As a Sydney commercial litigation lawyer who recently decided to put my 10 years + experience to use by “hanging my shingle” in a start-up called Litigant I discovered that a great deal of my time was devoted to building new client relationships and taking exceptional care of those already on board. It is no secret that law school leaves many of its students poorly equipped for the practical aspects of lawyering but that educational gap yawns with a bottomless pit when it comes to marketing. This prompted me to think about the reverse proposition - how hard it must be for clients to find commercial litigation lawyers in Sydney that they know, like and trust - which is the topic for today’s blog.
So here is my marketing 101 lessons for clients who are in the mood to shop for lawyers and law firms in Sydney. I am going to start this session with eye-contact as an initial indicator of trust. If you cannot remember your lawyer’s eye colour then it could mean one of a number of things: (a) your lawyer never established eye-contact with you (b) you never looked your lawyer in the eye; or (c) you cannot recall whatever eye colour it was that you saw. As a suggestion I would say that next time you see your solicitor try and discover his/her eye colour and if you cannot do so because of (a) then perhaps it might just be time for you to find some who is prepared to look you dead in the eye (without of course being creepy).
Next is the business card. Do you recall how you received it from your lawyer? Was it given to you with two hands, as if it was something valuable, or was it simply slid across the conference table for you to retrieve by yourself? Business cards are significant and some savvy lawyers even go so far as to give their clients more than one since it is less likely that a client would throw both cards away (as that would be wasteful), and it is also unlikely for the client to later say both cards have been lost. Finally, what did the business card say about your lawyer? Did it for instance include some crusty and outdated scales of justice or perhaps a vivid and modern picture of the solicitor concerned so you know who you are dealing with? The style of the card is also important and although embossed was once fashionable many lawyers now simply print their own cards or have them printed provided they look professional. Take a look at your lawyer’s business card and what it says to you in terms of how it makes you feel. Does the card make you resonate with feelings that professional help is at hand or does the card feel like a bibbed fishing lure with a hook in the form of a tax invoice?
Finally, the online presence of your lawyer speaks volumes. Most lawyers like to write and speak so that the quality of their online presence could be a valuable guide of what they are known for and competent in. Start with their LinkedIn profile to get a sense of cases handled and experience and then their website which should give you a flavour for what they can do for you and whether you might like working with them. If you cannot find anything about a lawyer online then unless they are of a different generation and come with a solid personal recommendation chances are you are going to have a harder time making a judgement call about their suitability to you. Naturally, online presence only goes so far and there must be some form of social proof that this litigation lawyer can assist you with your commercial (or other) dispute.
To find out if Litigant’s Sydney Litigation Lawyers are the right fit for you please remember we are simply a phone call away! If you found this article helpful (or entertaining) please pass it around as we welcome referrals from our readers (and clients). We wish you all the best in your search to find lawyers and law firms in Sydney that suit your needs.
Talk to a Dispute Lawyer today!
* Disclaimer:- This publication contains general information which may not suit your particular needs or circumstances. It may be summarised and include generalisations. Details that may be important in your specific circumstances might not be included. Litigant strives to ensure that the information in this publication is accurate and up-to-date, but does not represent or guarantee that it is accurate, reliable, current, complete or suitable. You should independently evaluate and verify the accuracy, reliability, currency, completeness and suitability of the information, before you rely on it. The information in this publication is not legal or other professional advice. You should obtain independent legal or professional advice that is tailored to your particular circumstances if you have concerns. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Litigant excludes liability for any loss, however caused (including by negligence), relating to or arising directly or indirectly from using or relying on any content in this publication. Litigant asserts copyright over the content of this publication.