What can boutique law firms do to ease the workload?

March 8, 2011 - PRLog -- What Can Small Firms Do to Ease the Workload?

   Boutique isn't a new word, but it's certainly becoming quite the fad in the legal profession. As the economy fails to resurrect itself, more and more lawyers are finding themselves in need of jobs – but instead of turning to the bigger firms that laid them off in the first place, they're creating their own in the form of small firms focused on niches in the market that are often overlooked.

           Articles have been written about the advantages and disadvantages of moving from a big firm to a mid-sized, or even small, firm. People have weighed in on both sides, arguing over billing rates and opportunities. But it seems that the boutique firms are coming out ahead, regardless of what those in the bigger firms seem to be saying.            

           One of the arguments aimed at smaller firms is that lawyers no longer bill what they were billing when they worked in bigger firms. One article published on www.Law.com in early January 2010 quotes Charles Scibetta as saying, "Chaffetz Lindsey lawyers have been able to bill up to 20 percent to 30 percent less than they did at Clifford Chance." Clifford Chance is the law firm that the partners left to form Chaffetz Lindsey, a boutique firm operating out of New York.  

        The clients are pleased that they are able to retain high quality lawyers at a more reasonable price, but others feel as though the lawyers are selling themselves short by charging a fraction of what they used to bill per hour. Jay Shepherd, a columnist for the "Above the Law" blog, says in a February 16, 2011 post titled Small Firms, Big Lawyers: Have you gotten stupider?", "How do you think that makes them [the clients] feel? Most likely, it will make them feel like you were overcharging them before."

         All of the rate cutting is a big gamble, but it pays off when clients who can't afford the big firms find a boutique they like and stick with it; the boutique firms may end up handling some huge settlements, especially with small businesses and other up-and-coming clients. But with bigger clients and bigger settlements come big organizational problems, especially when the boutique firms are adamant about staying small.

           Coming from bigger firms, many of these lawyers are often used to mass-produced practice management software packages or are using software that doesn't allow them to modify their databases to reflect the new levels of personalization that their clients require.

           Whether they're suddenly handling a multi-plaintiff personal injury cruise ship assault case or they've decided that their practice will focus on only areas related to racial discrimination in the workforce, lawyers need software to help them keep all case or matter related information organized. It's one way that they're able to bill at lower rates, keeping support staff to a minimum and still maintain integrity as a firm.

           Denver-based Synaptec Software, Inc. is arguably a boutique software firm. It's been in business for thirty years, coming to life far before the most recent wave of boutique law firms, but it's been providing customizable case and matter management to firms of all sizes ever since its inception in 1981. Plenty of firms choose to use LawBase - their customized case management package - because of its flexibility. There's a certain amount of control that goes into the creation of the personalized database, and many firms can't find that level of customization with any other software package.

           Similar to the boutique firms, Synaptec employs a very personal approach to their client relationships. President Phil Homburger asserts that maintaining strong client relationships is one of the things that has made LawBase so successful. LawBase enables lawyers to practice law instead of worrying about information management, leaving more time for billing rather than repetitive data entry. This increase in productivity allows LawBase clients to keep their support staff small and focused on the end goal rather than on the tiresome tasks that would have to be done otherwise.

           Perhaps the face time that lawyers are now spending with clients is enabling them to see the law and the justice system with fresh eyes, an outlook that is often beneficial for both client and lawyer. While the boutique law firm trend seems to have no end in sight, it is just as well for those clients hoping to get high quality lawyers at reasonable prices.



                                               Citations

Raymond, Nate. "Boutiques Slicing Into Big Firms' Pie." New York Law Journal, January 4, 2010.

Shepherd, Jay. "Small Firms, Big Lawyers: Have You Gotten Stupider?" AbovetheLaw.com, February 16, 2011.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/firms-seek-case-...
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                                           About Synaptec Software, Inc.


Based in Denver, Colorado, Synaptec Software, Inc. is the developer of the LawBase matter management software package. A veteran company in the software field, Synaptec has more than 30 years of experience in developing the most adaptable, intuitive case and matter management product on the market today. LawBase is currently being used by thousands of users in law firms, Fortune 500 corporate legal departments and governmental agencies. LawBase can be installed on premises or hosted remotely.
“Legal software that thinks the way that you do.”
For more information about Synaptec, visit www.lawbase.com or call 800-569-3377 or 303-320-4420.

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LawBase is a computerized Case and Matter Management System designed to increase the productivity and profitability of your office. LawBase is currently being used by thousands of law office personnel across the country as well as governmental agencies.