Why Your Law Firm Should Be More Like A McDonalds

by AttorneySync

The E-Myth revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It is a terrific book for lawyers running their own practice. One of the key points of the book deals with the idea that as your business grows, it is essential that you put systems into place. The author sites the example of McDonalds as a finely tuned system. Every McDonalds you go to operates the same way and delivers the same experience. When you go to a McDonalds anywhere in the world, you know what to expect. This allows them to scale and replicate their business successfully. A new McDonalds doesn’t wonder how they should address a drive thru customer, how long to put the fries in for, what comes with a number 2 combo, or how many pickles to put on a hamburger. This has all been decided and is laid out ahead of time. A system has been created, tweaked, and followed for optimum performance.

The need for systems in your firm is critical. While professional legal services always involve aspects of work that are unique in each situation, core systems for the way your firm runs should be put into place. It helps with expectations of your employees as well as delivering a consistent experience for your clients.

Think about it this way. Let’s say you had to open a second location for your firm that someone else was running without you, how many aspects of the day to day operations could you have them replicate because there is already a system in place for it?

How would the phones be answered?
How would the intake interview be handled?
How would appointments be scheduled?
How do you follow up on leads and contacts?
How do you handle employee reviews?
How are bonuses and pay raises structured?
Is this all haphazard, changing from day to day depending on your mood?

Good things to think about.

Photo by Roadsidepictures