Assuming your firm has a name and you have registered the business, there are a few fundamental elements you need to consider to get your law firm up and running. This guide will give a basic overview of what you need to implement when setting up your own legal business.
Capital investment
How much are you investing in your firm to get it off the ground, and do you intend to seek further investment externally? This initial cash injection will form the budget for the rest of your start-up essentials, so knowing your financial limitations will enable you to tailor a business plan that is within your means.
Business plan and marketing strategy
Set your aims and objectives, clarify your service offering, and your target market. Do your demographic research, know your local area. Who is your clientele, and how will you reach them? Consider whether you will offer a broad service or a niche area of expertise.
Once you have decided what core service you will be providing, then next consider how you will reach your target audience through effective marketing. If you’re a personal injury lawyer, it might be worth your time learning how to rank on search engines. Or if you’re too busy, you can also hire experts in personal injury lawyer SEO.
Government information bureaus and online advice forums may be a good place to look into advertising opportunities. Ensure that your brand identity and marketing is consistent and identifiable across all communications.
Material assets
It is near enough impossible to run a business today without technological support, so one of your most valuable assets will be your computer and/or laptop. Choose a model that meets your business needs and is user-friendly (this will be subjective).
The portability of a laptop may be preferable if you are regularly out of the office visiting clients or attending meetings, whereas the screen size and simplicity of a desktop may be better for office-based staff. Other material assets to consider include:
- Stationery – Headed paper, envelopes, pens, paper, stapler, etc.
- Phone line – Will you have a landline or mobile or both?
- Website – A business’ website offers credibility and legitimacy for consumers. Ensure that your website design encompasses your brand and delivers your marketing message.
- Filing – You will need to consider how you will file confidential documents securely to meet your legal obligations surrounding data protection and demonstrate your firm’s integrity and professionalism through practicing responsible data handling.
- Furnishings – Create an inspired office space, consider how your furnishing will make your clients feel, create an environment that exudes comfort and trust.
Software
This is a broad area; software encompasses any program or application that runs on your computer. As a legal firm, this could be extensive. Not only will you need to consider basic CRM, finance management, and email services, but you will also need to factor in data protection and full case management operations that are specific to your firm.
To save your legal business valuable time and money, redbricksolutions.co.uk offer full and extensive legal case management software and support for your legal firm. They provide a dashboard of key services for integrated and centralized: filing, reporting, client management, finances, accounting, invoicing, conveyancing and fraud protection (among others) tailored to your needs, allowing you to maximize your productivity.
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This guide provides a checklist and top
