How To Run A Remote Law Firm
The legal landscape is constantly evolving.
With this, the expectations of legal professionals are also changing. For example, in recent years, there has been a real push for a healthy work-life balance as opposed to accepting a 50+ hour work week as the status quo.
In addition to this, a growing number of legal professionals are pushing for remote or hybrid work opportunities. Not only does this allow them to achieve the fabled work-life balance mentioned above, but studies have also found that it can drive workplace productivity and satisfaction rates.
In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the necessity of allowing for remote/hybrid working and the steps that you can take to continue to manage your firm effectively moving forward.
Should I allow my employees to work remotely?
This has been a question on the minds of many law firm owners over the past few years. And, while many pushed for a complete return to the office when lockdowns lifted, others did not. For example, according to a recent study found that 82% of legal professionals work remotely at least some of the time.
What are the pros of working remotely?
- Improved work-life balance
- Improved workplace satisfaction
- Improved productivity rates
- Reduced employee turnover
- Lower overheads
What are the potential drawbacks of working remotely?
- Communication difficulties
- Distracted employees
- A lack of a ‘team’ mentality
In short, the decision as to whether or not you should work remotely lies in whether you think the benefits outweigh any challenges you may face along the way.
Top Tips for Running a Remote Team
Set clear expectations. Setting clear expectations for your remote or hybrid team is critical to ensuring this venture is a success. This way, employees know what is expected from them when clocking in at home. For example, you may want them to provide more consistent updates on projects moving forward to ensure that they remain on track.
Investing in technology. The right technology and tools can help ensure that your team is able to work effectively from anywhere in the world, eliminating many of the challenges listed above. For example, in addition to investing in case management software, you should also purchase communication software, such as the premium version of Google Teams or Zoom. This way, colleagues can continue to collaborate on projects even when working from home.
Continue to make them feel like part of a team. Sometimes, remote operations can harm workplace cultures as employees feel removed from the team. Fortunately, this can be easily remedied by hosting online and in-person team-building events while also keeping up common workplace practices such as employee of the month. Weekly team check-ins can also help in this regard.
Continue to outsource where necessary. Outsourcing can also help ensure that your remote business runs smoothly. After all, it means that you are not asking your team to carry out work they do not have the expertise or tools to handle independently, such as accounting tasks.
At FinOp Group, we’ve helped countless remote law firms streamline accounting operations so that law firm owners can focus their energy on motivating their teams and growing their businesses. Get in touch today to find out more.
