Question:
I am a family law practitioner in the western suburbs of Chicago. I have been in practice for thirty years. I have two associate attorneys and two staff members. In the past I had other partners but that was many years ago. Over the last few years our business has been declining. Our financial performance last year was terrible and I made less than my associates. If this continues I may have to lay off an associate or two. Recently we have made some improvements to our website but I am not sure we have not done enough. I have noticed that more business seems to be coming from the website and less through referrals. I would appreciate any thoughts your may have.
Response:
We are finding that law firms that serve retail consumer clients in practice areas such as personal injury, family law, elder law, and estate planning are becoming more and more dependent on the internet for their business. Family law firms especially are becoming more dependent on the internet for business and a sound internet strategy and investment is crucial for success. This is especially true in the larger cities and metropolitan areas. Less business is coming from traditional referral sources and more from the internet. I have family law clients in your area that tell me they are receiving ninety percent or more of their business from the internet.
A few suggestions that you might want to consider:
I hope this helps and good luck!
Click here for our blog on marketing
Click here for articles on other topics
John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Question:
I am the sole owner of an estate planning firm in San Francisco Bay area. I have four full-time associates, six paralegals, two secretaries, a firm administrator, and four other staff members. We are a high volume operation and we do a lot of marketing. We need help coordinating and handling and coordinating the marketing. Are we ready for marketing coordinator or director?
Response:
Personally I think the firm is a little small for a full-time marketing position. If you can find a person that is willing to work part-time that could work in a firm your size. Many firms your size and larger that have a firm administrator include marketing responsibilities on the firm administrator’s job description and have marketing and business development coordination handled by the firm administrator. Here is an example of the marketing and business development duties that your administrator could handle.
Advertising
Coordinate the firm’s advertising program established by the owner.
Business Development
Coordinate and implement the business development program established the owner
Oversight responsibility by performing or delegating the following:
1 Updating Firm E newsletter database
2 Monthly review of E newsletter Database blocked list report,
contacting contacts for updated email addresses, and updating
e-newsletter and all related databases.
3 Update Other Firm E-newsletter Databases
4 Update case management and time billing databases
5 Distribute Electronic E newsletters.
Client Testimonials
Prompting the owner monthly to solicit one client testimonial from a client and posting or coordinating with the firm’s website provider for them to post the testimonial to the website.
2 Schedule, coordinate, and maintain a file on the firm’s file
server of action items and notes from each meeting.
3 Coordinate and assist in the implementation of action items.
Public Relations
Coordinate the firm’s public relations program.
Electronic Media
1. Website
Oversight responsibility for maintaining the firm’s web site and keep
the website’s content fresh and updated in coordination with website provider.
2. Social Media
Update entries on social media.
Directories
Client Communication/Satisfaction Program
Firm Announcements
Supervise preparation and distribution of firm announcements
Click here for our blog on marketing
Click here for articles on other topics
John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC