The old ways of taking care of your clients might not work anymore.
These days you need a new toolbox for client care, starting with empathy, EQ, and excellent communication.
Another indispensable tool: leveraging the power of practice management software.
“Lawyers are used to being busy, but the influx in demand for legal services has exploded over the last year and law firms are feeling the pressure from clients new and old to stay ahead of the curve,” according to the law practice management software provider PracticePanther. “Your clients may be feeling frantic with the new changes and need real-time support. Thankfully, they’re in the best possible hands with your expertise and industry-leading legal technology.”
Here are some ways legal tech can give your practice a leg up in these trying times:
- Streamlined client intake
- Less paper to deal with
- Easier and faster client payments
“Law firms love paper checks, but the turnaround time quickly became an issue once the pandemic began,” writes Kamron Sanders for PracticePanther. “Lost or late checks won’t keep the revenue flowing you need to keep your law firm operational. Allowing your clients to pay their invoices online will significantly relieve a burden off theirs, and your shoulders. Clients will enjoy making payments from the comfort of their homes and not having to risk going to the bank or post office to mail a check. Your firm will reap the benefits of faster payments and predictable cash flow. It’s an all-around win.”
Read 4 Time-saving Tips for Lawyers Managing Clients in a Pandemic here.
Succession planning is not just for lawyers on the verge of retirement. It’s for any law firm that wants to protect its practice and preserve its legacy. If you missed our October 5 webinar, Success in Succession Planning featuring guest speaker Camille Stell, CEO and founder of Lawyers Mutual Consulting & Services, who (literally) wrote the book on Designing a Succession Plan for Your Law Practice, don’t worry. It’s available for viewing on demand on the Alta Pro YouTube channel.
If you practice in Wisconsin, Texas, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana or Michigan, you can stay on top of ethics and risk management news by being a member of Alta Pro Lawyers RPG. You’ll get access to free webinars, the Pro Practice Playbook, Reminger ProLink, Ask the Risk Pro and more. Here’s how to join.
ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.1: Competence
Rule 1.1: A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client. Competent representation requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness and preparation reasonably necessary for the representation.
Comment [5] Competent handling of a particular matter includes inquiry into and analysis of the factual and legal elements of the problem, and use of methods and procedures meeting the standards of competent practitioners. It also includes adequate preparation. The required attention and preparation are determined in part by what is at stake; major litigation and complex transactions ordinarily require more extensive treatment than matters of lesser complexity and consequence. An agreement between the lawyer and the client regarding the scope of the representation may limit the matters for which the lawyer is responsible.
Comment [8] To maintain the requisite knowledge and skill, a lawyer should keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology, engage in continuing study and education and comply with all continuing legal education requirements to which the lawyer is subject.
If you practice in Wisconsin, Texas, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana or Michigan, you can stay on top of ethics and risk management news by being a member of Alta Pro Lawyers RPG. You’ll get access to free webinars, the Pro Practice Playbook, Reminger ProLink, Ask the Risk Pro and more. Here’s how to join.
