Paralegals & Legal Secretaries

We are very honored to have Guest Blogger, Jay Fleischman prepare the following article focusing on how Paralegals can assist in marketing their law firm.  Not only will this promote your willingness to be a team player, it can also make you an invaluable member of your firm.

Paralegals and other non-lawyer staffers are a great untapped resource when it comes to marketing a law firm.  After all, these are the people on the front lines every day, dealing with clients and doing most of the heavy lifting when it comes to the office.

Here are 4 ways non-lawyers can get involved in marketing the law firm:

1.  Business Cards: The lawyer isn't the only one who meets people who might be interested in learning more about the firm.  Give every staffer business cards with their name, title and area of law in which they work.  Add in the law firm website URL.  As an added benefit, giving staffers their own business cards tells them that their contributions are valued and they are a part of the team.

2.  Social Media: Encourage non-lawyers to get on Twitter and Facebook for their professional as well as personal needs.  Given the tools to communicate about the firm and the work they do in an unfiltered way, they will begin to show the world exactly how your firm can help.

3.  Blogging: Who says the law firm blog should be reserved for the lawyers?  After all, the paralegals and other staffers have a finger on the pulse of the client's needs and concerns.  Train your staffers on how to blog, and the limits on what they can and cannot say in public.  Exposing them to the world will give them a chance to help build their own personalities online, enabling clients and prospects to bond more fully with them.

4.  Education and Industry Events:  Don't keep your staffers holed up in the office, staring longingly out the window as you go from event to event.  When your staffers are given the chance to learn more about the area of law in which you practice, they'll be better prepared to handle the issues that arise in the office.

I encourage every paralegal and non-lawyer staffer to print this article and hand it to the boss.  Get involved in your firm's marketing efforts and see your value to the boss skyrocket!

Jay S. Fleischman is a New York bankruptcy lawyer as well as a legal marketing consultant.  Visit Legal Practice Pro for tips and insights on how to market, manage and grow a profitable law firm.