how to get your first client as a lawyer

by Woodrow Feil 3 min read

  • Friends and Family. Your friends and family will be one of the best referrals to help you find new clients as an attorney.
  • Join the Bar Association in Your Community. If you have absolutely no connections, the first thing you should do is join any bar associations of committees in your community.
  • Develop Your Online Presence. Social media and online browsers are great places to start finding clients as an attorney. Get started with a website.
  • Social Media. With a blog for your law firm’s website you can begin sharing content on places like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn.
  • Advertising. Two methods of online advertising for lawyers is by hiring a Google Adwords agency or a Facebook Ads agency / Instagram Marketing Agency.
  • Attorney Lead Generation Services. If you’re not good with technology, social media, or websites, you can use an attorney lead generation service to find new clients.

Full Answer

How to find new clients as a lawyer?

Jul 14, 2020 · Below are a few tips to help you get clients as a new lawyer and break-even in the profession. Do your Pupilage in a Busy Office. The advantages of cutting your teeth under an experienced lawyer are enormous. The exposure you gain by working in a senior lawyer’s office is invaluable and cannot be quantified in monetary terms.

How to tell people you are opening a new law firm?

Feb 17, 2021 · How To Get Clients As An Attorney Friends and Family. Your friends and family will be one of the best referrals to help you find new clients as an... Join the Bar Association in Your Community. If you have absolutely no connections, the first thing you should do is …

How do I start my own law firm?

How to Get New Clients as a Lawyer. 28% of Lawyers get new clients from directories; 31% of new clients you can get by referral from other attornies; 40% of clients find a lawyer on Google; 62% of clients came from friends; So, digital marketing for lawyers may bring you more than 50% of all possible customers.

How to get more leads as a lawyer?

Having an email list of prospective clients and sending periodic updates on what you have to offer is sure to get you clients. Social Media Your online networking habits could also be a great way of how to get clients for as a lawyer. Open a Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn account for yourself or your law firm and create a massive following.

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What should a lawyer do in the first meeting with a client?

During the New Client Consultation, Every Lawyer Should…Be Clear about Any Consultation Fees. ... Introduce the Firm and Working Attorneys' Experience as Is Relevant to the Case. ... Be Attentive. ... Showcase Knowledge and Know-How. ... Engage with Specifics. ... Discuss the Process.More items...•Aug 13, 2019

How do sole practitioners get clients?

Your Guide on How to Get Clients as a Solo AttorneyDeliver Exceptional Client Service. ... Build an Effective Website. ... Work on Your Local SEO. ... Leverage Social Media. ... Consider Paid Ads. ... Ask for Client Reviews. ... Engage in Content Marketing. ... Make Strong Community Connections.Feb 2, 2021

Do lawyers lie to get clients?

In California, the Rules of Professional Conduct govern a lawyer's ethical duties. The law prohibits lawyers from engaging in dishonesty.Jun 17, 2015

What do lawyers want from their clients?

Most lawyers want to build a strong client relationship. They believe that when they are professional, logical, and offer good advice (and resolve the matter) that they have provided the elements of a good relationship. Clients see it entirely differently.Jun 14, 2019

How do I get my first client?

How to Find Your First Client: A GuideEducate yourself. The first key in getting clients is to know your market. ... Get an online presence. ... Leverage social media. ... Network. ... Use inbound marketing. ... Pet personal. ... Demonstrate value. ... Be consultative in your approach.More items...•Jan 29, 2021

How do you attract big clients?

Here are 10 tried-and-true tips to help you attract more customers.Offer new customers discounts and promotions. ... Ask for referrals. ... Recontact old customers. ... Network. ... Update your website. ... Partner with complementary businesses. ... Promote your expertise. ... Take advantage of online ratings and review sites.More items...•Feb 28, 2020

What if a lawyer knows his client is lying?

If a lawyer, the lawyer's client, or a witness called by the lawyer, has offered material evidence and the lawyer comes to know of its falsity, the lawyer shall take reasonable remedial measures, including, if necessary, disclosure to the tribunal.

What is unethical for a lawyer?

Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, overbilling, refusing to represent a client for political or professional motives, false or misleading statements, knowingly accepting worthless lawsuits, hiding evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while ...

What happens if a lawyer loses a case?

If the attorney loses the case, the client is still responsible for legal fees as stipulated in the original retainer contract. Some attorneys may agree to withhold billing until the end of a case, but they will still expect payment regardless of how the case ends.Apr 22, 2019

What are clients looking for in law firms?

Clients want genuine ownership of the relationship by the partner and the team. When firms get bigger, people may think it's just an institutional relationship, but clients still really want personal care. They also want dialogue in between matters. Lawyers must not disappear because their transaction has ended.Jun 12, 2019

What are lawyers four duties?

DutiesAdvise and represent clients in courts, before government agencies, and in private legal matters.Communicate with their clients, colleagues, judges, and others involved in the case.Conduct research and analysis of legal problems.Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for individuals and businesses.More items...•Sep 8, 2021

What do clients value the most in law firms?

It's clear that clients expect law firms to evolve, and these are the approaches that will yield the best results.Innovative approach. It may be difficult to talk about innovation amid the COVID-19 pandemic. ... Industry expertise. ... Collaborative teams.Nov 4, 2020

What makes a good lawyer?

Being a good lawyer is one of the best ways to get clients as a new lawyer. A good lawyer is always efficient and professional in handling his/her clients’ cases.

Why is the internet important for lawyers?

The seeming reluctance of lawyers to have an online presence has a lot to do with the old legal practice of not advertising. But there are great ways to use the internet without running afoul of the restrictions on an advertisement. One of the advantages of the internet is that it is a good place to get clients as a new lawyer.

Why is networking important in law?

The importance of networking in attracting clients to your law firm cannot be underestimated . Networking is the process of building and nurturing mutually valuable relationships with other people. There are several ways to network. So decide on the best one for you and make yourself visible and available.

What are the advantages of the internet?

One of the advantages of the internet is that it is a good place to get clients as a new lawyer. There are professional platforms where people meet to exchange ideas, goods, and services. Some of these professional platforms include: Linkedin. Facebook.

Friends and Family

Your friends and family will be one of the best referrals to help you find new clients as an attorney.

Join the Bar Association in Your Community

If you have absolutely no connections, the first thing you should do is join any bar associations of committees in your community. Making connections and building relationships with other attorneys will give others a chance to get to know you and what you do.

Develop Your Online Presence

Social media and online browsers are great places to start finding clients as an attorney.

Social Media

With a blog for your law firm’s website you can begin sharing content on places like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn. Sharing on these platforms allow you to make direct connections with those who may need your legal services.

Advertising

Two methods of online advertising for lawyers is by hiring a Google Adwords agency or a Facebook Ads agency / Instagram Marketing Agency.

Attorney Lead Generation Services

If you’re not good with technology, social media, or websites, you can use an attorney lead generation service to find new clients.

Also on AmazeLaw

If your firm has a law website, having a way to instantly communicate …

How to attract more people to your website?

1. Deliver more useful information than your competitors do on a search engine optimized website (SEO). Create a page for each question your prospects and legal clients ask, and provide a meaningful answer. This will attract a lot more people to your site.

What happens if you don't have a website?

Literally, ALL your other marketing efforts will underperform or fail (and you’ll waste a lot of money) if you don’t have a website optimized to convert attention (visitors) into action (calls to your office or online inquiries, and/or people providing you with their contact info).

Is Google a directory?

Google itself is a directory of local listings, but it’s one of a hundred. In addition to curating your Google review ratings and keeping your profile up-to-date, there are other directories you should be on, too.

Is content marketing good?

This is your long-term strategy to Get More Clients Using Content Marketing. Yes, your website is filled with content. But content can get a lot more interesting—and a lot more practical—for your prospects.

What is the most difficult challenge a lawyer faces?

The most difficult challenge a lawyer faces is figuring out how to get clients. Particularly if you’re a young lawyer. It can feel like there is a secret no one is telling when other lawyers have lots of clients with what looks like a minimum of work.

Who is Merrilyn Tarlton?

Merrilyn Astin Tarlton has been helping lawyers think differently about the practice of law since 1984 when she became one of North America’s first law firm marketing executives. Today she works with individuals and organizations to redefine success in the new business of law. Merrilyn is a founding member and past president of the Legal Marketing Association (LMA) and a past president and trustee of the College of Law Practice Management. She was honored to be inducted into the inaugural class of the LMA Hall of Fame and as a Fellow in the College. Merrilyn was a founding partner of AttorneyatWork.com and is a regular contributor. Contact Merrilyn directly at mat@astintarlton.com.

Leveraging your network is one of the most powerful things you can do to stack up enough work to grow a thriving law practice

Take New Law Business Model member lawyer Shihlan Chen, for instance. She attends a bilingual church with many Chinese parishioners. Among the members of the church are professionals in need of a business lawyer; Shihlan’s first business relationship with another church member started a chain reaction.

Build Connections Where You Spend Time

Chances are you know and associate with some people who aren’t lawyers.

Plant Conversational Seeds

Don’t be shy about discussing your work or even saying that you have space in your schedule for a couple of clients. If you share information about the kind of law you practice in conversation, someone just might say, “Hey, I know someone who might need help with that…” Even if you don’t get anything out of a conversation right away, that’s ok.

Join a Professional Organization

If you don’t get out much, you might start by joining a professional organization with other lawyers. It might sound counterintuitive, but other lawyers are actually a great source of referrals.

Maintain Good Relationships with Your Existing Clients

This is very important. Obviously, you will put every effort into doing amazing work for your clients. You should also try, however, to keep in touch with them even while you’re not in the midst of doing work for them.

Become a Trusted Advisor in Your Community

As a lawyer who completed school and passed the Bar, you know a lot of things that other people might not. Providing some information for free isn’t just ok, it’s a great way to establish yourself as someone who is helpful and trustworthy, and someone who people will want to hire when the time comes.

Leveraging your network will not only allow you to crack the code for how to get clients as a lawyer, but it will also make a positive impact in your practice for years to come

The next item to consider is how you handle intake + your initial consultations once those connections come to you ready to learn more about how you can help them. Download this free resource from New Law Business Model now for 5 Steps to Improve Client Intake for Lawyers —and get happier clients, at higher fees, right away.

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