Running a law firm is no small feat, especially when you’re juggling countless administrative tasks on top of everything else. These duties, while crucial, can quickly become overwhelming, pulling you away from the billable work that you love.

If you’ve been feeling the strain, here are four telltale signs that bringing in some fractional administrative support could be a game-changer for your firm.

1. Increased Administrative Errors

According to the American Bar Association (ABA), administrative errors, such as missed deadlines and clerical mistakes, account for a significant portion of legal malpractice claims.

Specifically, the ABA’s study found that administrative errors contribute to nearly 20% of all malpractice claims​. This usually happens because your current team, systems, and tech are stretched to their maximum. But what happens if you do not have the steady cash flow needed to hire full-time support?

That’s when Fractional Support Services make a lot of sense.  If your firm is experiencing an uptick in administrative errors, it might be time to consider additional part-time support.

2. Overworked Staff

The International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) reported that over 30% of legal professionals feel overworked due to increasing administrative tasks​.

When your staff is consistently working overtime or expressing burnout, it’s a clear indicator that they are overwhelmed with administrative duties, leaving less time for billable work and client interaction.

3. Frequent Missed Deadlines

The natural effect of an overworked staff is missed deadlines. This can be catastrophic when handling delicate legal cases. In fact, the ABA has identified missed deadlines as a primary cause of malpractice suits, with scheduling and deadline management being critical areas of concern.

So if your firm is struggling to keep track of deadlines, it may benefit from the structured support that Amata’s Fractional Support Services can provide.

4. High Turnover Rates

Frequent turnover can be a sign that employees are dissatisfied with their workload and working conditions. The stress of handling excessive administrative tasks can lead to burnout and high staff turnover, which disrupts your firm’s operations and adds to recruitment and training costs.

High administrative workloads can also negatively impact client communication and satisfaction. When lawyers are bogged down with non-billable tasks, they have less time to dedicate to client matters. Ensuring that your clients feel valued and attended to is crucial for both client and employee retention.

How Amata’s Fractional Support Services Can Help

Fractional administrative support involves hiring part-time or as-needed administrative professionals who can take on various tasks, such as:

• • Document Management: Organizing and maintaining client files and legal documents.
  • Scheduling: Managing calendars and ensuring that all deadlines are met.
  • Communication: Handling phone calls, emails, and client communication.
  • Billing and Invoicing: Managing financial records and client billing.

This approach allows your firm to scale administrative support up or down based on current needs, providing flexibility and cost savings. By delegating administrative tasks, your attorneys can focus more on their legal work, improving efficiency and client satisfaction.

In summary, if your law firm is experiencing any of the above issues, Amata’s Fractional Support Services might be a perfect fit. Contact us to learn how our flexible packages can help you reduce errors, prevent team burnout, and ensure that your firm operates profitably and effectively.