New Clients

 

    

 

    You're the paralegal. An attorney delegates to you.  At times, you may delegate to other paralegals or legal assistants.  You get paid. End of story. Right?  

W R O N G 

    Regardless of if you work in a small firm or a large corporation, you have a hand, directly or indirectly, in helping your firm retain new clients.  This should be something you want to help with!  Here are some reasons why:

    If the firm does well you do well - and your work product can make a difference. 

    You were hired at an annual salary of $55,000 a year.  In 10 years you'll expect that you're being paid more right?  If the firm doesn't do well, that's not going to happen.  Your work product, and that of every single member of the firm you work for has an impact on whether or not the firm ultimately does well.  Taking pride in your work, learning all you can, and producing the best possible work product is going to help in the long run.  Think about it - if attorneys and paralegals in your firm consistently is producing well written documents, organized document production, is prepared for trial, etc., it reflects well on the firm as a whole.  If another attorney finds a conflict when they hear from a potential conflict, more often than not the potential client will ask if they can recommend another firm.  Other attorneys are more likely to refer to attorneys and firms with a good reputation for quality work product than one that produces sloppy documents.  

    If clients aren't coming in...

    ...then what happens when you finish cases?  The only way you have job security is if completed cases can be replaced with new cases.  

    What about the next case someone has? 

    You complete an intake with a potential new client.  There's a scheduling conflict and your firm cannot take their case.  Were you nice? Did you take your time with the individual and care about their situation? Did you rush them on the phone? Just because your firm couldn't take that case doesn't mean there won't be another case the individual needs help with down the road.  You want them to call you back!

    Word of Mouth

    It's not spoken about enough but word of mouth is important!  If your firm as a whole makes a good impression on a client, when they have family or friends in need of an attorney, they are going to refer them!

    

Everything you do from the time you walk in the door on your first day at any firm matters.  Every single person at your firm makes a difference - from the personality of a receptionist answering the phone to the patience you show a client going through a difficult period in their life.  When we as paralegals remember that our actions can impact the ability for the firm to retain new clients, and we actively help our attorneys secure clients when possible by referring family and friends, we are ultimately helping our firm stay in business, and if they stay in business, we have jobs!