Little Big FirmAdvantage

Ernest Svenson

Ernie SvensonBigLaw - 20 yrs

Solo Practice - 6 yrs

Ernie SvensonBigLaw - 20 yrs

Solo Practice - 6 yrsErnieTheAttorney.netPDFforLawyers.comPaperlessChase.com

@ErnieAttorneyTwitter

20 yrs at Traditional Law Firm

After Katrina: Solo Lawyer

I don’t work by myself

Use technology strategically

1985 1995 2005 2010

My Practice

Leverage information

Best result for clients

Lowest possible cost

Appear professional

Goals today

Why large was better

How shifted & why

How small can win

Review best tools

Road Map

Why large was better

Road Map

1.

BigLaw

Receptionist

Phone systems

Computers

Software

Email

Package deliveryMetered mail

Document preparation

Collaboration

Online research

Package deliveryTrial graphics

Document assemblyParalegals

Secretaries

IT support

Letterhead StationeryOffice space

Time & billing

Word Processing

Expensive Office Space

Well-paid Receptionist

Complex PBX system

State-of-Art Copiers

Postal Meters & Fax

Fancy Stationery

Large library

BuildingDewey, Cheatum & Howe–Attorneys at large–

– Equipment

– Phones

– Files

– Books

Overhead

OverheadCollections $100,000

$50,000

Profitability

Why large was better

Road Map

How shifted & why

How shifted & why

Road Map

2.

A changing world

Informationprocessing

The Internet

Receptionist

Phone systems

Computers

Software

Email

Package deliveryMetered mail

Document preparation

Collaboration

Online research

Package deliveryTrial graphics

Document assemblyParalegals

Secretaries

IT support

Letterhead StationeryOffice space

Time & billing

Word Processing

Dewey, Cheatum & Howe–Attorneys at large–

– Files

BuildingSmaller

Dewey, Cheatum & Howe–Attorneys at large–

The ‘Cloud’

Dewey & Howe–Attorneys at large–

.Dewey

Tiny Office

Home

Overhead

Why large was better

How shifted & why

Road Map

How small can win

How small can win

Road Map

3.

BigLaw lost 10,000 lawyer jobsin last three years

1,720

1,270

73,256

Twitter Account Followers

ReputationWork product & successful outcomes

Office address & phone number

Receptionist - answers your phone

Letterhead/stationery - your documents

Website - your online resume/contact info

Email address - lawyer@aol.com?

Important

Why large was better

How shifted & why

How small can win

Road Map

Review best tools

Review best tools

Road Map

4.

Office SpacePaperless lessens need for office space

Besides storage, what?

– dedicated work space (distraction free)

– conference room for mtgs & depos

– collaboration

– place to keep equipment

Co-workingProvides:

– dedicated work space (distraction free)

– conference rooms for mtgs & depos

– internet, phones & color printers

– collaboration opportunities

– TV displays in conference rooms

– month-to-month contract ($125)

ReceptionistVirtual receptionists

– Always available (no sick days)

– Intelligent handling of calls

– Well trained in phone etiquette

– Presents strong first impression

– Month-to-month plan ($219)

Set up fee ($95) - waived if ...

(Virtual assistants)

– Carefully interviewed (only 3% hired)

– Training: 6 weeks intense w/ online tools

– Handle any virtual task

- calendaring, setting appointments, calling about unpaid invoices, research, booking travel, etc.

– 10 hours/month ($197)

– 20 hours/month ($397)

.com

Word ProcessingSecretarial help

– Dictate using your phone

– Pay per word, usually about 1.5 cents

– Only pay when you use service

– Available 24 hours a day (on weekends)

– Your format; your templates

Dragon Dictate

– $100 or less; reliable (but req’s training)

DocumentsTypography for Lawyers

– Matthew Butterick

– Website: www.typographyforlawyers.com

– Book: $25 on Amazon

– Principles of design for legal documents

– How to create a proper caption

– Effective letterhead design

DocumentsTypography for Lawyers

– Matthew Butterick

– Website: www.typographyforlawyers.com

– Book: $25 on Amazon

– Principles of design for legal documents

– How to create a proper caption

– Effective letterhead design

WebsiteCommunication & Contact information

– Home page should be simple & direct

– Contact page important

– Have a picture of yourself

- Recent one

- Professional

$5/month

Rambo, Dirty Harry & Karate Kid

BigLaw Contact Page

Simpler Contact Page

Email addressProfessionalism v. Ethics

– Keep personal email separate from work

– Ethically okay to use attorney@aol.com

– Professional? Probably not

– Personal domain (e.g. @svensonlaw.com)

– Not that expensive

– included with a basic website

Google AppsBusiness class service

– Custom domain(e.g. @svensonlaw.com)

– $50/user per year

– Centralized management

– Best spam filter

– Easy web access

– Guaranteed 99.9% uptime

– Email migration tools

PDFsDigital Paper (req’d by Fed Cts)

– learn to view & navigate

– how to manipulate (insert pages, rotate)

– how to process documents (bates-stamp, redact)

– PDFforLawyers.com

The “Cloud”

Cloud ServicesDropboxSugarSyncBox.netAmazon S3

$8.50/month

Cloud based BillingTwo choices for lawyers

Clio

– $49/atty & $25/staff

– Free trial period

Rocketmatter

– $59/atty or $19 if 20+ users

– Free trial period

Office

Receptionist

Email, website

Web-fax

Cloud sync/backup

Web-billing

Video conferencing

$125

$219

$5

$9

$8

$49

$49

Monthly Cost of my “Little Big Firm”

Total Monthly Cost?

$464+ time

AssumeRevenue / yr

Costs / yr$100,000

Cost % = .08

$8,000

8%

Overhead

Small firm

\

60%Large firm

Okay, so....

Small Tech Strategy+ +

= Advantage

1. Review what’s possible

2. Pick one thing to implement

3. Refine & improve / training

4. Go back to step #1

Where to start?