Solo Law Firm Trends: How to Prepare For a Future Beyond COVID-19 - Presented by the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution
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Solo Law Firm Trends:
How to Prepare For a Future
Beyond COVID-19
Presented by the
American Bar Association
Section of Dispute Resolution
American Bar Association
ABACLE
321 North Clark Street, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60654-7598
www.americanbar.org
800.285.2221
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The materials contained herein represent the opinions of the authors and editors and should not
be construed to be the action of the American Bar Association Solo, Small Firm and General
Practice Division unless adopted pursuant to the bylaws of the Association.
Nothing contained in this book is to be considered as the rendering of legal advice for specific
cases, and readers are responsible for obtaining such advice from their own legal counsel. This
book and any forms and agreements herein are intended for educational and informational
purposes only.
© 2021 American Bar Association. All rights reserved.
This publication accompanies the audio program entitled “Solo Law Firm Trends: How to Prepare
For a Future Beyond COVID-19” broadcast on June 7, 2021 (event code: GP2106SLF).
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Presentation Slides 2. Additional Resources
1
Solo Law Firm Trends -
How to Prepare For a
Future Beyond
COVID-19
Joshua Lenon Lawyer in Residence Joshua.Lenon@clio.com @JoshuaLenon
Nika Kabiri, JD, PhD Heather Hazelwood
Founder & Owner, Kabiri Consulting Founder & Owner, Ampersand Law
nika@kabiriconsulting.com heather@ampersand-law.com
Contents 1 The situation for solo law firms 2 How have client expectations shifted? 3 Strategies for getting more clients while working remote 4 Q&A with Solo Attorney Heather Hazelwood 5 Additional Resources for Solo Lawyers 6 Audience Q&A
Our Data Inputs Clio’s app data
Aggregated and anonymized data from
All results are tens of thousands of legal professionals.
anonymized and
aggregated Surveys of US legal professionals
Multiple surveys with over 1,000 responses
containing qualitative and quantitative results
from practicing legal professionals.
Surveys of US general population consumers
Multiple surveys of over 1,000 responses
from members of the general population.The situation for solo law
firmsSolo law firms were affected more than others
How have client expectations shifted?
Survey Data
Survey of US legal professionals. Survey of US general population
consumers.
• April 3 to 9: 485 respondents
• April 14: 1,042 respondents
• April 20 to 24: 654 respondents
• May 4 and 5: 1,019 respondents
• May 4 to 14: 609 respondents
• May 18 and 19: 1,055 respondents
• May 18 to 29: 783 respondents
• June 16 to 18: 1,004 respondents
• June 15 to 22: 566 respondents
• July 13 to 14: 1,003 respondents
• July 13 to 22: 635 respondents
• August 4 to 7: 1,002 respondents
• August 6 to 22: 1,044 respondentsare concerned about
are concerned about even making a living at
the success of their all
legal practiceare concerned about even making a living at all
From Our Survey Data
There are tangible 60% of solos reported seeing a decrease in
reasons for their the number of clients reaching out to their firms.
concern. They’ve seen
their businesses suffer. 24% had to forfeit revenue by June 2020.
15% of solo lawyers had to lay off staff by July
of last year.How have client expectations
changed?OF CONSUMERS SAID THAT TECHNOLOGY IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM NOW THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
OF CONSUMERS SAY THEY OF CONSUMERS SAY
USE MORE TYPES OF THEY’RE MORE
TECHNOLOGY. COMFORTABLE WITH
TECHNOLOGY.of consumers would of consumers prefer
prefer paying for legal services
videoconferencing electronically.
with a lawyer over a
phone call.of consumers prefer working with a lawyer who can
share documents electronically.Despite the benefits of adopting technology, solos are slower than other practitioners at adopting.
…..but if solos have proved to
be anything, it’s resilient and
adaptive.Strategies for getting more clients while working remote
Another look
Improving Acquisition • Improving acquisition: Scheduler + automated follow-ups
Streamlining Intake With Clio Grow • Make the client intake process more efficient—and personal • Automate tasks, so you can focus on what matters most • Know which matters and clients drive your success
Electronic Payments
Centralize Client Communications • Clio Connect and Clio for Clients
Q&A with Solo Attorney Heather
HazelwoodAdditional Resources for
Solo LawyersAdditional Resources
Webinars, blogs, and more!
• Legal Trends for Solo Law Firms
• Guide to Start a Law Firm
Covers everything from developing a business
plan and getting your finances in order to
building a steady stream of clients.
• Watch How Solos Use Clio Webinar - July 22
See a live demonstration with a Clio specialist.Clio Offerings Clio Manage Legal practice management software Our most popular product—the industry’s leading solution to help manage clients, organize cases, and automate tedious tasks and month-end billing. Clio Grow Client intake and legal CRM software Standardize the client intake process with online intake forms, email automation, and e-signatures to build strong relationships, and get powerful data insights to grow your firm. The Clio Suite Legal practice management, client intake and CRM software. Get unmatched performance with Clio Suite, the industry’s only end-to-end software solution for your firms.
Audience Poll Would you like to learn how Clio’s tools can help your solo practice? a. Yes, and I’m not a Clio Customer b. Yes, and I’m currently a Clio Customer c. No thanks, I’m not interested
Audience Q&A
THANK YOU!
2
Additional Resources 2020 Legal Trends Report. Clio www.clio.com/ltr “How to start a law firm: A complete guide”. Clio www.clio.com/resources/start-a-law-firm/
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