Colleagues in a coworking space can become a lawyer’s best asset

Independent lawyers and small law firms have been making the move to shared office spaces for the past several years. If you approach it right, your colleagues in a working space can become your biggest supporters and source of new business.

Why choose a coworking space

First, consider the many reasons people choose to run businesses out of coworking spaces or shared office settings. The benefits include:

  • Flexibility. Create a hybrid schedule that works best for you and your client needs.
  • Sense of community. Isolation can present a big challenge for many entrepreneurs.
  • Separation between work and personal life. Moving out of your home office allows for focused work time.
  • Professional atmosphere. Clients expect a higher level of professionalism from lawyers.

The U.S. Chamber highlights the community atmosphere as one main benefit, writing:

“The foundation of a ‘company culture’ used to be the face-to-face interactions between employees and the community they formed in the office. In today’s remote-first world, this can be harder to achieve when colleagues are all working in their own isolated spaces.”

If connection and community matter to you, coworking makes sense.

Lawyer-only coworking

Many coworking spaces serve a general professional population while others cater to specific industries. Shared offices that cater to lawyers, like LawBank, allow for:

  • Greater security
  • Receptionists skilled in managing legal clientele
  • Commitment to a quiet, professional atmosphere
  • A built-in network for referrals and collaboration across practice areas
  • Law office prestige without the overhead costs

Moving away from other coworking spaces meant for start-ups or creatives creates a different focus and culture, and many lawyers appreciate the camaraderie they find among their legal industry peers.

How to connect with others in a coworking space

Once you have chosen a coworking space, you might wonder how to integrate into the existing culture and make meaningful connections. Here are a few tried-and-true ideas:

  • Seek out the community spaces. Yes, you need to focus, and your desk creates the perfect place to do so. However, the lobby, lounge, kitchen and other common spaces allow you to meet others and begin to develop rapport through casual interactions.
  • Go to the events. Did you miss the holiday party? Make sure you attend the next happy hour or on-site professional development opportunity.
  • Talk work. Yes, it’s ok to talk about your work. Especially as a newbie, people will feel curious about your practice. Go ahead and share.
  • Talk about something else. Ok, now that the work talk is out of your system, be you. Share your personal interests, family, recent travel, favorite recipe, etc. Simply show your human side and give people a reason to connect with you beyond work talk.
  • Ask questions. Now, stop talking about yourself. To create genuine connection, questions will go much further than monologues. Show interest in the other person’s work and life.
  • Offer help. If you have business or law-related expertise that could help someone, share it. Ask how you can support your coworking colleagues’ business goals. Over time, you might even develop collaborative partnerships.
  • Ask for help. Your coworking colleagues have business experience than can benefit you as you grow your practice. Ask for advice and tips when it feels appropriate and be open about your business challenges when you need support.
  • Open communication channels. Everyone’s coworking schedule will differ, so don’t count on seeing people in person each time. If you want to connect with someone more regularly, establish text or email communication as well.

Of course, remain mindful of others’ needs. Choose your moments carefully and opt to start conversations when people seem open and relaxed. You can also connect with the people who manage your coworking space to ask for tips on how to connect more meaningfully.

Key reminders

Remember that relationship-building requires time to build rapport and trust. Focus on short, casual interactions at first. Once your fellow coworkers get to know you as both a person and a professional, they will seek you out more. The beauty of a coworking space is that you will see the same people consistently over the course of months and even years.

Ready to learn more about LawBank’s collaborative community for lawyers? Reach out to us to schedule a tour.