Steps for Law Firms When Working From Home

Throughout the disruption of COVID-19, there remains a need for legal services, and there are practical ways for lawyers and support staff to work in a mix of home and office environments.

There may even be an increased requirement for legal services by both businesses and individuals in some areas of the law, particularly through the economies’ recovery period.

A checklist for continuing to work

Ensure your staff have a suitable homeworking environment including good equipment and internet connection (see our blog on effective home working)
Ensure your documents and emails are available online to all relevant staff
Ensure you can collaborate on documents and video conference call with colleagues
Ensure you can video conference call with your clients, other law firms and stakeholders
Set up an Esign facility for critical documents
Ensure you can access online versions of legal forms
As issues will arise with your staff adjusting to their new working environment address matters relating to morale, team identity and team awareness (see our blog on supporting your staff’s mental health during lockdown)

A checklist for continuing your law firm as a business

Address issues of security in the sharing and collaboration of documents and emails (read our recent blog about safe working from home)
Avoid local insecure storage of any sensitive information at employees’ homes
Identify areas of law where there is demand and you have appropriate staff skills to supply
Train and cross-skill staff to meet changing demand
Use your Practice Management Software to maintain effective continued management of homeworking staff.
Use your Case Management Software across the board to promote continuity of quality in your services and ensure productivity and successful compliance from your homeworkers
See your website and online presence as a priority to include a real-time client facing portal for informing and collaborating with your clients (watch our recent web access portal webinar)
Use your website to generate new business and accept instructions electronically
Use both traditional and web-based marketing methods to attract new clients

Whilst we do not know how long social distancing will last, the government has indicated that there will be restrictions in place for a long time to come.

There is also no guarantee that a second wave of infection may not cause further disruption.

Now is when you need to get it right in the management of remote working teams, getting your law firm on-line, and attracting new business on-line.

Talk to us at Osprey Approach,
it is what we understand and what we do for law firms.

We are here to help

It is not hyperbole to say that the survival of your firm and the jobs of your staff are at stake.

Practical steps you can take to work through the easing of lockdown and beyond

A checklist for continuing to work

A checklist for continuing your law firm as a business