While the management of law firms has changed little in the last hundred years, the general structure is the same. Law firms are managed by a managing partner, who may not have other partners or staff. The equity partners typically reap the greatest rewards of the law firm’s success. The Vanst Law firm, for example, is structured so that attorneys make 70% of all revenue collected. These firms are committed to providing superior personal service, prompt responses to client inquiries, and clear explanations of legal matters.
The first step in creating a procedures manual for your law firm is to gather staff input. The receptionist or accounting department might have a great idea for your new client intake process. Similarly, your accounting staff may have the best knowledge about your collections process. If you have the time, review your procedures manual periodically. New tools and innovations in the legal industry may necessitate revisions. Your staff may also offer better ways of doing certain tasks.
Another factor to consider is the number of hours of work. Most law firms assign cases to teams of employees. Consequently, these professionals must be flexible in their work. In addition, they should be able to prioritize their work and jump from one task to the next. As such, lawyers and legal support staff often work long hours to meet minimum billing requirements. Additionally, attorneys and administrative staff may be on call during trial times. This may be demanding and stressful.