Law Firm Leads: Best Practices

We regularly hear attorneys and law firms share their frustration in tracking potential new clients. For all attorneys, leads are the lifeblood of the firm, with very few exceptions. So how do you make sure you make the most of these potential new legal clients? We have some tips.

Make it Simple To Submit... and Offer Contact Info

It all starts with someone wanting to get in touch with your firm. Did you attend an event? Do you have an online ad? What about the website? For every possible interaction a potential new client has with your firm, make it simple for them to provide their information to you.

On social media, do you check responses to posts or DMs, private messages frequently? On your company profile, provide a link where interested potential clients can submit their information. 

If you are at a live event, you have some options. Business cards remain an easy way to get the information you need. There are some great scanning tools too. If you want to give OUT your business card, check out Beaconstac. For a nominal fee, you can have up to 3 versions of your business card that others can scan and be automatically added to their contacts list. 

Centralize the Information

Now that you have the information, be sure to store it all in one place. If you have business cards, take the time to enter the information into your CRM, if you have one. If you don't have one, well, there are several options, including SimpleLaw where it is built into the entire case and practice management software platform. But I digress.

By keeping all law firm leads in one place, you are less likely to lose track. And with a software platform, it's easy to track emails, notes, tasks, and all of it. Certainly there are many options. But check on cost and extended features.  Look for features like assigning a lead to a person, setting tasks, adding notes, and even billing options for the initial consultation, if your firm chooses to bill for those.

Work the Leads

Create a standard workflow for new law firm leads. Once entered, have you assigned someone to follow up? Are you creating and tracking that task? It's critical to follow the lead, get clarification if your firm has the expertise and experience the lead is looking for, all in a prompt manner. Potential clients say over 60% of law firms they contact never reply. Not helping build a positive perspective on law firms and lawyers. Be sure to set tasks, record notes, and actively manage them from the initial gathering of information through to either hiring the firm or maybe even helping them find a fit for their needs. 

Keep Records Updated

Whether the lead hired your firm or not, be sure to add those notes to their profile. If they didn't choose your firm, but you are a qualified option for their needs, do you know why? This feedback is critical to monitor. If they did hire your firm, be sure to monitor how they found your firm. These types of basic metrics are important to help your firm understand which lead sources are productive and which are less so. Likewise, understanding why a law firm lead chose a different firm could give you insight as to what you need to review or consider about how you manage your firm. Remember, continuous improvement is healthy. It's great to hear positive things about your firm. But where we all really grow is considering areas we need to improve. 

If you are wondering about options to track your leads and the many positive benefits of using a built-in CRM to your case and practice management software platform, contact us. Unlike other options, there is no tiered pricing for SimpleLaw. And it's all very reasonable. $39/user/mo for all of our features, including a comprehensive case management module. 

Is your tech making managing cases and your practice easier? Or is it another demand on your time? We make it all Simple. Ready to get started?