The Two Simple Business Development Hacks I’d Tell Every Solo Lawyer

Want to build better professional relationships as a solo practising solicitor?

Want to improve your law firm performance?

Want more legal work?

Here are two very simple solo lawyer marketing tips often neglected but things that still work, that a lot of solo lawyers still don’t do well enough.

1. Call people back.

2. Acknowledge emails quickly.

That’s it.

When I started my own small law firm, a more senior lawyer gave me some rock solid advice - “over-service everyone but don’t charge them for it.”

I took it to heart.

I returned every call as quickly as I could.

I acknowledged and replied to every email asap and no later than the end of the day.

I answered the office phone myself when no-one else could.

I acknowledge this was the early days of the practice so work was not yet coming in red hot.

It wasn’t rocket science though.

It was just good manners, consistency, and a bit of discipline.

The people on the other side expressed surprise at me contacting them back so quickly.

And guess what?

It worked.

I built trust with a lot of people quickly as the sole practitioner lawyer who answered his emails and phone calls quickly.

I got referrals. I got work. Lots of it.

Years later, I still try to hold myself to the same standard.

Timely communication builds confidence and credibility and both lead to more opportunity.

Clients still express surprise when I answer the phone - but seriously what am I supposed to do - let it ring out when someone else is too busy. And it is still my business by the way. And I still enjoy talking to my clients.

So if you’re serious about business development, don’t overthink it.

Marketing for solicitors should be a critical and ongoing but as a simple natural thing.

Return phone calls quickly and acknowledge emails quickly.

And yes, especially if one of those calls or emails is from me!

We coach solo lawyers and small law firms throughout Australia to do the simple stuff well and build on it from there.

We have a range of coaching services to help you with your professional development and law practice management as a solo lawyer and principal of a small law firm

Reach out to Paul Ippolito for a free initial consultation here

Paul Ippolito, Principal of Ippolito Advisory, is a coach for lawyers and an Australian legal practice management consultant helping sole practitioners set up, launch, and grow their practices. He is available for media enquiries, speaking and consulting. You can contact him here.