24/7 Legal Services
16th March 2011
Twenty four hours seven days a week legal services. Do your clients want it? Do you want it? Could you make money from it?
In a previous article “ABS a threat or opportunity” we discussed the window of opportunity that was then open but is now closing on 6th October 2011, for solicitors to get ahead of the threat of the commonly called “Tesco Law”.
But have they taken advantage of this opportunity to present their face to the public in a different way?
If you Google 24/7 solicitors you will get links to law firms in Queensland, Londonderry and Miami but none to traditional English law firms other than for Police Station work. The exception to this is somewhat ironic in that The West Midlands Police Federation Retirement Helpline does offer a 24/7 service but this is a very restricted audience.
Is it desirable? We willingly accept banks open online 24/7 so why not lawyers? The days of client service being restricted to 9 – 5, 5 days a week and closed for lunch are not acceptable to tomorrow’s consumer. They have been brought up on access to information and service providers being available if not 24 hours then certainly more than 9 – 5.
In fairness to the profession there are now several larger firms offering 8 – 8, 6 day services. The fact that these firms are offering client services successfully on these extended hours is sufficient to suggest that smaller firms should also be taking up the challenge to extend their client offering. This need not mean keeping the physical office door open longer but using technology to keep the virtual office door open longer.
From the comfort of your home office behind a PC screen you and your client are oblivious to the actual location of the other. But is this a step too far? Modern case management systems, such as Liberate from Linetime with online case tracking (B2C) gives your client access to information. SMS gives you the ability to communicate with your client outside of his normal hours. These are some of the ways to facilitate this virtual world and increase revenue without a proportional increase in your costs or your sleepless nights.
For more information on Linetime's products click on the link or email Phill Snee phils@linetime.co.uk