We have all heard it. We have all seen it. We all know the phrase “Size Matters” (speaking strictly in the context of law practice ofcourse). But, does it really? What are the pros and cons of a larger practice compared to a medium practice compared to a small practice, as it pertains to both clients and lawyers? Well, lets dive in.
First addressing clients. As a someone who has a legal problem (or who perceives they have a legal problem), what size firm should they trust with their problem? A larger firm may hold more weight as it comes to name recognition, known reputation, or simply just having more resources/variety of lawyers for different legal issues. But a small practice may have the benefit of specialization, where they have a few lawyers, or one lawyer, doing one thing and doing that one thing very well. A medium sized firm may give you the best of both worlds. But to answer this question, I think its most important to look at what the legal issue is in deciding what firm is right for you.
In addition, I think it is important clients check out their firms websites, read reviews, and maybe even visit the office and see how they are greeted and/or helped. A plus of a large office could be that there may be always someone ready to answer the phone to help, but it may be a different person every time. A plus of a small firm could mean working personally, maybe even getting close, to those support staff who give case statutes, help gather information for your suit, etc. You may get a more personalized experience at small firm, whereas a larger firm may have a one size fits all approach.
Honestly, when it comes down to it, size isnt what matters, its the lawyers that matter. The quality will always matter over quantity, at least in my opinion. What lawyer is going to work on your case every day? What lawyer is going to be persistent in following up on tasks to move litigation forward? What lawyer is going to happily give as many case status updates as your heart desires? What lawyer is going to serve you, communicate with you, and what lawyer can you trust? I think this is a far better question for potential clients to ask whether than considering whether size matters.
Now talking about lawyers. Is it “better” to work for a large firm or a small firm? I honestly think this comes down to your personality. Someone who likes the constant hustle and bustle may prefer a larger firm. Someone who may be a bit introverted or like keeping a close circle (like myself) may thrive at a small firm. Small firms might also have the perk of a better work-life balance, although it matters heavily on who your boss is. A larger firm may offer their lawyers better benefits, while at a smaller firm this could be more up in the air, as in it will likely vary firm by firm. However, smaller firms may offer alternative benefits which balance out what you may receive at a larger firm. I also think that at a smaller firm, you may have the opportunity to climb the latter (like the corporate latter) quicker, as you get more one on one time with your boss and they may directly supervise all your work. This gives you a real chance to shine and be noticed. Not that this doesn't happen at larger firms, it just may take a bit longer as you are in a pool with many other lawyers.
Again, similar to the conclusion with potential clients, it all matters who you are and who the people around you are. A job as a lawyer at a large firm or a small firm are all likely going to be determined, in terms of satisfaction, by the people around you. I think it is downplayed how much of a people profession being a lawyer really is. It is important to find a group of people you like, are able to work with, and the work being done at that firm.
Hi Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI agree that what matters most is the attorney and not the size of the firm. It’s unfortunate that smaller firms may not have the funds to properly advertise and therefore aren’t able to get their name out to the public. However, I think one benefit of working in a big firm is that there will always be an attorney to pick up a case if the original attorney working on it falls ill or quits. My mom had an attorney for one matter that got very sick, causing significant delay. It took almost two years to resolve my mom’s issue when something like that normally takes less than a year. Had that attorney worked for a big firm, that great delay may not have happened. But still, for most matters I would prefer to hire an attorney that works for a small firm.
I think technology has allowed solo and small firms to compete on an equal footing with large firms in many practice areas. My area of family law is one of them. So long as a solo or small firm does not become over-extended and take on more cases than they can handle, they often provide more personalized service to clients.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as I mentioned in class last time, there are some advantages to size and having deeper pockets to purchase the resources needed for some types of cases. Large PI firms have an advantage over smaller firms in that field because these cases can be expensive to prepare for, negotiate, and take to trial. The risk to the client is that if you have one of the smaller cases in a big firm, you may get lost in the shuffle.