Make a nontraditional law office model work for your small firm

Independent lawyers and small law firms have an abundance of choices in how to structure their business. Below are some ideas for creating a nontraditional law office model that works for you and your practice area.

Niche law firm model

Choosing a niche law practice area can help independent lawyers and small law firms in a number of ways. Focusing on one or two niche areas, rather than trying to run a general practice, allows you to:

  • Simplify your marketing
  • Become a sought-after expert in the field
  • Boost your memorability and referral opportunities
  • Charge fees that align with your deeper experience and knowledge

FindLaw elaborates on that last point, saying:

“You’ll face less price sensitivity. People pay for expertise. I’m sure I paid more for the orthopedist than I would have for the physician’s assistant’s services. This equates to potentially higher rates for you, which will more than make up for a smaller pool of potential clients.”

When choosing a niche, consider what clients need most right now as well as which areas of law light you up and keep you engaged in your work.

Collaborative law model

A collaborative law structure allows your clients to resolve disputes without litigation. Using this model, your law firm might provide mediation, arbitration or other processes that help keep the case out of court. You might also bring in non-law experts who can support the case, such as child advocates, financial advisors or additional mediators. 

The Valor Institute provides some research and insight into the benefits of the collaborative law model, particularly for clients seeking a less aggressive approach to resolving a conflict:

“There is a movement growing that rejects the ‘win-at-all-costs’ model in favor of a human-centric approach. Collaborative Law is a framework designed for resolution and settlement rather than combat.

In a collaborative setting, the goal shifts. It’s no longer about ‘winning’ a war; it’s about solving a problem.”

This model works well for law firms that specialize in family law, estate planning, employment law and business partnerships.

Subscription model

You want predictable revenue, and your clients want reliable services. Enter the law firm subscription model in which clients pay a standard monthly or annual fee for your services.

This law firm model works best for clients who have a recurring need for legal services. The practice areas that would benefit most from a subscription model include:

  • Corporate counsel
  • Contracts
  • Employment law
  • Compliance
  • Intellectual property

Under this model, you might consider offering contract templates, webinars, a set number of consultation hours and other value-add services. With those added service, you can create pricing tiers to meet various client needs.

Hybrid law model

The way we work continues to morph and grow. For small law firms, that means more flexibility and choice in law firm operations. It also means taking back control over our time and quality of life.

That might sound like a bold statement, but hybrid work has changed the game for many lawyers seeking a healthier balance between their work and personal lives.

Korum, a managed legal services provider, offers this takeaway on the benefits of hybrid work for lawyers:

“Perhaps the most celebrated benefit of the hybrid working model is its contribution to work-life integration. Legal professionals can tailor their work environments to suit personal needs, leading to better mental health, job satisfaction, and long-term engagement.”

For small law firms, the challenge becomes where to find reasonably priced office space that you plan to use only part-time. In fact, high real estate costs have likely driven some of the return-to-office pushes we have seen from larger firms and companies across industries.

Fortunately, coworking spaces or shared office models offer a perfect middle ground. With a coworking space, you gain access to a professional setting for focused work and client meetings, but at a much lower cost than a traditional office lease. Even better, someone else manages the building maintenance, tech, reception services and more.

Ready to build a successful small law firm in Denver? Reach out to us to learn more about how we support hybrid law firms at our two central locations for independent lawyers and small law firms.