The COVID-19 pandemic caused a seismic shift in workplace culture – especially within the legal field. Client meetings and even court cases were moved online, bringing with them a range of complications and misunderstandings (such as the lawyer who could not turn off the cat filter). However, the pandemic also encouraged professionals across all industries to think about whether or not they were truly happy at work. This introspection led to what has now been dubbed as the ‘great resignation’.
For example:
- 2021 marked a ‘record-high’ in nearly all industries regarding resignations.
- In September, 3% of the entire workforce quit.
- Approximately 4 million people in the US alone quit their job each month in 2022.
- The average associate attrition rate in the legal industry specifically has increased from 10.44% to 14.31% in the last year.
There were various reasons for this increase in resignations – from poor workplace culture to lack of progression opportunities. To put it simply, many people saw the pandemic as an opportunity to remap their priorities and think seriously about what they want from their careers. Tired of working under bosses who do not know their worth or acknowledge their potential, many took this as an opportunity to start anew – with their own business.
If you have recently begun to evaluate your legal career and are finally ready to free yourself, then now could be the perfect time to launch your own legal enterprise. While there are many benefits to starting your own legal business, you must look before you leap and be prepared for any of the challenges that come alongside this.
With that in mind – here’s everything you need to know before you make the jump – and how the great resignation can kickstart your career.
- Running your own company requires time, effort and patience. The idea of being your own ‘boss’ is often glorified. After all, it represents professional freedom – you don’t have to answer to anybody but yourself. However, it’s essential to understand that running a business requires a great deal of time, effort and patience. If you want to succeed, you have to be prepared to put the work in.
- Being a good lawyer doesn’t always mean you’ll be a good business owner right away. Your law school training and experience means that you’re ready to handle whatever may be thrown your way in the courtroom, from complex documents to demanding clients and while you may develop plenty of transferable skills along the way, this doesn’t always mean you can enter the world of business without any additional training. For example, if you were to open a franchise with DWD, we’d provide you with consistent, ongoing training to facilitate this transition – so that you can provide clients with excellent services from the word go.
- You need to find a gap in the market. There are various types of businesses or franchises you could run within the legal sector; for example, you could work as a mediator or paralegal. However, to succeed, you need to find your niche. Instead of trying to help clients with anything and everything – focus on one service – such as peaceful divorce support. This way, you’ll be able to develop a name for yourself while also offering clients services that are focused and specialized.
- You’ll have to up your ‘customer service’ game. When you launch your own franchise, you’ll likely spend more face-to-face (or Zoom-to-Zoom) time with your clients than ever before. As a result, you need to ensure that you work on developing your customer service game – especially when you consider that this is a particularly trying time for your clients. As such, you need to be empathetic to whatever they are going through so that you can make the process as easy and stress-free as possible. You should also ensure that you can explain the entire process to them – as legal processes are not always straightforward to outsiders. By working on these skills, you’ll keep your clients happy and increase the chances of receiving the positive reviews and referrals you need to thrive.
If you’re thinking about taking the leap and running your own peaceful divorce business – we’re here to help. With our guidance and training, we can help you navigate your way through the world of family law with precision and ease. As opposed to having to build your brand up, you’ll have the advantage of operating under the Divorce With Dignity name, which is already widely recognized and associated with excellence. In short, it’s a great way to give yourself a head start.
Get in touch today to find out more!
