During my short time in
the legal world I have had the privilege of working at three different law
firms. Two of them were small, one to two attorneys, and the third was quite
large, having thirty attorneys, five legal assistants, four paralegals, and
three records clerks. Each firm taught me new skills and important lessons, and
I am thankful for the opportunity to have been exposed to such different areas
of law as well as being able to witness the different practice styles of the
attorneys that I worked for.
So,
what is the difference between small law firms and big law firms? Is one better
than the other? The answer, a particular favorite of law professors and attorneys
alike is, “It depends”. Finding a law firm is all about doing what is best for YOU.
I definitely recommend doing research on attorneys in the practice area that
you are seeking help in, but don’t be so quick to count them out if the size of
their firm is not one that you envisioned hiring an attorney from.
Here
are some things to consider when choosing between a small and big law firm:
-The personal connection you are looking for: More often than not, large law firms have partners, assistants, paralegals, and a variety of "worker bees" that keep the firm functioning. As a result, you may deal with the paralegal or legal assistant on your cases versus the actual attorney for a majority of the time. This is not necessarily negative, but if you are hoping to meet, converse, and work with the actual attorney on your file, a small firm may be a better fit. This is not to say that a paralegal wouldn't meet with you at a small firm as well, but you do have a better chance of working one-on-one with the attorney handling your file. It is about deciding what type of connection you feel would be most beneficial for the case that you have.
-Where
you live: If you live in a big city like Tampa, you have access to a
variety of attorneys who work at both small and big law firms. However, if you
live in Zephyrhills, Dade City, or Wesley Chapel, you will more often be
dealing with small law firms who specialize in specific areas. Neither option
is bad, but your location is important to consider as well as if you decide to
travel to access a larger law firm.
-The
type of case that you have: As I have said before, many attorneys and firms
specialize in specific practice areas. For this reason, a smaller law firm can
be beneficial because the entire practice can be dedicated to the type of case
that you have. Larger firms usually cover many practice areas and can be just
as effective/helpful. Again, it is a matter of you deciding how involved you
want the entire firm to be in your case and what you are most comfortable with.
-Other
client reviews: It is always helpful to read reviews and testimonials of
the law firms that you are considering. It allows you to gain an understanding
of how clients felt when working with the firm, and can help you make a
decision about what firm is best for you. Don’t be afraid to look at reviews,
you would check them before making a purchase on Amazon, so it makes just as
much sense to do it for your law firm as well.
-The
first impression you get from the firm: You deserve respect and dignity.
You may assume that you are just another case to a big law firm, but this can
also happen with small firms. Pay attention to first impressions and go with
the firm that makes you feel heard and understood. You want an honest attorney
who is going to advocate to the best of their ability to help you case succeed.
Ultimately, the decision about
the law firm that you choose is yours alone to make. While both are different,
ultimately the attorneys are practicing there to help clients and make a
difference, no matter the size of the firm that they are working for. It is
helpful to consult attorneys or reviews for advice and insight, but more
importantly it is about finding a firm that is best suited to your needs.
Small and big law firms have been serving clients for many years and while some may say one is better than the other, you may be surprised to find out that the type of firm that you prefer is not the size you anticipated. Don’t be afraid to give either a chance and you may be pleasantly surprised with the results.
***The information contained in this blog post is
meant to be informational and is not intended to persuade or convince anyone to
choose a specific type of law firm. Always do what is in the best interest for
the claim that you have and should you have any questions please fill out our
contact form below.***
Sources: https://www.noobpreneur.com/2021/02/19/seeking-legal-help-should-you-use-a-small-or-large-law-firm/
https://www.isfma.com/law-and-order/choosing-representation-small-firms-versus-large-firms/
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