The National Creditors Bar Association Law Practice Management Blog

Lots of lawyers remain unsure about what do during mass quarantining.   They’re  uncertain about how to move their businesses forward, so they do . . . nothing.   That’s  the wrong play .     A number of law firms are shutting down intake, reducing advertising spend and limiting marketing efforts.  Now, however, is exactly the time to be ramping up your efforts in marketing online.  Consumers who are looking for lawyers are seeking guidance; and, for those consumers, a lawyer’s guidance has never been needed as much as it is now.     Many attorneys don’t want to market their services right now in light of the coronavirus pandemic, because they don’t want to be seen as profiting from tragedy.  Most law firms have issued a notification about the state of their business during closure: that law firms are essential businesses, and that they remain open.   But, potential and existing law firm clients don’t just want i...

Everytime  you complete a business-facing page -- your website, a social media profile, a review platform page -- you're always asked to provide an opening and closing time for your office.   Don't.   I mean, think about it: Does that jibe with the way modern consumers access businesses, or the way that modern business owners work ?   Do you work 9-5?  Of course not.  You do things after hours, and you're frustrated when consumer service options don't exist after hours, too.  So are your clients.  And, guess what: If you indicate that your office close s  at 5 pm, you're just giving your potential clients an excuse not to call you, and to call someone else  instead .   Of course, this course of action necessitates the need for providing contact options for potential clients who contact you on off hours.  That c ontact option c ould be you.  Or ,  it could be a contact form.  Or, it could be a virtual engagement service or to...

Law firms have a particularly hard time with lead intake.  It costs time and money to acquire leads in the first place, to the point where it’s devastating to whiff on those leads, once you have a chance to convert them.  Even when  law firms effectively engage  leads  and are responsive in contacting them back, oftentimes they don’t say the right thing, and therefore fail in transitioning the lead to a client.   One of the chief reasons for that is that lawyers are unwilling to respond to what clients most want to know.   Because clients choose lawyers based not only on their general expertise, but also based on their specific expertise in particular niche practice areas, they want to  know more about the legal process that effects their claim.   Only, lawyers  are reticent to talk with leads about the legal process for a couple of reasons: (1) they’re worried about overstepping ethical bounds; and, (2) they’ve ...

If you’re still waiting on cash, checks or money orders, there’s a better way.   Consumers want, and you can offer them, electronic payment processing, via credit or debit card.  Many law firms avoid this option, because of payment processing fees associated with these systems; but, the fact of the matter is that electronic payment processing tools get you more money, sooner  --  and, even assuming the processing fees attached to these accounts, they still cost less than traditional payment methods when you consider collection costs.  Some lawyers avoid electronic payment processing because of perceived ethics issues.  But, there’s a simple solution to those: make sure any fees (payment processing and chargebacks) come out of your operating account and not your IOLTA  account .   If you can collect more, more quickly, and can also automate payments via electronic payment processing systems, it will reduce or eliminate your accoun...