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04 April 2012 / Adam Caplan
Issue: 7509 / Categories: Features , Profession , Marketing
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Thinking big

Adam Caplan kick-starts his new series on how to a grow a law firm. Week 1: reputation & KPIs

A solicitor who has more clients than he can handle is a rare beast, even more so in the current economic climate. In fact with the threat of cheap law services offered in supermarkets, the rise of alternative business structures, increased competition and consumers who are becoming more and more capable of handling legalities themselves, itís looking harder than ever to compete for many firms.

Traditional methods

So, how can solicitors grow their business? Traditional methods may include:
  • lead generation websites for around £300 a time that may, or may not, give you a lead that may, or may not, become a client;
  • advertising through Yellow Pages, local newspapers, event programmes at your child's school play, etc;
  • networking; sponsorship; or a large expensive website with Google advertising.
 
Some of these can be costly and do not guarantee business for your practice. In fact, some of them can harm your reputation.
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Trowers & Hamlins—Rahul Sagar

Trowers & Hamlins—Rahul Sagar

Banking and finance practice bolstered by partner hire

mfg Solicitors—Ian Sheppard

mfg Solicitors—Ian Sheppard

Commercial litigation team welcomes senior associate in Birmingham

Birketts—Nathan Evans

Birketts—Nathan Evans

Commercial and technology team in Cambridge strengthened by partner hire

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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