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How Remote Law Firms Can Expand Their Reach In Chicago, Without Needing a High-Priced Office

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Having a remote law firm has many benefits, but it also has its costs. On the bright side, lawyers can reduce commute times, achieve a healthier work-life balance, and sometimes even increase their productivity, while lowering their real estate costs and workplace liabilities.

But almost with the same degree of possibility, lawyers can end up working all day, feel isolated and burnt out, and see a massive drop in productivity. In fact, the 2022 Practice Forward Report by The American Bar Association found that only 13% of lawyers practicing 10 years or more would leave their place of employment for the greater ability to work remotely.

The reality is that established lawyers thrive on relationships and human connection, and remote work can make this significantly harder. That is why a new option is rising today, which is hybrid work.

The Benefits of Hybrid Work

There are 9 things that law firms risk losing when going fully remote, and that can be mitigated by choosing a hybrid work environment:

  1. Limited Access to Resources: Lawyers often rely on law libraries, legal databases, and physical documents. Remote work may limit access to these essential resources, making legal research more challenging.
  2. Client Confidentiality: Remote work environments may not always provide the same level of security as a traditional office, increasing the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access to sensitive information.
  3. Collaboration Challenges: Remote work can hinder spontaneous interactions and face-to-face collaboration, potentially affecting teamwork and communication.
  4. Client Meetings: Building rapport with clients can be more challenging through remote interactions, as it lacks the personal touch and trust-building opportunities that come with in-person meetings.
  5. Technical Issues: Remote work relies heavily on technology. Technical glitches, internet outages, or software problems can disrupt work, delay deadlines, and lead to frustrations.
  6. Isolation and Burnout: Lawyers working remotely may experience feelings of isolation due to the absence of regular social interactions with colleagues. This isolation can contribute to burnout and negatively impact mental health.
  7. Ergonomic Challenges: Lawyers often spend long hours reviewing documents or writing briefs, which can lead to chronic pains and postural issues when working from home without a proper office setup.
  8. Lack of Supervision: Junior lawyers or interns may miss out on valuable mentorship and supervision when working remotely, which can affect their professional development.
  9. Client Perception: Many top-tier clients prefer their lawyers to work from a traditional office setting, viewing it as a sign of professionalism and commitment.

So could there be a way to work how you want, from where you want, without missing out on the benefits of having a well-equipped, professional office?

How Flexible Office Arrangements Work

Amata pioneered an innovative ‘office-as-a-service’ model in Chicago, which allows lawyers to work remotely while enjoying the benefits of a traditional office space. Law firms can take care of business from virtually anywhere, and still access:

  • A Business Address in a Prestigious Chicago Area

Your clients need to trust who they’re working with. Amata provides the hospitality and the professional and personal touch your clients deserve. Amata provides a virtual business address, so clients associate your organization with Class A, prominent office buildings in the Chicago area.

  • Mail Handling, Scanning and Forwarding

A virtual business address also entitles you to receive correspondence at the location and enjoy mail processing and forwarding from the on-site staff.

  • Conference Rooms & Private Offices for the Day

With Amata, you can keep protecting your firm’s bottom line by having a physical office available as needed. Our flexible options allow you to access luxurious conference rooms and fully-staffed offices on demand, and your clients will never know that you aren’t renting the entire space because we customize everything for you.

Our shared office spaces also allow you to pay for only the space that you need. No need to pay for a lavish 200-meter library that you won’t use. And as your firm grows, our scalable plans provide the perfect solution for expansion. These plans allow you to add or drop office spaces during the term of the contract, without penalty, so that you can stay agile without the hassle of relocating.

  • Flexible Legal Support Staff, Including Paralegals and Administrative Assistants

With Amata, you can access corporate-level law firms without the costs of hiring full-time employees. We provide a wide variety of support services to attorneys including paralegals, legal assistants, administrative assistants, and receptionists (both in-person or virtual).

This allows you to focus on billable hours and growing your firm with a healthier work/life balance, while all the important but tedious tasks are taken care of professionally for you.

Our paralegals research cases on your behalf and draft documents while a virtual legal assistant manages your calendar, returns client phone calls, and plans events. They are all vetted and managed by Amata, ensuring you only pay for the services you require without the increased costs of full-time employees.

  • Live Receptionists to Meet and Greet Your Clients

Not all firms are created equal, and your office space should reflect that. Our Live receptionists will project an image of reliability and stability to your clients, meeting them as they arrive at your office and handling any urgent task on your behalf.

Live receptionists protect your time and handle important office-related tasks like phone answering, call forwarding, message taking, appointment scheduling, calendar management, CRM updating, and much, much more.

  • Networking Events

Having served more than 800 law firms for over 21 years, we have noticed that successful lawyers are in the business of building relationships. Amata’s unique model allows you to continue working remotely, but to attend networking events with like-minded professionals you can connect with to expand your partnerships, referrals, and connections.

A Better Way to Practice Law

The concept of a traditional, fixed brick-and-mortar office is evolving. Law firms are increasingly opting for hybrid office spaces that provide flexible solutions to meet their specific needs.

With Amata, remote law firms can continue working how they want and from where they want, while having professional offices and support services on-demand. This provides the perfect arrangement to expand your reach in Chicago while protecting your profitability and the work/life balance you’ve worked so hard to achieve. Contact us today and learn how our virtual office solutions allow you to increase profits while practicing law on your terms.

Discover our offices for lawyers in Chicago.

The New Office Model for Attorneys

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The “office-as-a-service” model, often referred to as OaaS, is a flexible approach to providing office space and related services to professionals, including attorneys. This model saves costs and provides law firms with all the support they need to thrive, with the flexibility to stay competitive in today’s changing marketplace.

In this article we’ll explain eight benefits of the office-as-a-service model (OaaS) for attorneys, and why it is perfect for solo and small law firms.

Benefit 1: Flexible Workspace

Most lawyers start their own law firms seeking freedom – the freedom to have more control over how they work and to generate higher revenue from the book of business they’ve built.

Freedom and profitability. The problem is that large offices with long-term contracts give you none.

With Amata, attorneys can rent office space on a flexible basis, whether they need it for a few hours, days, or months. This flexibility allows you to adapt your office space to your specific needs, such as client meetings, research, or collaborative work with colleagues.

For example, our conference rooms can be used in 15-minute increments, and you only pay for the time you use (they are not rounded up to the nearest hour).

Most lawyers do not need to come into the office on a regular basis. You can free key resources by having a flexible workspace that adapts to your exact needs. 

Benefit 2: Cost Savings

Instead of committing to a long-term lease and incurring the associated costs of maintaining a traditional office, attorneys can save money by paying only for the space and services they use.

In today’s economic environment, the ability to adapt by adding or removing office spaces without penalties is crucial. That’s why our plans offer 12-month lease terms with a 30-day notice period for adjusting office space, allowing you to reduce costs and maintain profitability when needed.

Benefit 3: Access to Prime Locations

You probably don’t need a 240-square-foot office with a lavish library. What you need is a space that conveys professionalism and is strategically located near courthouses, government offices, and transportation routes for your team.

Our offices are located in professional and prestigious addresses in Chicago. All locations are within walking distance from major public transportation, and some are even steps away from the courthouse.

This enhances your law firm’s professional image and accessibility to clients. We have 3 locations to choose from and meet your exact needs.

Benefit 4: Fully Equipped Offices

You don’t need to be an AM250 firm yet to access top-tier support. Amata’s offices come fully equipped with essential office amenities, including furniture, high-speed internet, phone lines, printing and scanning facilities, and conference rooms. This minimizes your need to invest in office infrastructure.

Benefit 5: Support Services

One of the downsides when transitioning from a big corporation to running your own solo or small law firm is giving up the numerous support mechanisms that make life easier.

That is why Amata provides on-demand (hourly) support services in the form of admin assistants, paralegals, receptionists, and business phone/phone app services that free your time to focus on billable hours and enjoy your life.

Imagine having:

  1. Hourly paralegals that work as if they are on your staff.
  2. Administrative assistants that work with you virtually and in person, depending on your needs and circumstances.
  3. Paralegal assistants that go to city hall, the Recorders Office and deliver courtesy copies to judges for you.
  4. Live receptionists who can screen your calls, handle new clients in-take, and greet your guests.
  5. Notary/witness service program at all locations; plus a remote notary/witness service program that includes video recording.

These are all examples of what our law firms get with our Attorney Support Services.

Benefit 6: Networking Opportunities

Growing a solo firm can be, as the name implies, pretty lonely. But with Amata’s model it doesn’t have to be this way.

You’ll get to meet professionals from other industries, which can lead to new clients, referrals, or joint ventures. We also organize monthly meetings with over 600 other attorneys, where you can expand your network and business opportunities.

Benefit 7: Scalability

When your revenue goes down, as a business owner you need to reduce expenses to maintain profit. Amata allows you to drop or add offices during the term of the contract without penalty, resulting in true office flexibility.

Whether your law firm grows or downsizes, you can easily adjust your office space needs without the complications of breaking leases or finding new locations. This scalability in your office space costs (which typically represent a significant portion of expenses) can be invaluable during fluctuations in client demand.

Benefit 8: Virtual Office Services

Working from home can be phenomenal, but there’s one problem: you can’t use your home address for client services!

That is why we provide a virtual business address, so clients associate your organization with Class A, prominent office buildings in the Chicago area. A virtual business address also entitles you to receive correspondence at the location, receive phone calls, and enjoy mail processing and forwarding from the on-site staff.

The New Office Model, Perfect for Solo and Small Law Firms.

The Office-as-a-Service (OaaS) model was born to provide attorneys and law firms with flexible office terms and help them reduce costs while improving operational efficiency.

This enables legal professionals to focus on billable hours, serve their clientele, and enjoy life on their terms. You can access fully equipped offices in prime locations, along with a suite of AM250-level support services, all tailored to your unique needs.

For more than 21 years we have helped attorneys like you to serve more clients without sacrificing their health, family life, or profitability in the process. Give us a call today if you’d like to explore our flexible and scalable office solutions.

Discover our offices for lawyers in Chicago.

5 Things Law Firms Should Consider When Choosing Office Space

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The legal industry is changing. The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the way lawyers work, with some embracing the flexibility of remote work while others emphasizing the importance of in-person collaboration.

But for most small firms, office space rental is a big expense that needs to be considered carefully. As the legal industry continues to evolve, so do the needs and preferences of law firms when it comes to office space. Is there a solution in-between costly office spaces and having no office at all?

Before you sign that lease, consider these 5 factors that will help you select an office space that meets your unique requirements.

1. Location, Accessibility, and Client Convenience

Having an office with strategic proximity to courthouses, government offices, and clients can significantly impact your firm’s daily operations and client relationships. A conveniently located office not only reduces travel time for attorneys but also makes it easier for clients to reach the firm for meetings and consultations.

Deciding where your law firm will be located also plays a huge role in attracting and retaining the best employees. A recent study by Thomson Reuters of solo and small law firms found that work/life balance is a top priority for attorneys, and your office location can significantly impact this with commute times.

Top clients AND talent are attracted to Class A office buildings in the Chicago area. And with Amata, you can access them in a way that suits your growth needs and budget.

2. Space Design and Layout

When selecting office space, consider the layout and design to ensure it aligns with your specific needs.

For example, most lawyers do not need to come into the office on a regular basis, but they will occasionally require a conference room. Whether it is for client meetings, gatherings with your team, or space to focus outside of home, your office space should have conference rooms available for the day.

With Amata’s hybrid office model, solo and small law firms can have on-demand conference rooms for up to 18 people. You can book a room with tech capabilities for presentations and lots of coffee, so you can impress clients without the fixed cost of a traditional office space.

3. Technology and Infrastructure

A well-equipped office should provide the necessary technology to seamlessly run your law firm. This includes high-speed internet, secure networking, video conferencing, and reliable phone systems to support your legal teams. 

This is why at Amata we provide a full-service law firm space with the flexibility you require. More than 800 law firms and professional services companies benefit from the following (either directly or through our vetted partnerships):

  1. A client in-take process
  2. Support staff (on-site paralegals, live receptionists, docket clerks)
  3. Practice management software and/or a CRM
  4. Billing software
  5. Computers/printers/copiers/mail equipment/phone
  6. Private and virtual offices
  7. Networking opportunities

In today’s competitive environment, reducing your office costs is vital to investing more in technology, automation tools, and compensation. As international lawyer Sandra Chiarlone realized, the result is effectively servicing your clients and growing a successful law practice.

4. Flexibility and Lease Terms

With today’s fluctuations in caseloads and staffing needs, having flexible lease terms becomes a must. Ideally, you would find a comfortable space with a short-term lease that is not costly to terminate.

At Amata, we focus on affordable AND scalable plans. After all, cheap rent may not lead to a reduction in costs. For example, without having the ability to add or drop offices during the term of the contract, you may not know the true cost of hiring a new associate.

But with Amata, if that associate leaves the firm for any reason, that office and the associated costs are terminated — protecting your profitability from incremental overhead expenses.

5. Health and Safety Measures

A home-based work setting may pose challenges in ensuring adherence to post-COVID-19 health and safety protocols. A professional workspace will ensure proper ventilation, sanitization protocols, and established contingency plans for emergencies and crises.

This not only protects the firm from potential liabilities but also strengthens the trust and confidence of both clients and personnel in the firm’s dedication to their well-being.

Conclusion: Selecting the right office spaces comes down to flexibility

It is hard to predict all the factors that may impact your office space. Will you require extra offices? A conference room? New technology?

That is why choosing the right office space for your law firm comes down to flexibility. Location, accessibility, space design, technology, and health and safety measures are all key factors. By having flexibility around these aspects, law firms can create a workspace that not only meets their current needs but also positions them for future growth and success in the ever-evolving legal landscape.

At Amata, we have traditional and modern designs to choose from. All locations are professional, in prestigious locations, and within walking distance from major public transportation. Find the true office flexibility you seek.

Discover our offices for lawyers in Chicago.

The Most Dangerous Number for Law Firms

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The Most Dangerous Number for Law Firms

Keeping your law firm resilient and prepared for change is critical for its long-term success. This resiliency relies, in part, on your ability to pivot and stay agile in the face of change. But how can you achieve this resiliency in practical terms? Start by avoiding the number one.

 

The most dangerous number in business

What is the average client worth to your firm? If you take into account not one case but the lifetime revenue each client represents to your firm, it might be a lot.

The problem arises when one client represents so much of your firm’s earnings, that their departure would be catastrophic. This is known as single-client dependency, and it is one of the most critical factors that can affect your law firm’s valuation. For example, if you’re considering selling your company, banks will inquire whether you have any clients worth more than 5% of your revenue.

That is why marketing author Dan Kennedy used to say, “The most dangerous number in business is ONE.” When an entire business depends on just one market, client, or partnership, it is always one stroke of bad luck away from failure. With so many circumstances beyond your law firm’s control, it is better to set your business to be resilient from the start and avoid single-client dependency.

 

How to keep your law firm agile and profitable in the face of change

The world is changing fast and, in order to adapt, modern law firms require a better model that allows them to grow with peace of mind. This means having flexible expenses that can scale up and down as your law firm grows, in order to maintain profitability regardless of the circumstances.

This is the model Amata is proud to provide. Our scalable solutions help modern law firms access everything that they need to support their growth — virtual assistants, trained paralegals, professional offices, and networking spaces — but without the rigidity that can undermine your law firm’s resiliency.

Law firms should be able to evolve as the needs and expectations of their clients change. Take, for example, the size of the average law office. In the past 20 years the average space allocated per attorney has gone from 1,400 sq. ft. to 700 sq. ft. today, and that number continues to shrink every passing year. Law firms are taking a hard look at their office costs and would prefer to allocate those funds to technology, automation tools and compensation.

The extreme are the law firms who opted for a fully remote environment. No dress code, no commute, and flexible hours. But while remote work can have some perks, some recent studies are finding that going “fully remote” can create new problems such as feelings of isolation and decreased productivity. Many of our clients have come to the conclusion that working from home simply didn’t work for them – personally or professionally.

So, is there a balance? How can law firms remain flexible in their costs, while keeping a professional image that leads to increased clientele?

 

A new model for growth

When a law firm loses a significant client, the immediate challenge is maintaining cash flow. This is where the importance of flexible office plans becomes evident. In an industry where expenses can quickly pile up, having flexible arrangements can be a lifeline.

This is what happened with one law firm serving the Chicago area since 1997. The team was forced to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, and started to question the necessity of a high-maintenance lease they had been paying for the past 13 years.

When this firm contacted Amata’s team in 2021, they were ready to try a new approach. They hired virtual office services, including phone answering, call forward and automated receptionist features. This allowed them to enjoy the benefits of a brick-and-mortar office, such as reliable customer service and confidential lines for client calls, without the need for an in-house physical presence.

As a result, this firm was able to drop its monthly expenses from over $21,000/month to about $550/month. And they did it while maintaining a professional office space, receptionist services, and the ability to add or drop offices without penalty. 

Flexible office plans provide law firms with the agility to adjust their expenses according to fluctuations in their client portfolio. This law firm is an example of how flexible solutions can reduce costs, cut operational inefficiencies, and unlock growth without the risks of fixed costs.

Amata gives law firms everything they need to grow in today’s changing landscape. We provide a range of solutions, from phone answering and virtual office management to document filing and legal research. Our objective is to free up your time, resources, and staff so you can focus on doing what you do best – winning cases!

Inquire here about our tailor-made solutions that can ensure profitability, even in the face of change.

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Achieving True Office Flexibility — An Underlooked Factor for Growing Your Law Firm

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Achieving True Office Flexibility — An Underlooked Factor for Growing Your Law Firm

 

Growing a business of any size can be hard. You need to generate new clients, serve the ones you already have, and constantly control your costs in order to ensure a profitable operation.

And when it comes to growing your law firm, the challenge can be even harder. Take, for example, an office. Most lawyers know the importance of having a professional office. The problem is that, according to a study conducted by BCG Attorney Search, Office Spaces can represent up to 50% of the expenses a small to medium-sized law firm has to incur.

That is why today we want to share what has helped more than 800 of our clients save money and achieve what we call Office Flexibility. You will understand how to access professional offices that adapt to your needs as a business owner, and that scale up and down with your operations.

 

The Support You Need, on Your Own Terms

Most lawyers started their own firm for one reason: Freedom. Freedom to work on meaningful cases, with clients they enjoy working with, controlling their hours, and at rates that truly compensate for the long hours they invest into providing an exceptional service.

The problem is that working in a small to medium-sized firm might come with the freedom, but at the expense of stability. This means that many of the support mechanisms that large firms take for granted are now impossible to afford, including:

  • Administrative assistants to delegate tasks to
  • Receptionists to take calls
  • Paralegals to assign law tasks to
  • A physical office space

So law firm founders find themselves in a conundrum: Should they sacrifice the quality of life they started their firm for in the first place, by trying to do all of the work themselves? Or should they hire other professionals to support them, but at the risk of facing a low cash flow month with high fixed expenses?

That’s where Office Flexibility comes in. Forget about having to choose between a professional, fully-staffed office AND labor costs so high that they erode your profitability.

Because if there’s a recurring trend in the legal world, it’s flexibility. From outsourced legal services to Fractional General Counsels, companies demand more flexibility in their costs to meet their exact growth needs. And having served the legal industry for 21+ years, Amata brings the flexibility you need to the office.

 

Professional Offices With the Flexibility You Need

At Amata Law Office Suites, we offer agreements that allow clients to drop or add offices during the term of the contract, without penalty, resulting in true office flexibility.

Whether you just started your law firm, have a team of 10-20, or are ready to expand your big law firm with the flexibility to scale up or down, we are here for you. No more letting long-term leases or a small staff hinder your ability to make the scalable impact you envision.

Our flexible support services mean more impact and less stress. Paralegal assistants can go to City Hall, the Recorders Office and deliver courtesy copies to judges for you. Live receptionists can screen your calls, handle new client in-take, and greet your guests. Our senior paralegals can research local court procedures, investigate cases, and draft motions on your behalf.

Our team acts as an extension of your law firm and scales up and down as you need to, so you never have to pay for under-utilized staff.

Besides these on-demand, professional support services, Amata provides you with a physical or virtual office that grows with you. Some of our clients have described their Amata office spaces as untouchable, pristine, and “a place for relationships worth its weight in gold.”

In today’s economic environment, the ability to add or remove office spaces without penalty is paramount. That is why our plans provide flexible pricing, short-term agreements with options to adjust, and conference rooms that can accommodate every need, including live depositions, in-person meetings combined with video meetings, in-person client lunches and after-hour gatherings.

Most lawyers do not need to come into the office on a regular basis, nor do they need a large office with a lavish library. You can strategically grow your firm by allocating your resources to technology and talent, while still having a professional office that establishes your professionalism and provides all the support needed to thrive.

Because for most law firms, the two largest expenses are office space and compensation. Amata helps you reduce both with a fresh solution that scales as you do, without penalizing you for changes along the way.

After all, flexibility in your costs means more ability to serve clients, build a thriving firm, and enjoy the quality of life you started your business for in the first place.

Inquire today to learn how our flexible solutions can help your law firm reduce costs, simplify your growth, and scale.

Discover our offices for lawyers in Chicago.

Litigation Firm Gives Up Office Lease And Doesn’t Look Back

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Litigation Firm Gives Up Office Lease And Doesn’t Look Back

Welcome to the second profile in our series of success stories from law firms that have chosen Amata Law Office Suites to house their practice’s operations. Covering only eight of the more than 800 law firms that have leveraged our services in Chicago, Illinois, each month we’ll feature the successes of a few firms and how they’ve used Amata to their advantage.

Can office solutions save lives? Maybe not. But at Amata, we’ve certainly seen ours make others’ easier. Case in point this story about a Chicago-area litigation firm that started with us in 2021. Their journey from suppressed potential to unbound growth is just one example of the real-life impact that the right office space provider can have.

Starting With the Basics

Founded in 1997, this practice was a revered name in Chicago’s insurance, real estate and commercial litigation scene long before it started working with Amata. It had grown steadily over the years, finding success through several high-profile cases while expanding its operations not only throughout Illinois, but also Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin. The HQ team back in Chicago worked out of the same office space for 13 years before their lease went into limbo in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During this time, the firm – like everyone else – had been forced to take an unconventional approach to business as usual. The three principal partners, six lawyers and additional staff members on the team rarely visited the office space they had and were instead handling most matters remotely.

Taking a New Approach to Work

Of course prior to the pandemic, there wouldn’t have been a question about whether this type of “old school”, self-managed arrangement was the smartest move to make. For many, it was the only way. Business owners had come to accept the sky-high costs of maintaining exclusive office space and assumed it was unavoidable. But remote work changed things overnight to quickly reveal just how much more can be done with less.

In the latter half of 2021, Amata’s team received a call from one of the firm’s partners with questions about how managed virtual offices work. They were particularly interested in phone services, call forwarding and automated receptionist features. These options had the potential to provide all of the advantages of a brick-and-mortar office – reliable customer service and confidential lines for client calls – without actually having an in-house physical presence.

While devastating in other respects, the pandemic presented this firm the opportunity to try out a new approach, and in doing so, reduce its fixed expenses, risk, and partner liability on a short-term basis.

Reaping the Benefits of a Smarter Approach

Within days of signing onto an agreement with Amata, this once-taxed litigation firm was able to drop its monthly expenses of over $21,000/month (including a full-time receptionist) to about $550/month. For context, that’s less than a third of the average rent price for an apartment in Chicago. But they were getting so much more value – not only professionally maintained and managed office space, but also receptionist services and freedom from constraining lease arrangements.

While Amata’s services had initially been sought out in response to the pandemic, the litigation firm moved to transform its partnership into a long-term endeavor. Decision makers found that staff were just as productive in their new flex arrangement and that the cost-savings of adopting it permanently could only pay dividends. This proved true later on in 2022, when the practice added two more associates to its team. They took two additional offices with Amata so that these new partners could work with existing associates in person two to four days each week. Beyond that, no other physical space has been needed to maintain the firm’s productivity and broader operations. Flexible solutions from Amata allow them to drastically increase their monthly cost-savings for reinvestment in company growth.

How Amata’s Solutions Tailor to the Needs of Individual Law Firms

The law firm we’re discussing today is no different from others in Chicago in the sense that it had a problem with operational inefficiency that needed to be tackled. But at the same time, none in the city are identical. Each and every practice has its own story and areas of expertise. Factors like team size, client base, and funding all play into how any given law firm operates. Enhancing efficiency requires case-specific support, and that’s exactly what Amata provides.

Amata gives law firms everything they need – and nothing they don’t. We want to equip your practice to succeed in today’s changing yet competitive landscape. Our innovative services are specifically designed for budding ventures that need a cost-effective way of delivering value to their clients.

We provide a range of solutions, from phone answering and virtual office management to document filing and legal research. As-needed office space is also available so that you can scale up or down as needed. Amata frees up your time, resources, and staff so they can focus on doing what they do best – winning cases. Inquire today!

Discover our virtual offices in Chicago.

Office Flexibility and Cost Controls

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By Ron Bockstahler

The most common question I’m asked lately is “What is happening in the office space sector?”.  With a client base of over 800 law firms and businesses, I usually have a good read on what is happening in the office sector of the real estate industry. Throughout June we have seen an increased demand for office space, but more specifically, the demand for flexible office space has been a top priority. Clients are placing a high priority on office flexibility and cost controls in their office selection.

JUNE CONTRACTS

This last week of June alone, Amata signed 12 contracts and/or amendments with existing clients and new clients. Eight of these were to take additional or new space and four were to reduce space. One virtual client, converted to have a full-time office and a California based law firm sign an amendment to have Amata manage their phone system and answer their phones. In each conversation clients were focused on cost controls by exercising the flexibility in their agreements.

FLEXIBILITY

Not included in the above-mentioned new contracts is a 500+ employee New York based law firm, that renewed their agreement with Amata, adding additional offices. The deciding factor to remain with Amata versus signing a lease for their own space was the flexibility Amata provides. Adding or removing an office during the contract term, without any penalty is crucial in this business environment. Another firm dropped an office from their agreement the first week in June, then added a workstation this past week. Successful firms are adapting to the fast-changing business landscape and controlling costs by taking advantage of the flexible lease and staffing solutions provided by Amata.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

One of Amata’s greatest competitive advantages is the flexibility to manage expenses quickly to match changes in revenues. The cost structure with traditional office landlords makes it impractical and unprofitable to provide tenants this type of flexibility. When a company signs a lease, the landlord amortizes the cost to build-out the space, cover concessions, and brokers fees. Amortized costs do not go away when tenant downsizes and no longer requires all the space. Expanding beyond the initially leased space, without increasing the lease term, further locks in fixed expenses.

Learn more about how you can add flexibility and cost controls to your office expenses by contacting Amata.

Discover our offices for lawyers in Chicago.

Amazing Networking Opportunities for Chicago Lawyers

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By Ron Bockstahler

If you’re anything like me, there are times we dread going to those scheduled networking events. Not that we don’t want to visit with people, but our schedules get busy, we fall behind on work, we sacrifice time with family, or whatever the reason, it can be hard to carve out the time for planned networking.

Yesterday my COO was telling me a fun story about this past Friday night. Our offices have been pretty busy, with more and more people back in the office. It was past 7 p.m., but still light out and she didn’t realize the time. She talks with a few clients that are still working and they ask her what she is still doing in the office. Without realizing the time, she tells them she is working, of course.

They tell her it is past 7 p.m. and offer her a beverage and ask her to join them in the Cognac room. It turns out to be a wonderful, serendipitous get together with a few clients she knows and one she just met that day. Turns out the client has an aunt that performed on Saturday Night Live and did some training at Second City. My COO has taken classes at Second City and they immediately were able to build on this and come up with a lot of fun memories to laugh about.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that experiencing those serendipitous moments, the opportunities for unplanned conversations with others is what I enjoy the most about going into the office. Nothing is planned, there’s no anxiety build-up or second thoughts about what I am missing or giving up to attend a social gathering. Just unrehearsed, natural conversation with peers, co-workers and friends.

It helps that my office is at Amata Office Suites, where I have the opportunity to meet people, other than my co-workers, in the café, hallway or Cognac room. In my business, just about 70% of our new clients come from referrals from existing clients. For lawyers, I’ve read that upwards of 80% of their new business comes from referrals from other lawyers. Having unplanned, unsolicited opportunities to build relationships with others than can refer you business is invaluable. Consider how your year would change if you received one referral form a serendipitous meeting each year.

If you’re interested in hearing more about how you can leverage Amata’s networking for your business, contact us here to get started.

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A Civil Rights Law Firm Expands Their Client Base With Amata

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For years Amata has partnered with the Chicago-Kent College of Law’s Solo and Small Practice Incubator program, providing participants office space at no charge and reduced costs on support services while in the program. Once participants graduate the program Amata continues supporting them with programs that scale in cost to allow them time to build up their law practice.

One such participant has been an Amata client since 2017, building a thriving civil rights law practice. Over the years, the firm has used many of the services Amata offers, scaling those services based on the needs and revenue of law firm. Without paying any full-time employees, the firm’s owner has Amata team members answering calls, logging messages, and calling clients to schedule appointments. During periods the firm is getting ready for trial, Amata’s paralegals assist with trial preparation.

Recently this firm expanded the role Amata’s staff plays in new client in-take. As in the past, Amata’s receptionist answers the phone for all callers. With potential new clients, the receptionist takes down the caller’s name, contact information, and a brief description of their situation. This information is shared with the attorney via email. When the attorney wishes to pursue the matter, Amata’s staff calls the potential new client and, using a 25-question in-take form. Once complete, the Amata team member schedules an appointment for the attorney to meet with the potential client either in-person or by video call. The firm has also started using Amata’s Spanish translation team members while expanding the firm’s client base.

Without jeopardizing the ability to provide exceptional legal services to clients, the firm is able to scale expenses up and down with the workload, maximizing profitability while keeping costs to clients affordable. For example, when the firm had two cases going to trial at the same time, Amata’s team was engaged for 12 hours of work. The client was billed $1,020 for this work and invoiced their client $2,040.

This flexibility has allowed the firms partner to enjoy practicing law, maintain a healthy work/life balance, and to maximize the number of clients the firm is able to assist.

Looking to have your law firm supported so you can add more clients? Contact us today.

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A Look at Hybrid Work for Small and Midsized Law Firms

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By Ron Bockstahler

We are going on our third year living with Covid-19 and some of the early predictions about a hybrid work/office model are starting to become reality. But the truth is, this reality looks different for almost every law firm and is heavily influenced by personal preference, type of law practiced, and individual situations. When it comes to creating the perfect hybrid work environment, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Over the past 30 days, I have worked with five law firms helping them to create a hybrid work environment that will allow them to optimize resources, maximize profitability, and maintain firm culture. All these firms were successful prior to the pandemic and their work volume has been consistently increasing since the pandemic began. Their challenges include maintaining firm culture, developing new associates, coordinating work projects, and keeping their work force from leaving for new opportunities. I will even add my own company, Amata Law Office Suites, into the discussion since we too have experienced similar challenges during the pandemic and are now wrestling with how we move forward. Let’s look at a couple of these firms, their situation and how, at least for now, they are moving forward with hybrid work/office solutions.

Let’s start by talking about the largest of the five firms I’ve recently worked with. Since the project is ongoing, I will not mention the firm name for confidentiality purposes. The firm is based in Florida, with locations in several other states. In Chicago they have 38 attorneys and occupy two adjacent floors in the Chicago loop, about 35,000 sq. ft. in total.  I started talking with this firm about a year ago, late in 2021, as they were considering the best way to move forward with their office space. Like most of us, they wanted to see how the pandemic would play out and how their lawyers and staff would adjust to remote work before making any big decisions on their office space. With enough experience working remote and a lot of input from their lawyers, they are now ready to move forward with a hybrid work/office model they believe will work well for their firm. Their model involves giving up both floors at their Chicago office in a partnership with Amata Law Office Suites, with the firm maintaining twelve offices for lawyers and staff who have elected to come into the office regularly and four offices for hoteling among lawyers and staff that come into the office only occasionally. The firm is signing a licensing agreement with Amata and will use the common areas and conference rooms in the same way as other Amata client. The lawyers and staff without offices have elected to work remotely, only coming into the office for firm meetings or to occasionally meet with clients. By giving up their permanent office space the firm can reduce expenses by just under $800,000 each year.

Next is a three-attorney law firm with two staff members. For the partners of this firm, the remote work model did not suit their work preference. In fact, since the beginning of the pandemic, they have been coming into the office every day. It is common to see the partners meeting serendipitously to discuss a client or case they are involved in. They are all old enough to be empty nesters, so they can work at home without interruptions. Instead, they enjoy the camaraderie the office provides. If I were to rank the reasons lawyers give me for coming into the office, camaraderie and the social aspects would be at the top of the list. For years one of my favorite sayings when talking with my managers has been, busy makes busy. Create a busy environment and people will gravitate to that environment.

Want to learn more about how Amata helps law firms leverage hybrid work? We can help you find the right fit – start a conversation with us here.

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