The Life of a Lawyer: How to Succeed and Not Go Crazy
When you became a lawyer, you also sign up for the stress that goes along with practicing law. The long hours, the technology changing the legal practice landscape, tight competition you name it, it’s all just part of the game. On top of the usual challenges, in 2020 we had to and continue to deal with the pandemic that undoubtedly brought even more stress into the mix. Fret not. You can reach your professional goals easily if you slightly adjust your focus and mix up your tactics. Here’s how to become successful while also keeping your own sanity.
Start implementing business development tactics
Business development will help you bring in more clients, find valuable partnerships, and improve relations with your current clientele. Even though we are currently recovering from a global pandemic and our options are somewhat limited, business development should always be at the top of your priorities. Don’t be discouraged as you can organize a video meeting with your past or current clients. Another option is to find a virtual business conference to attend and expand your relationships. Why not ask for referrals if you’re confident you can provide a superior service?
The tried and true methods still apply, they’re just done online. With a small adjustment in your approach, your networking efforts can end up being a success.
Make use of legal technology tools
If you take advantage of the technology, you can progress much faster in your career than someone who is still clinging to using paper. Judging by the ongoing trends in the law profession, using legal tools is becoming a necessity. Right now, a lot of time-consuming tasks can be done much better by leveraging technology to its full potential. Ultimately, this can give you more time to focus on what’s actually more important.
For example, legal document writing software streamlined the way we approach document review. Legal document solutions can help you cut down the time needed to review and edit complex legal documents. This process which used to be time-consuming is now resolved by a click of a button. With the help of AI, you get automatically highlighted essential information buried deep within your legal document. And that’s just the beginning.
Consider going fully digital
Even though traditional law firms aren’t going away any time soon, virtual law firms have been gaining a lot of traction lately. The virus has in a lot of ways enabled the growth of virtual law firms by legitimizing their existence. If you’re considering moving your practice online, don’t hesitate. Starting a virtual law firm is easier than it seems, mostly due to options available in the market of legal software.
We suggest using a cloud-based legal management system. This software can handle most of your needs such as:
- Accounting
- Time tracking
- Billing
- Document management
- Email management
- Client communication
A virtual law firm is more flexible than a traditional law firm which is something that clients appreciate. Furthermore, the operating costs of a virtual law firm are much lower when compared to its physical counterpart.
Give more attention to digital marketing
You are probably aware that in the current landscape of business, digital marketing reigns supreme. The same goes for the law profession. It might sound a bit jarring, but you don’t really need to be a marketing genius to succeed. You only need a basic understanding of how digital marketing works.
If you’re not sure how to approach marketing, here are a couple of things you can try:
- Establish a strong social media presence: If you want to grow your client base, you can use targeted ads to reach your intended audience. All the current social media platforms offer helpful tools to help you reach your marketing goals.
- Consider inbound marketing: With high-quality content, you can generate even more interest in your brand.
- Work on your SEO game: By giving more attention to SEO (search engine optimization), you can reach a greater number of people through search engines.
- Create a referral program: Word of mouth still works like a charm, even in 2021. By using a referral program, your clients become a mouthpiece for your brand.
Find a better way to organize
If your work ethic and organizational skills don’t check out, automating your document management won’t do much for you. No lawyer career guide can help if your workflow isn’t up to scratch, and if you dare to step into the world of solo practice, your organizational skills will make a difference between success and failure.
Whether working alone or coordinating a team of legal professionals, you can’t go wrong by using project management software. There are many simple-to-use solutions that can change the way you organize your work or coordinate your team. Make sure to check out Trello, Asana, or Evernote – you’ll thank us later.
The jack of all trades
As a lawyer, being aware of the shifting paradigms of the law industry goes a long way in helping you achieve success. Even with many roadblocks sitting in your way, the modern-day environment does offer balance by giving you many options to succeed on your own, on your terms.
Accepting that technology is the key to success is the first step in reaching your goals. Once you do, you can plan the path you want to take towards success, without going crazy.
