how to share a lawyer firm

by Madelyn Stamm 10 min read

You can do it all by migrating your law firm data to a cloud-based storage solution such as SharePoint. SharePoint is a popular option for law firms that need a collaborative, yet simple, storage solution. SharePoint isn’t necessarily the best solution for every firm, however.

Full Answer

Should you join a law firm partnership?

Slow down before you join up. The formation of a law firm partnership is a bigger decision than it seems. The theory behind a partnership seems sound: bringing in a partner will spread the risk, create synergy, and double the odds of success.

How do I choose a secure file sharing tool for law firms?

Before you purchase a secure file sharing tool for your law firm, it’s important to make sure that the software has what your firm needs to succeed while keeping client information confidential. Look for a secure tool that’s easy to implement and use for your firm. This checklist of questions should help: Does it have encryption options?

What does a partner at a law firm look like?

So will your partner. That’s what most law firms look like–lots of folks who think of themselves as leaders with very, very few followers. That explains why so many law firm partners find themselves rowing the boat in different directions. They each have a different destination.

Who is a shareholder of a law firm?

Any individual who possesses shares in a law firm is known as an shareholder or an investor of the law firm. An shareholder can be an individual, organization, or another organization. shareholders are the proprietors of an organization.

image

Can I own shares in a law firm?

by: Sheldon I. Banoff For example, stock or stock options may be received in lieu of all or a portion of the cash legal fees to be received. Alternatively, stock may be negotiated by the law firm as a "premium" for legal services, in addition to its regular cash legal fees.

How do law firm partners split profits?

How do you calculate profits per partner? Profits per partner (PPP) calculations can be simple. Take the net profits of the law firm (revenue minus expenses) and divide them by the number of equity partners.

How do you announce a lawyer?

If you're sending a new law firm announcement via email, be sure to keep your message concise, but include key details like:Your law firm name, location and practice areas.The date the firm will be open for business.Contact details.Partners/key staff members.Interesting or unique details about the firm.

How do you promote a law firm?

10 steps for marketing your law firmCreate a marketing budget. ... Build a well-designed law firm website. ... Ensure your site is search engine optimized. ... Claim your free online profiles. ... Make sure your law firm has a social media presence. ... Manage your law firm's online reviews effectively. ... Try your hand at content marketing.More items...•

Do partners share profits equally?

When forming a partnership, the business owners have the option of creating an agreement that dictates how profits or losses pass through to members of the partnership. Absent an agreement, the partners will share profits and losses equally. If an agreement exists, partners divide profits based on the terms specified.

How do partners get paid?

Like sole proprietors, partners don't get paid via a regular salary but rather earn distributions of the business profits. These dividends are generally set out in the partnership agreement (if they aren't, you may want to think about drawing up a partnership agreement that outlines distributive shares).

What do I say when I call a law firm?

0:071:20What To Say When You Call An Attorney - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipKnow kind of ballpark.MoreKnow kind of ballpark.

How do you write a press release for a law firm?

What goes into writing a law firm press release?Write eye-catching headlines to capture attention. ... Include all of the most important details in the first paragraph. ... Keep your writing brief, to the point, and free of technical jargon. ... Provide quotations. ... Include a date of release. ... Include a boilerplate.

How do you announce a new partner?

Explain who your new partner is and what position he or she will occupy. Keep details such as job history, schooling, or academic honors brief. Before sending the announcement, give the new partner the courtesy of reviewing it for possible changes and final approval.

How do I market myself as a lawyer?

Work out what they need from you, especially in terms of their problems or 'pain points'. Research and then define your target audience through a variety of measures, including demographics, attitudinal, geographical and other factors, and then stand in their shoes and look at yourself through their eyes.

How do lawyers promote themselves?

Attending events and giving guest lectures Most importantly, it shows your activeness to gain and contribute in terms of knowledge in your field. To conclude, Marketing yourself as a lawyer involves building trust and credibility in the eyes of the potential client. Visibility is only one aspect of it.

How do you market a law firm on Instagram?

Add images from awards, speaking events and charitable causes. Above all, be sure to keep it professional. Instagram Videos: Video can be used to create brand awareness for your firm, highlight your practice areas, and educate your audience on legal industry topics.

Traditional law firm profit sharing formulas

Let’s look at an example. If there are 10 equity partners involved in a firm, and the firm made $1 million in net profit, the following would be the calculation per partner:

Challenges with law firm profit sharing formulas

Traditional law firm profit sharing formulas have the tendency to have negative effects on your employees:

Alternatives to traditional law firm profit sharing formulas

Crafting a mission and stating your values and goals is an essential part of your firm’s business strategy. If you’ve already documented your mission and values—you’re off to a great start! But they must be living throughout your organization.

Why is pricing the last thing on my list?

Pricing is last on my list because quite simply pricing should only be examined after your overall needs are determined for your secure file sharing software. The cheapest option is not the best option if you have not explored exactly what you need—same goes for the most expensive.

What is the importance of action over perfection?

Action over perfection is a necessary protocol in any business. During times of great change, finding the perfect choice may lead to decision paralysis. To thrive, keep your decision-making process simple by asking yourself basic questions to help you create your unique set of needs.

Is OneDrive a secure link?

Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive are also options for document management and file sharing. Overall Google Drive can be tricky as creating secure links for sharing that don’t include passwords or expiration dates can be a problem so a paid plan including GSuites should be carefully considered.

Can clients use secure file sharing?

Clients need to find it easy to use your secure file sharing tool too. You may also want to give clients access to their case files via a portal, rather than individually sharing files. This can help save both you and your client time, but only if this is easy to navigate.

Is email a secure file sharing?

Email remains one of the main sources of file sharing in the legal field, despite plenty of evidence that email is not the best option for secure file sharing. If you are going to continue using email to share files, your best bet is to start with some research on ensuring you have a paid plan that has built in security compliance ...

Is file sharing optional in 2020?

If you are a lawyer working remotely in 2020 (and who isn’t in 2020), file sharing is not an optional service for you or your firm. The legal industry has been slow to adopt some technology tools, such as law firm secure file sharing tools, and now we are seeking to implement quickly and aggressively to thrive in our current market.

Can you share files in Clio?

For Clio specific file sharing, you can either require a login for the end user’s portal or simply share a link for download. This is exactly the type of file sharing you would want from your case management software—both flexible and robust.

Introduction to SharePoint

Microsoft SharePoint is part of Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Office 365). SharePoint is most commonly referred to as a content management system, as it’s a secure place to store all company documents and content for easy access. It’s also commonly used for creating company intranets.

Benefits of SharePoint for Law Firms

SharePoint can deliver several benefits to your law firm. For example, it enables simplified collaboration for your team and is scalable to meet your needs. When used in conjunction with Microsoft 365, it’s the gateway to the other critical tools that make up your tech stack, including OneDrive, Word, PowerPoint, and more.

How to Setup SharePoint for Your Law Firm

Have you decided to go with Microsoft 365 and SharePoint? If so, the initial setup is critical to setting your team up for success. As with any Microsoft tool or app, you’ll want to start by setting up Microsoft 365 first. Then, you can move forward with SharePoint setup.

6 Additional Tips for Using SharePoint Within Your Law Firm

SharePoint is already easy to use for law firms that require a centralized location for all files and content. But there are some expert tips you can use to make the most of the tool. Here are a few:

Is SharePoint the Right Choice for My Law Firm?

We’re glad you asked. And, luckily, there’s a simple answer. Simple cloud storage tools like SharePoint are great options for solo attorneys and small practices with only a few employees. Midsize and large firms with 5+ users will likely need a more robust document management platform that’s matter-centric and built for law firms.

What Is a Document Management System?

Earlier we mentioned that there were two main types of file storage: basic cloud storage and document management systems. While tools like SharePoint, Dropbox, and Google Drive are all good tools for basic storage, they lack some of the critical features many law firms need to properly manage their documents and files.

LexWorkplace

Ready to migrate to a DMS? If so, you should consider LexWorkplace, the complete cloud-based document management system built specifically for law firms.

image