You can witness the power of branding in any company you come across these days. You can even notice personal brands of individuals and solo entities getting stronger and more substantial in the market. Branding is all for all, including law firms, no matter what point of your law career you are right now.
But branding also has an incorrect rep. People focus so much on branding and making their logos and taglines unique that they are attracting complexity to the scene.
The best suggestion any personal brand strategist will impart to you is simplicity. Whatever you choose, the firm logo, or your pamphlet, keep it short and simple. We know you are well-versed in legal jargon and can amaze your clients with the impeccable power of words and phrases, but this doesn’t mean you have to put it in your brand image. The simpler your brand looks, the more attracted clients will get to your firm.
Remember that clients don’t look for the attractiveness factor in your law firm. They want solutions to their problems. And hence, you should tell them simply through your brand that you can provide the requisite solutions.
Here are the things than can indeed make your law firm stand out in the market
1. Choose your niche by identifying your fortitude
Lawyers choose their niche, but it depends on the market condition and what customers are looking for. Do you think that market demand should be the only criteria to decide your niche? Not at all. You should first determine your strengths, establish your niche based on it and then choose an area where there is demand for such legal services.
Now, small firm owners would think that they are starting it out, and they cannot expect to be the best at something. Well, you are the best at something, and you have to be proud of conveying it to your future customers. You cannot call yourself ‘master of all’ and brag about providing all kinds of legal services to the customers. You have found your unique differentiating factor and let the customers know what you are best at.
Even if you are starting small, do not worry. Clients like to work with small legal firms as there is close bonding and their requirements are substantially met. They might not have connections, but you can expect it to be running at optimal resources.
2. Choose your name, create your logo and tagline
Mostly, law firms gain the names of the partners or the sole lawyer practicing the same. But you can be a little dynamic and try to use a generic name for your law firm to stand out in the market. You can try to communicate your niche through your law firm, but that will take some time for the people to understand. Or you can choose your last name to be the law firm name and add a tiny tagline stating your niche or unique points.
To figure out your logo and tagline, you can write down the three differentiating factors of your law firm. This small exercise will help you to draft a logo and a tagline, which are memorable and stand true to your strengths. Even if you use your last name for the law firm, do not commit the mistake of using a generic tagline. It should definitely be different and stand out in the market. Once your logo and tagline are complete, you are ready with your brand to spread amongst customers and staff as well.
3. Establish an excellent customer support system
A law firm is a service-oriented business, and that’s why you should have a strong customer support team. You should be able to communicate with the clients faster, understand and help with their problems, and provide them with suitable solutions.
For this purpose, you have to ensure that you have proper mail, telephone, and walk-in systems for the customers. Any client who approaches your firm should never be returned without an appropriate response. You might not be able to provide them with legal advice at that very moment, but you should keep them in the loop and let them know that their requirements will be taken care of.
A law firm is not always about your clients. It is also about your employees you hire. It could be only the telephone operator at the start, but you will employ assistants, interns and full-time staff in the future. Ensure that you take care of them as they are the face of your brand and will be the linkage between the firm and the clients.
4. Be active in social and print media
Lawyers won’t have sufficient opportunities to get known on social media, but you can try to share snippets and information that are useful for the general use of the audience. You can write articles and blogs on the topics that interest you for newspapers and magazines. Ensure that you do not overdo the media work, but you have to build your presence in the market. If you seek an opportunity to be a visiting lecturer or talk at community events, do not miss them.
5. Keep an eye on what other law firms do
Remember that when the customers approach you for services, they compare you with other law firms. Hence, you have to observe what other law firms are doing, even if they belong to another niche. You can study their strengths and weaknesses and figure out what makes them unique for the customers. It doesn’t imply you have to imitate what others are doing, but you should know what keeps them in the limelight. On the same lines, try to be well-versed with the state rules and adhere to the same.
6. Set up an organised documentation system
The clients who visit your office won’t notice for the first time, but if you wish for their second visit and final confirmation, then you have to keep your documents in order. Messed-up papers all over the office carrying dust are not a pretty sight. Moreover, customers prefer to opt for firms and services that are environmentally conscious and do not use obsolete methods of storage.
Hence, establish a paperless, digital system to store documents and papers, and make yourself eco-friendly and unique from the other firms. It is also an excellent motivator for the employees working in your firm. It might take time to train new staff, but they will thank later.
7. Choose the best, effective legal software
When it comes to law firms, no one can underestimate the power of legal software. Though there are plenty in the market, you need to choose what suits your requirements. The clients and employees both need to be comfortable with the software.
During the client meeting, the person might ask you which legal software you use, and hence, you should not be lagging while setting up in the office space. You should be diligent enough to choose the software once you have a physical space and the law firm formed.
In conclusion, your law firm can stand out in the market, no doubts, provided you have incorporated the above tips and insights in the initial stage.
FAQS
A law firm should use tactics like developing a strong online presence, building relationships with referral sources, focusing on client experience, offering specialized services, offering flexible fee arrangements, investing in technology, and staying up to date on industry trends.
Law firms should create an optimized website, utilize social media, create digital content, invest in search engine optimization, provide a secure and easy to use client portal, and use targeted advertising.
Law firms should create referral partnerships, attend networking events, attend industry conferences and seminars, join referral clubs, and interact with potential referrers through social media.
Law firms should strive to provide excellent customer service, encourage frequent communication, utilize client feedback to refine services and processes, set expectations and follow up, and recognize clients.
Law firms should determine their specialty and target audience, create content that demonstrates their experience in the specialty, and communicate highly specialized services, then leverage their competitive advantages when pitching for new business.
Law firms can tailor their fee arrangements to more specialized tasks and projects and waive some of the startup costs. They can also offer flat fee options, sliding-scale fee structures, deferred payment plans, and incentives like loyalty discounts and multi-level referral rewards.
Law firms should invest in technology like high-tech employee training, cloud computing solutions, interactive client portals and digital marketing solutions.
Law firms should keep up with developments by reading relevant industry publications and subscribing to legal webinars and podcasts. They should also network with other firms and attend conferences and seminars.
A good online presence can benefits a law firm by increasing their reach to potential clients, improving their brand visibility, increasing their authority as a legal resource, and generating more profitability.
Law firms should earn trust with potential clients by providing transparency, striving for excellence, delivering timely services, and leveraging online reviews and referrals.