Building Your Law Practice in a Coworking Environment
When you’re getting a new law practice up and running, it’s absolutely essential that you keep your expenses down. For that reason, you may be inclined to set up an office in your home. While that can work in some situations, and for some period of time, it also poses a number of problems:
- Where do you schedule client meetings? You need meeting space where you can maintain attorney-client confidentiality. That rules out restaurants and coffee shops. For many clients, holding meetings in your home or theirs can feel less than professional. You may be able to grab an empty conference room at the courthouse, but that’s never a certainty.
- How do you network with other attorneys or potential clients? You can try to build referrals and contacts online or by phone, but doing so in person is far more effective.
- How do you handle copying, printing, mailing, or delivery services? For small jobs, you can often use your own printer/copier. It can be a real hassle, though, when you need lengthy documents printed or copied, or if you need collating or other services.
With shared office space, also known as coworking space, you get the best of all possible worlds—the services you need, when you need them, in a professional environment at a fraction of the cost of renting your own office space.
What Is Coworking Space?
With coworking space, you obtain access to office workspace for a specified period of time every month. With most coworking arrangements, you’ll have a number of options and can choose the plan that fits your needs. Because you’ll be using the space on only a limited basis, you’ll pay significantly less than the cost of renting your own office. You’ll typically have support services, such as a receptionist or access to secretarial support, and you won’t have to rent or purchase printers, copiers, or other office equipment or supplies. Many coworking spaces also offer private conference rooms for in-person meetings or videoconferences.
What Are the Benefits of Coworking Spaces for Attorneys?
The obvious advantage of shared space is the reduced monthly overhead, as you’ll only be paying for the space for a limited amount of time. Shared space lets you present a professional environment to clients without over-inflated expense. Coworking spaces are also a great way to network and build a referral-based practice, whether you’re sharing space with attorneys or other entrepreneurs.
The Legal Café—Meeting the Coworking Needs of Legal Professionals
The Legal Café was conceived and created by practicing attorneys who understand what their colleagues need to run a successful law practice. The Legal Café, you’ll have access to:
- Attractive and professional private conference rooms for client meetings or online videoconferencing
- Efficient workspace with access to high-speed internet
- Gourmet coffee and a selection of light food items
The Legal Café offers a wide range of flexible membership plans, allowing lawyers to select a level of access to meet their unique needs. We also offer daily hot seats, giving you all the amenities of the Café on a first-come, first-served basis.
When current or potential clients visit The Legal Café, they’ll be greeted by a receptionist that can provide them with marketing materials or other documents in preparation for their appointment. Our staff can also present engagement letters or client agreements for you, if necessary. And our private conference rooms are equipped for videoconferencing when you need it.
All members of The Legal Café get access to our customized lead-generation app, which has the following features:
- Shows all potential leads
- Allows the user to purchase leads directly through the app
- Provides useful tracking capabilities, including data on how many leads become clients
Come to The Legal Café
If you’re an attorney looking to build your practice or improve your bottom line, The Legal Café can help meet your needs. Stop by the Café at 114 Main Street, have a cup of coffee, and find out more.