Run Your Law Firm Like a Startup

If we’re really being honest with ourselves, attorneys are seldom seen as innovators, as disruptors, or as paradigm shifters. More often than not, lawyers are seen as the old guard, the defenders of the establishment. Yet, there is no reason in the world why your law firm cannot be run creatively, disruptively, and with an eye toward doing things differently on behalf of your clients—in a word, like a startup.

But how can law firms maintain a startup culture? How can you run your firm like it’s a small new upstart rather than an established legal entity? Some pointers:

• Have a mission statement. Like the best tech companies, your law firm needs a written articulation of the values you uphold, something around which all of your team members can align themselves. This mission statement should provide identity and purpose.
• Be on the technological edge. Do your attorneys know how to use the latest in cloud-based collaboration tools—or are they barely competent to check e-mail? To maintain that startup edge, using the latest technology is essential.
• Do content marketing. One of the goals of your firm should be to establish widespread thought leadership, something you can do through content marketing. Make sure your attorneys are branding themselves—and thus the firm—on Twitter, through blogs, and so on.
• Foster collaboration. Startup culture is marked by transparency and by open and honest back-and-forth. Create an environment in which your lawyers feel comfortable collaborating with one another, making their voices heard, and offering either affirmation or feedback as necessary.
• Set the right energy level. The leadership of your firm needs to set the tone for work-life balance, and also for the level of hard work and enthusiasm that is expected of all employees. Real leadership goes from the top down!
• Understand that culture is about more than perks. If you want to draw talented new attorneys to your startup-like firm, you must understand that true startup culture is about more than vacation days. It’s about creating a team environment in which all of your employees feel like they are contributing to the whole, and growing as professionals.

It may take some work, but it is possible: You can run your law firm like it’s a startup, with all the nimbleness and creativity that this term entails. Follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way.