At the end of the day, running a business is about profits and losses. The billable hours your law firm generates must be greater than the amount you spend on things like paying your staff, leasing an office space, heating and cooling said office space, keeping the lights on and the technology running, etc., etc.
You likely have a long list of expenses, and like many law firms, have considered going remote (or partially remote) as a way to reduce your office footprint and the expenses that come with leasing an office space. If you’re considering doing so, here are some things to know.
Streamlining Remote Operations With Technology
Even though nearly all law firms experienced some degree of remote work during the pandemic, many are still reluctant to go fully virtual. Whether it’s because they crave the social environment of the office or the firm needs a professional space to meet with clients, giving up an office space entirely simply may not be an option for your law firm.
That said, there may be ways to streamline your office operations by enabling more remote work for your staff. Here are some things to keep in mind if you plan to do so.
- Poll your staff – Before committing to a work-from-home environment, ask your employees what they prefer. Why? Because if you don’t take into account your staff’s preferences, the results can be costly. For technology or remote work to succeed, you need adoption. If that’s not going to happen, employee productivity will drop and your costs will go up. Consider your staff’s preferences and their willingness to adopt a new way of working before you decide to eliminate half your office space.
- Be sure you have effective communication tools and technology in place – Remote employees need to feel connected with the team and have the same access to files and data that in-person employees have. If your technology can’t support that or you have security concerns, talk to us right away at Honeycrisp. Any new communication tool will require a planned and phased rollout with testing, so consider your timeline and expectations before taking the plunge with a new technology.
- Consider alternative ways to reduce office costs – Things like eliminating paper can be an easy way to save money (and time!). Conduct an audit of all your firm’s material costs and consider how digital processes can reduce or eliminate them. That said, be sure to also account for instances when you may need to print something out or fax a document last minute. These things can happen, so it’s important to plan for them even if going paperless is your preferred path. After all, all the savings in the world won’t matter if you miss your deadlines.
Our team at Honeycrisp can help your law firm identify gaps and opportunities for your Apple-using office so you can all get more done whether your staff is in person or remote – and save money to boot! Contact us today to learn about all the ways we can help.
