A successful law firm never stands still. It grows, develops, and evolves.

But if you find yourself lost in the maze, wanting to set up or advance your law firm yet unsure which way to turn, identifying goals should be your first step in the right direction. Otherwise, you’ll wander aimlessly, never really feeling like your firm is finding its way.

“Set your mind on a definite goal and observe how quickly the world stands aside to let you pass.”
― Napoleon Hill

So, what goals should a successful law firm be focused on? And how do you go about achieving them?

Let’s start with some common goals that can bring your law firm to the next level.

  1. Build Relationships

Many firms find it beneficial to network with others. After all, we expand our horizons when we connect, collaborate, and learn from other professionals.

There are lots of ways to network, both face-to-face and remotely.

“Fight for the things that you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
– Ruth Bader Ginsberg

  1. Attracting new clients

Perhaps it’s for income generation, or perhaps you wish to create a more diverse client base – whatever the reason, attracting new clients is a goal that successful law firms often set for themselves.

Achieving this goal may require the expertise of professionals who specialize in the area of marketing or communications. However, you can start by defining your ideal client avatar.  You may be asking what is an ideal client avatar?  It is a fictional detailed profile of one person that outlines your target market.  Many firms do not take the time to use this value tool, thus not utilizing their marketing dollars to their full potential.

Begin by asking yourself these questions:  1) who you would like to represent? (get specific with demographics) 2) who will hire you for your services? 3) what challenges does your ideal client face? 4) what is your ideal client trying to achieve? 5) why would they hire you to represent them?

Taking the time to do this exercise will help you shape your messaging and be key in maximizing your marketing.

  1. Enhancing performance

Your law firm might be busy, but is it efficient?

“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.”
– Peter Drucker

We can all benefit from learning better organizational and time management skills to maximize our time. A good starting point is to log what eats up our time the most during the working day.  Then determine what you can delegate.

Up-skilling our software skills and investing in new or enhanced software can also allow us to do our work more efficiently, enhancing our performance and saving time. Harnessing technology is key to productivity.

  1. Learning

Setting a goal to focus on learning means investing in the development of legal expertise in certain areas. Naturally, this will have positive effects when it comes to the success of your firm. It’s important to set time aside to read legal journals and articles, attend workshops and seminars, and listen to podcasts.

“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”
– Jim Rohn

  1. Quality

Retaining your existing client base and ensuring that your clients are satisfied with the service you’re providing is not only essential for repeat business but also your reputation. When you set a goal to focus on quality, you’ll reap the rewards in client satisfaction and loyalty, positive testimonials, reviews, and referrals.

Helping you to evolve

Remember, goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.

Figuring out which goals are important to your law firm will give you the direction that is needed. Once you’ve identified where you’re going, we can help you build the road map.

Yaeger Legal Consulting specializes in helping lawyers and firms reach their goals. With personal support, we evaluate each unique situation and develop custom strategies to cultivate efficiency and growth. It’s all about implementing the infrastructure you need to build something that lasts.

Is your law firm ready to evolve? The first step is to set up a consultation, so let’s get started on helping you to achieve your goals.