Is it Time for Your Law Firm to Grow?

Law firms that can identify when it is time to grow, and choose the right people when that time comes, are better positioned to handle new clients and the growth that comes with industry changes. Several factors can indicate the need to grow. From the inability to take on new work to the inability to get back-office work done, there are a variety of indicators that show a firm may need to hire new associates.

Turning Down New Clients

A key factor in indicating it is time to grow is when a firm is turning down new clients. The only way for a firm to grow is with new work, and if the firm cannot handle any new accounts, then it means they need more people to handle the workload. With new associates on board, the firm can continue to grow and bring on new, lucrative client accounts.

Failure to Meet Client Needs

Good customer service is the hallmark of a successful law firm, but this is one area where many businesses suffer when they have insufficient staff. If the firm is not meeting the needs of its clients then it may mean they need to hire new associates. Every client needs exceptional treatment, prompt responses to phone calls and emails, as well as a positive face-to-face experience, and an understaffed firm cannot provide any of that.

Inability to Handle Paperwork and Back-Office Needs

Legal work comes with a lot of paperwork, and that paperwork must get done efficiently to keep the firm running smoothly. Sometimes understaffed law firms do a good job of meeting the needs of clients, but fail to get the back-end stuff done promptly. This is another indicator that it’s time for firms to consider hiring someone. If the existing associates cannot get the paperwork done, hiring more will help get these important steps accomplished.

Legal Team Nearing Burnout

Finally, if the existing attorneys are working too many hours and starting to feel burnout, hiring new talent can alleviate some of that stress. Working with a Chicago legal recruiter can make it easier for firms to find associates who are a good fit for the firm’s needs and overall culture so they can seamlessly integrate into the team and start working on the caseload to get things moving more efficiently again.