Why We Love Small Firms
Hi All,
As many of you who have been with us for a while already know, Amy and I both started our life in law in small law firms. While there are definite benefits to getting a job in Big Law after you graduate from law school, small firm life can be great too.
We are sharing 6 reasons why we think small firms are a great place to start your legal career.
#1 - Exposure to Legal Work Immediately
Small firms do not often have the time or space for a formal training or an elaborate onboarding program. You will start working on a variety of tasks your first day. Hitting the ground running can be intimidating, but it is in your employer’s best interest to help you be successful so take a deep breath and go for it.
#2 - Working with Clients Quickly
You will likely have the opportunity to work with clients sooner rather than later. Whether that includes sitting in on meetings, getting on the phone, responding to emails, or following up with clients, you’ll have the opportunity to be client facing much more quickly at a small firm. Getting that experience early on to meet with clients and see how a client meeting is run will been incredibly helpful as you move from being a new associate to bringing in your own clients.
#3 - Narrow Your Practice Area
In a small firm you may get the opportunity to narrow your practice area interests. More and more firms are getting very specific with their practice areas. Working at a small firm, you can better focus and pursue the practice areas that interest you most.
#4 - Building a Book of Business
Because you will have the opportunity to work with clients and narrow your career focus so early in your practice, you can focus on building your own client base and book of business. On your first week in a firm you are likely not expected to bring in new clients that week. But at some point, maybe sooner than you anticipate, you will be expected to bring in new clients. Because you have been interacting with clients from such an early stage, you already have the skills to handle this type of work.
#5 - Learning the Business of Law
In a small firm you will have much more of an opportunity to learn the business behind running a law firm. Many attorneys are essentially small business owners. While law school prepares us in many ways, most law schools do not provide experience or education in the business or running a law practice. Working at a small firm exposes you to the practicalities of what running a law firm requires. Whether you are later asked to become a partner of your small firm or you decide to start your own firm, learning the business or running a law firm will be very valuable in your future endeavors.
With a small firm, like a small business, you have to wear many hats when you are the one running things. Larger firms have entire departments devoted to the running and management of various aspects of the firm. When you are with a large firm your exposure to all of those different pieces is much more limited because they are working on a larger scale. In a small firm, you can really learn and then later actually work on various aspects of the business of running a law firm. This is an experience that is hard to duplicate elsewhere.
#6 - Networking
At a small firm, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with other professionals, such as CPAs, financial advisors, real estate agents, and of course other attorneys. Developing these connections into professional networking contacts will help you grow your career whether you stay at that small firm or transition to a new role.
Do you work in a small firm now? Are you considering small firm life? Let us know what you think of these 6 reasons why small firms are great places to begin your career.
Have a great day!
Haley & Amy
Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash
We make absolutely no guarantee, expressed or implied, that by following the advice you will make any money or improve current profit, as there are several factors and variables that come into play regarding any given business or career. Primarily, results will depend on the business model, the conditions of the marketplace, the experience of the individual, and situations and elements that are beyond your control. As with any business endeavor, you assume all risk related to investment and money based on your own discretion and at your own potential expense.
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