio build up. Then you can think about raising your prices and eventual expansion into the big leagues.