The new year is approaching fast. Is your law firm ready? The holiday season can be overwhelming with wrap-ups both at home and at work. Start prepping for 2020 now to start the new year off right. Here’s your new year checklist so that your practice is set up for success in 2020.
New Tech
In our digital age, no business can afford to keep up old school operations. There are a range of new technologies that:
- Make your law firm more efficient
- Make the process easier for clients
- Save you time and money
These solutions include digital platforms to help you find and manage clients and streamline things like document uploads and meeting reminders and scheduling.
Pick Up a New Practice Area
If you want to step up your game in 2020, why not pick up a new practice area? Challenge yourself and learn new skills, and you’ll be able to connect with more clients and grow your law firm overall.
In the new year, start practicing bankruptcy. A great way to expand your focus area, bankruptcy law is both rewarding and interesting. As a bankruptcy attorney, you'd be working with clients in financial distress and coming up with a solution to their debt problems. With an online bankruptcy software such as NextChapter, you can pick up bankruptcy law in no time.
Update Software and Move to the Cloud
One recent development for businesses across industries is cloud storage. More and more law firms are starting to reap the benefits of going paperless. Moving your files to the cloud is a great way to stay connected no matter the hour or location, better connect with clients online and via mobile, and get rid of all those filing cabinets that take up space.
With a solution like NextChapter, you can manage client relationships with the client portal, take advantage of the Modern Attorney Directory, and engage a virtual paralegal to help you prepare and manage bankruptcy cases.
Hire a Marketing Agency
Check-in with your marketing strategy as the new year is approaching. Have you had time to give it your all this year? If not, you could be missing out on a lot of clients and revenue. In 2020, consider hiring a marketing agency, like Postali, that works exclusively with law firms to help you increase your impact and connect with the right audiences who need your services. From your website to branding to SEO, a marketing agency can give you a competitive edge so you can begin the new year strong.
Become a Member of an Attorney Directory
An effective way to increase your online presence as you end the year is to join an online lawyer directory, such as Modern Attorney. Potential clients can find you in seconds and can view your personal profile, your credentials, your fees, and more. They can connect with you directly through the platform and begin a successful, communicative relationship. An attorney directory helps your searchability and the clients who need your services most are at your fingertips.
Take a Webinar on Your Software
Even if you already have updated software, are you sure you’re using it to its fullest? There may be features you’re not even aware of. As the year wraps up, consider signing up for an educational webinar that will show you all the ins and outs of your business software. For example, NextChapter Crowdcast engages users with regular live webinars that include tips and tricks to using our software.
Start Using Credit Reports
It’s always a good idea to integrate credit reports into your practice. With a tool like NextChapter’s Credit Report Integration (CRI), you can pull credit reports for clients quickly and efficiently, as well as import them directly into the bankruptcy schedules in NextChapter. This helps you keep all of your clients’ important data in one place and lessen data entry.
While these seven tips should be on your law firm’s checklist for the new year, remember that one of the most important things you can do is stay open to changes and learning new strategies. By incorporating the latest technologies that NextChapter provides, you’ll be on your way to a fruitful 2020 in no time.