7 Warnings for Your Law Firm’s Team

As an attorney, you're the leader of the pack, captain of the ship!

You have an important mission. You do something cool like secure futures, protect families, bring loved ones together, build businesses, or protect work products. Your career, financial wellbeing, and family’s future are entwined with your mission. But, if they're not spot on, your team could totally f…mess…k all that up.

While your team is a valuable part of that mission, they might not always grasp how important their actions are to you. Share this post with your team so they have the opportunity to heed these warnings – or all may be lost. (Been watching Harry Potter movies so I'm feeling a bit like Dumbledore!) 

7 Warnings for Your Law Firm’s Team

Hi Team!

You're incredibly valuable to your attorney's law firm and life. And, I know there's a lot on your plate - fulfilling client expectations and getting the legal work done, while balancing multiple tasks and ringing phones. I get it, so I want to help make your life a bit easier. I suggest you re-read this list monthly to keep you on target.

1. 100% Confidentiality Required

Keep in mind that it’s your absolute duty to keep everything you know about your clients confidential. It’s never okay to talk about clients or their financials, personal information, family, or upset outside of your official duties. Never ever, ever never. Your clients count on you. Your team counts on you. Your attorney counts on you.

Breaking confidentiality rules is a fireable offense.

2. A Law Firm is a Business

A law firm is a business that provides legal services; it exists to make money. While your law firm does tremendous good in the world, the bottom line is that it is a business and must be run like a business. To be successful, you must contribute to the bottom line and make your attorney’s life easier. Always be looking for ways to be more efficient and add value.

 3. You are a Professional

Never ever, ever never disparage your attorney, your team, or the firm online or otherwise, with your name or anonymously. Unless the law is being broken, what happens in your office, stays in your office – even if you’re angry or you move onto another position. Anything else makes you look bad.

While it’s in your lawyer’s best interest to consider your point of view, a law firm (like any other business) is not a democracy. If you really can’t live with something, address the matter professionally and directly to (only) the person who can solve the problem with the goal of solving the problem in mind. A rant is worthless. If work conditions aren’t what you want or the job isn’t a good fit, move on, in a respectful manner. 

4. Be Healthy

When you’re not in the office, stop thinking about work – just don’t do it. If you have a day off, the rest of your team will muddle through until your return. It’s absolutely necessary for you to have down time, relax, and do things (other than work) you enjoy.

During the workday, you must move. Get up from your desk once every hour and take a short physical and mental break.

Drink water, eat healthy foods, surround yourself with positive people (including on social media), read more, exercise, and meditate. Your work product, soul, and body will be better for it.

When you're healthy, you have more capacity to be the firm rock star you truly are.

 5. Be Kind

Calling a lawyer’s office, coming into a lawyer’s office, and meeting with a lawyer are all stressful and scary for most people. Your welcoming manner, kindness, and professionalism matters. Never let the client know you’re annoyed or busy. No matter what your job description says, in that moment, your only concern must be making the client feel comfortable and safe, even if it's Friday at 5pm.

 6. Be Empathetic

Keep in mind that clients are working with you to deal with something they’d likely prefer not to be dealing with. They may have to talk about difficult things like money, betrayal, losing their house, finances, debt, family secrets, death, divorce, dying, disability, drama, and their future, which may be in peril. They're making hard decisions. Tissues and compassion should always be available.

 7. Be Open

You’re going to receive feedback, some good, some not-so-good. That’s the way it is for all of us. Feedback will help you to get better at what you do and develop skill sets. While not all feedback is accurate, take feedback as a gift, examine it. If it rings true or it’s part of your job duties, use it. If it doesn’t ring true, put it on a shelf perhaps to be considered at another time.

To Your Success - and Happiness! 

Wendy

I’m a 15-year veteran of the practice of law, a former senior executive for a large attorney organization, a published article ABA author, and the founder of the private consulting firm, Million Dollar Attorney? where I serve as a Master Law Firm Business Strategist, Certified Success Trainer, and Mindset Mentor for Entrepreneurial Attorneys. 

I help solo and small firm attorneys like you build million-dollar law firms that give you the life you love via my “Operation Best Life Signature System.”  Check it out at MillionDollarAttorney.com