Thursday, 22 July 2021

 

Law Firm Management: The Easiest Guide

Law firm management is not an easy task. Law firms are complex and fast-moving. You have to deal with the expectations and demands of the clients. Therefore, the client plays an important role in law firm management. In addition, handling ethical, financial, and administrative requirements is also important. Managing a law firm effectively gives good profit.

In law firm management a good strategy is very important. It requires a firm leader who can plan, create, and implement a good system. If one owns a small law firm, it is easier for them to focus all their attention on clients. As a result, managing the law firm becomes simpler.

Law Firm Management: The Easiest Guide

For successfully managing a law firm, there are some attributes to be considered and followed. Although every attribute has its own function, it requires all of them for successful legal practice and effective management of a law firm.

The following are the important attributes that play an important role in smooth functioning and successful management of a law firm.

Efficient Leadership

A leader is a guide who directs all the members of the team. Every member working in a particular firm looks for guidance from their leader for management techniques. Only a firm leader can have a positive impact and create an effective path for the team members to follow. An efficient leader not only expertise in his roles but also respects and supports the team members whenever needed.

Ineffective and incapable leadership can result in delivering a negative impact on the members of the firm. In addition, it can also develop certain problems in the management of the law firm such as :

  • Ineffective guidance 

A leader is the one who sets path for members to follow and is responsible for directing them. An inefficient leader will fail to do so. Moreover, it will lead to failure in managing the law firm. Leadership role includes creating objectives and setting a path for the firm to meet the long term goals. In short, without an effective guidance a law firm management is not possible.

  • Lacking in maintaining good client relationship –

when it is about managing a law firm, the most important factor is maintaining a good relation with clients. After all, satisfied clients are the one who attract more clients and result in smooth running of a law firm. Managing a law firm poorly can create negative impact on client relations. Moreover, it can also affect the firm economically in a negative manner.

Routine review

For an effective management of law firm, an efficient and responsible manager is required. An efficient manager regularly checks the health of the firm. A responsible manager will always keep a check and try to solve issues before its results in risky or harmful problems. The efforts of a manager plays a crucial role in smooth functioning and management of a law firm. So, choosing a qualified and hard working manager is very important. An efficient manager always keeps a track of profit margins, client satisfaction, payment invoice, transaction history, etc. In short, a responsible and efficient manager plays an important role in effective law firm management.

Effective planning

Planning is the key to growth and proper law firm management. The most successful law firms always have pre-planned working strategies. In addition, they always identify the challenges in the legal market and prepare a strategy to overcome them. In other words, a well-planned strategy will be the supporting pillar in tackling the problems efficiently and deal with uncertain roadblocks that arise along with changes in the industry.

A goal cannot be reached without a definite planning. Therefore, along with firm goal you need to develop a efficiently working strategy. Firstly, one needs to understand that clients are attracted with excellence in results and productivity. People relying only on destiny and luck will never be successful in a competitive market like this. Law firm management isn’t a smooth process as it requires consistency and hard-work at the same time. In short, without a smart and effective planning law firm management is not possible practically.

Marketing strategy

A good marketing strategy is the most important factor for any business to succeed. It acts as the most important supporting pillar for a business. Hence, a well planned marketing strategy plays a crucial role in managing a law firm adequately.

As mentioned before marketing strategy is very important for a business to be successful. In addition, law firm managers should be well aware of the factors that need to be covered in the plan. A smart marketing structure will include and cover all the possible marketing platforms to attract more numbers of clients. For example, traditional platforms like radio, television, and newspapers. In addition, web platforms and social media platforms should also be used. As a result, you can reach the maximum number of people as every individual has access to at least one of the above-mentioned platforms. In other words, the more people you reach through marketing, the more number of clients you attract.

Here is an infographic to help you understand this better:

Law Firm Management: The Easiest Guide

Conclusion

Law firm management is process that requires adequate efforts along with consistency. Therefore, a visionary leader who is organized enough to handle the upcoming problems is very important. In addition, work efficient and dedicated employees should be a part of the the firm for the growth of the law firm in todays competitive market. Moreover, their should be good relation between the leader and the employees for better understanding and smooth work process. In addition, the client-organization roleplays the most important role as mentioned above. Hence, the above stated points are some major factors that are required for productivity, smooth running and easier management of law firms.

Tuesday, 20 July 2021

 

Importance of online payment for law firms




Online payment is everywhere- starting from small brick-and-mortar stores to big law firms. This rate of accepting this change is surprising because the use of credit cards for payment was not acceptable in India before the late ’90s.

The resistance to accepting online methods is not good for the firm. Therefore, a good online payment solution will actually make your practice easier than ever.

Benefits

Benefits aren’t all one-tracked. Clients aren’t the only ones who benefit from online transactions. There are so many ways in which law firms also benefit.

Online payment methods help in increasing better satisfaction between your law firm and your clients; which will in turn help in increase the potential for reference to your law firm.  Your legal staff will also come to know about the things that help them in being more efficient and productive in their work.

With a streamlined payment system, your law firms’ workload will also reduce with shortened billing cycles, low printing, and mailing costs. And, overall save loads of time for the staff. This way, your staff can spend less time on gathering the information and more time on helping your law firm grow.
Read Also – Rights of Terminated Employees in India

Adopting the technology

The fast pace and security of online payment options are important reasons that drive the clients to make decisions; and satisfaction is a leading outcome of having these needs fulfilled.

Accepting the online payments from your client makes collecting bills simple and effortless. And, it also gets rid of human error. Additionally, the process of sending and receiving the payment is automatic. Your firm instantly receives the money with no risk of cheques bouncing and the fees associated with it.

65% of people prefer to pay with a credit or debit card. Research from Fiserv, a global finance company; has found that 74 % of households that have an access to the internet, report having paid bills online. And, online payment of legal bills is as easy as paying the daily utility bill.

With the right technology application, you can easily send clients a secure payment link over email or text. Or include a payment button on your website. This allows your clients to make a payment at their convenience. Most cloud-based legal management system comes equipped with a payment system that can help.

Moreover, these systems reduce the chance of criminal and fraudulent activity is immediately reduced because the clients can receive instant updates of their transactions. And, advanced technology enables your bank to monitor its banking services.
Read Also – Top 9 New Changes in the Laws of India in 2017-19

Your clients expectations

Your clients will expect you to have the necessary means for them to pay online. Mailing is out of fashion and coming to the office may cause an inconvenience to them. Through online methods; they can pay anywhere at any given time and you will be able to receive the payment faster and with increased security.

The online payment methods keep your account data secured as trusted security measures are taken by most of these online banking and finances service provider.

Online payment creates an illusion of transparency. Thus, it helps you gain more trust from your clients because they consider the firms more reliable.
Read Also – Legal requirements before starting an online business

Utmost security

Online payment eliminate a big amount of financial risk. All of your payment information is noted in one place and that way you can keep record of it.

The traditional payment method forced the client to share sensitive and private information each time a payment request was to be raised. This has many disadvantages and has a number of security risks. Online payment services have an encryption option that protects the client’s sensitive information.

With artificial intelligence and smart processes, there can be no misunderstandings. You would know exactly where and when you received the payment and by whom.

Conclusion

Online payment is an effective way that can help you keep a record of your payment history, keep a track of your accounts, and track each expenditure.

It saves a huge amount of time for you because it helps get away with long processes of transactions; with little or no commission fees involved.

Online payment is easier to understand than the traditional bank system of paying. Literally, everyone can do it. Plus, the online payment method has the advantage of controlled expenses, it saves time and is user-friendly.
Read Also – Strategies for lawyers advertising in India

Online payment is really important for a law firm to appear modern, technologically skilled, and easy to work with. The modern payment techniques allow you to do that. It aids in showing your clients that you are not afraid of the innovations brought on by the digital revolution; instead, you have accepted that wholeheartedly.


 

5 tips to become the best law firm in India

There are thousands of lawyers and hundreds of law firm in India. And yet, our legal system is not considered the best. However, there are a few law firm that have established themselves as the best law firm of the country and the world.

And, their strength lies in understanding the clients and gaining the attention of the new ones while keeping a robust trusted clientele. So, how do they do it? Let’s find out.

Read Also – How Legal Practice Management Software Can Help Law Firms

Essential tips for becoming the best law firm in India

Wanting to become the best law firm in India you must be aware of the financial developments of the country and need to be well updated on the latest news in the Indian and global economic area.

“Pretty much in any profession, what separates the very best from the rest is a combination of exceptional skills, tireless work ethic, grit/never quit attitude, great team members, and luck. It’s no different with the practice of law.”

Oliver J. Armas, Global Head of International Arbitration at Hogan Lovells

Bookkeeping is a good place to start. Bookkeeping to be as productive as possible and to provide best client servicing. Using the technology as your best tool and opportunities for you to create the most efficient and successful law firm.

Read Also – Some basic tips for choosing the right law firm

Employing the right people in your firm

Find the right people to work in your law firm. Loyalty is a very important personality the staff in your firm should have. The things your law firm works with should be dealt with absolute loyalty as to not get messy.

Your law firm needs to be very wise in picking the people of their choice and don’t hold on to workers who do not fear not performing well. It is very easily seen when staff like that exists and that is what drags everyone else down.

The managements of these firms should know every staff member who doesn’t fit in or is not doing well is costing money and probably damaging your firm’s reputation as well.

tips to be the best law firm

1) Organizing files and using cloud based software

  • It helps the lawyers working in the particular Indian law firm become more organized and increases professionalism to provide the very best service to their clients.
  • Organizing files from the start will allow the lawyer to know exactly what needs to be updated. This saves your time and money of the clients who came for your help.
  • It ensures the sharing of the documents safely without making any mistakes or jumbling them up.
  • Using the necessary software allows you to have access to the information of your cases anywhere, even if you are out of office.

2) Keeping the important cases first

  • There are many cases which you have to complete, but keeping the necessary cases first ensures that you are mindful of what is more crucial to be completed.
  • Keeping schedule of all the important dates and meeting all the deadlines. It also increases your firm’s productivity and time for more cases to come.

3) Exchanging feedback

  • Taking with your clients helps you to know where you need to make changes and improve your firm. When you hear the thoughts of your clients you will also learn to carry out your tasks better and effectively.
  • Include the thoughts of your clients and their experience of working with you in your website for the people reading it.

4) Increase the digital medium to communicate

  • Updating the social media weekly to increase the engagement to let people know about your firm. The people spends most of their time on social media this is the best to have their attention. Providing the essential information about your law firm.
  • Creating content on your page and blogs are a very helpful way to attract the audience and eventually making  them your clients.
  • The commercial intentions: an understanding on the economical on goings will help you to price your service right. By knowing this you can put yourself in the legal market place. You will never fail to win the expectation of your client.

5) Understanding that building the best law firm in India takes time

  • Dedicating your time and energy to build the best law firm in India and being patient with your progress.
  • Sharing the strategies with your lawyers, assistants, and clients for a better vision of the work they are going to be apart of.

Here is an infographic for you to explain this better:

5 tips to become the best law firm in India

Conclusion

Becoming the best law firm in India in this era of globalization with increased competition in the market and ways of the economy. India is evolving and so is the entire law system. Despite this, to keep climbing despite all the challenges and stones on the way.

Being dedicated and helping people, is what will make you the best law firm in India. Wanting to become the best law firm is to face heads on with new challenges. A good law firm is trusted with new tasks and opportunities.

Facing heads on with new challenges, making constant efforts and planning systematic work will help you climb up.

Monday, 19 July 2021

 

Challenges of the Legal Profession and Business World

The legal profession has undergone massive changes as a result of the evolution of the legal industry and market. Also, the recent economical crisis has bought a vast change. Now, here begins the challenges for the legal professionals as this has empowered the clients to set the terms and conditions in the acquirement of legal service.

Challenges of the Legal Profession and Business World

The challenges of the legal profession comprise the changes in the world of corporate lawyers. The most common challenge for the majority of firms is institutionalization. Today’s companies do not need lawyers only to resolve legal issues but also to support their efforts in business development. They must have a standard deep level of legal knowledge. In addition, must have knowledge about training and tools in the areas of business, project management, technology, or data analysis.

Furthermore, it is no longer enough or productive for the relationship of clients with the firm to be completely based on contact with one of its partners. Also, the strategy should be made to develop multiple relationships and help the client. This will help the client to understand that in the background there is a group of professionals comprising of teams.

Some of the most common challenges of legal profession are explained below in detail :

Area of specialization

To survive one has to be a super-specialist in one’s area of practice and this is a challenge for legal professionals. However, it has become a necessity to focus on particular areas of practice that alternative service providers can’t address. Also, to keep up with the demands of upcoming industries in the business market this is important.  And to deliver quality service, specialization in a particular area of practice became the first priority and necessity. And as a result, people started to prepare accordingly to compete in the business world. In fact, this requirement was predicted way long back as a big challenge of the legal profession.

In the past, liberalization and globalization have been extremely beneficial for the Indian economy. Thus, there exists a strong case for responding to the same in the legal service market as well. The potential opening up of India’s legal market has been a major talking point. The government has been pushing for liberalization. Firstly, allowing International firms in the Indian market would lead to increased competition among legal practitioners. This would lead to the growth of the Indian legal market. Additionally, this would also result in improved capacity and quality of services.

Also, this will provide Indian lawyers with the opportunity to work with the international society. This could lead to more employment opportunities. In addition to better pay and working conditions which would result in decreasing the challenges for legal professionals. Also, another benefit is Professionalism in Indian law practices would benefit in comparison to their international counterparts.

The liberalization could bring include the fear that law firms would meet the same fate as the country’s accounting firms. Moreover, the possibility of domestic law firms being overshadowed by their foreign counterparts in terms of performance and finances is the biggest disadvantage. Setting up alliances with foreign counterparts would result in the loss of referrals which could be a great challenge in the legal profession for lawyers to handle.

Attracting and Retaining Talent

Finding talented lawyers with the right attitude and the right skill set to work is often a challenge in the legal profession. Having a flow of information, responsiveness, and instant delight that does not necessarily have to be based on money are some aspects that new professionals are habitual to. Moreover, each team member’s contribution and impact must be measured differently. Also, talent management needs to be refined.

Innovation is the outcome of a demonstrated need and is not a matter of merely introducing a change, something that often finds resistance. Traditionally, lawyers are resistant to change; this reality is constant in the profession which could result in challenges for legal professionals in serving clients. In addition, it must also be done while keeping in mind that the mission of innovation is to better serve the client.

Slowly legal service marketplaces are creating market value by offering more cost-effective solutions to consumers on their own behalf. This could result in reshaping the legal industry. And backed by venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) funds online legal portals have seen a large expansion. But, the start-up community and other money-conscious clients are slowly moving away from the good old lawyers and law firms. Moreover, they are moving towards solutions powered by technology. To keep pace with the changing trend the lawyers have to change their method of business. One of the challenges for legal professionals is to face PE and VC-backed competition where the regulatory framework has not evolved yet in the business world. Consequently, evolution will take place with these changes.

Conclusion

The key to overcoming many of the issues and challenges of the legal profession is being aware of the risks, being responsive to such risks on a timely basis. Moreover, an overall appreciation is required for challenges and developing strategies by changing systems, and practices to ease their impact. Unlike other common law countries, India has not shown many positive signs for liberalizing the Indian legal market. India is going through a sea of change in terms of revolution in legal and managing space. Also, this has brought about new opportunities. By leading to the opening of new trending business opportunities in many sectors and industries.

 The  Bar Council of India (BCI)  has opted for a protectionist approach due to the fear of competition from international law firms. This is based on the belief that Indian practitioners will not be able to compete with foreign nationals. Such competition is a welcome change for the overall growth of the Indian legal market.

Eventually, the key to success lies in super specializing in one’s core practice areas. Today, the Indian legal profession is highly competitive and is ready to grow along with its foreign counterparts in a globalized world.

Friday, 16 July 2021

 

The Importance of Legal Ethics



In law, a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics, he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so.

Immanuel Kant

Legal Ethics

An advocate is an officer of the court and an important part of the justice delivery system. Therefore, by being so, he must conduct himself in a way that is befitting of his profession.  The legal profession is one of the noblest professions in the world. Hence, this vests inherent accountability on practising advocates to be ethical in their dealings. But what is ethics?

Ethics is a set of ‘dharmic’ values that inherently lingers in every human life. It refers to a sense of justice and morality, and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Truly, to be ethical in one’s dealings implies to be virtuous.

Read Also – Maintaining The Fine Balance Of Employee Monitoring

The legal profession also has principles of conduct governing it and its practitioners. Additionally, a code of conduct would help maintain the dignity of the profession, whilst keeping the professional grounded.

An advocate may come across certain unforeseen circumstances while discharging his duties. During such tense moments, a legal professional must reach into his conscience and find the touchstone to guide his decisions. To do that, however, he must not only understand his relationship with the law but also its other elements. These would include the Court, client, opponent, and colleagues. 

Read Also – What does a lawyer do?

Advocates enjoy certain privileges under the law, with the foremost being that only they are entitled to practise the law. This exclusivity enjoyed by advocates brings with it added responsibility.  Additionally, it means that any minor violations of standards of morality or justice can damage the integrity of the profession.          

Legal Ethics in Law Practice

An advocate is an officer of the Court and is therefore expected to act appropriately. Part VI of the Bar Council of India Rules (the Rules) contains the “Rules governing Advocates”. Of this, Chapter II prescribes the standards of etiquette and professional conduct which must always be upheld by the advocates. Its Preamble clarifies that the specific mention of any rule in it does not preclude other unnamed rules of conduct. Let us see what these canons of conduct and etiquette are:
Read Also – Advocates Act, 1961

Conduct Towards the Court

  • An advocate must always conduct himself with dignity and self-respect and approach the Court with a respectful attitude.
  • It is his right and duty to submit his grievances against any Judicial Officer before the correct forum.
  • He must not try to use unfair and illegal means to influence the Court’s decision/s.
  • He must ensure his client behaves with restraint and must refuse to represent a boisterous and ill-mannered client. An advocate must not function as a meager mouth-piece for the client, but as a sensible orator with good judgment.
  • No advocate should enter an appearance in improper uniform and must respect the sanctity of the dresses and robes. Additionally, he shall wear the gowns or bands in only such places as prescribed by the appropriate authorities. Wearing the uniform in public places such as restaurants, shopping malls, or movie theatres is not appropriate.
  • Furthermore, an advocate should plead or act in any matter in which he is fiduciarily or pecuniarily invested.

    Read Also – How to Become a Senior Counsel in India?

Conduct Towards the Client

  • The advocate should not abuse or take advantage of the belief and confidence reposed in him by the client.
  • An advocate must accept briefs for appearing in forums before which he practices unless specific circumstances justify non-acceptance. Additionally, the advocate must charge a fee, consistent with his standing at the Bar.
  • Furthermore, if an advocate simply must return a case-brief, then he should also return the part of the fee not earned.
  • Moreover, he must be candid about every material fact which could affect his engagement as the client’s counsel. Besides, he must not let his personal bias cloud his honorable and fearless efforts to uphold the client’s interests.
  • Furthermore, the advocate must only follow the instructions of the client or his duly authorized agent.
  •  Legal ethics prohibits the advocate from representing the conflicting interests of the client. For instance, by advising the opposition/s in the same or connected matter, or by drafting, or settling the opposition’s documents.
  • Every advocate should maintain a true and fair picture of the client’s account.

    Read Also – The Inner story of the Farmers Strike

Conduct Towards Opponent/s

  • Most importantly, an advocate must always communicate with the advocate of the opposition party, and not the opposition party itself.
  • Secondly, the advocate shall try to honour every legitimate promise made to the opposite party.

Conduct Towards Colleague/s

  • The law proscribes soliciting for work or direct or indirect advertisement of the advocate in connection with his cases.
  • Furthermore, the advocate should disallow the usage of his name in aid of unlawful services.
  • Additionally, if the client is financially sound, the advocate should charge the complete fee taxable under the Rules.
  • Moreover, an advocate should only appear if permitted by the advocate in whose name the vakalatnama or memo originally is.

    Read Also – How Clients Hire Their Lawyers?

Other Principles of Conduct

Some of the other duties of the advocate are to:

  • Impart training to trainee advocates, in order the further the legal knowledge, without charging any fee or premium.
  • Provide free legal aid to the indigent and oppressed.
  • Not engage in full-time employment during the time that he continues his law practice.
  • Additionally, Section 35 of the Advocates Act, 1961 proscribes ‘misconduct’ of advocates. The Disciplinary Committee of the State Bar Council may reprimand, suspend, or remove the advocate if he is found guilty.

What Are the Seven Lamps of Advocacy?

Advocacy is more than just a profession—it is a calling. It is an indispensable part of the justice system for any part of the world. Consequently, it makes perfect sense for the practitioners of this noble profession to imbibe certain qualities. These principles of conduct, Justice Abbott Parry revealed in his book- ‘Seven Lamps of Advocacy’, were the elements that illuminated advocacy.

Judgment

Every problem has two sides to its solution, and good judgment would help determine the right thing to do. When a situation calls for tough choices, a legal practitioner must be able to take heed of his better judgment. Often, it is ‘sound judgment’ that makes all the difference regarding legal ethics in law practice.

Honesty

An advocate is expected to serve with utmost diligence. He must rise above lies, deceit or trickery, and be candid with his client. Additionally, he should be honourable towards the Court, colleagues, and the opposition. Lying under oath would attract the offences of perjury, and contempt of court.   

Industry

Just as Rome was not built in a day, similarly, a diligent advocate is not created in a day. A good advocate is the end-product of hard-work, smart-work, and perseverance.

It requires an immense amount of strength to survive in a profession overrun with intense competition and sometimes, unnecessary politicism. Furthermore, an advocate must be able to undertake the pressures of research and drafting, perhaps for multiple clients, often in quick succession.

Courage

The ability to face the pressures of the profession is crucial for the legal practitioner. Courage entails rising to the challenges and being true to oneself. It allows one to do what is right, and not just what is convenient. The legal practitioner must be confident and fearless while arguing his client’s case.

Eloquence

People consider advocates to be champions of the spoken word. A good advocate will be able to conjure feelings of apathy from the Bar and Bench alike. Furthermore, the speech of the advocate must be measured and reserved. Flowery language should be avoided.

Wit

Presence of mind is important to counter the arguments of the opposition counsel, and tackle questions posed by the Bench. Sometimes, a well-placed humorous quip or intelligent statement can help ease the tension in the court-room.

Fellowship

There should be a feeling of brotherhood within the Bar. An advocate should share a mutual respect with his brothers and sisters at the Bar. Advocates should not let the fact that they are opposing counsels undermine their friendship away from the Bench.

Tact (7+1)

Justice KV Krishnaswamy Iyer added the element of Tact to the Seven Lamps. Tact is similar to the element of Wit and refers to being able to think on one’s feet. There may often be disagreements, but the advocate must be able to skilfully advance his opinions and not offend anyone.

Inference

Misconduct is the undoing of legal ethics, and it has only been defined by way of judicial pronouncements. It includes inter alia, going on strikes, breaking the client’s trust, citing overruled judicial decisions.

Good judgment can often help distinguish between what is right and what is convenient. Nurturing the seven lamps of advocacy will assist the legal practitioner in fulfilling the ideals of legal ethics.