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Advice on Moving (or Relocating) Your Law Firm

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Advice on Moving (or Relocating) Your Law Firm

Moving from working out of your your house into a private office space? Expanding into a new location in a new state? We have tips and advice for all types of moves. It’s an exciting time, and if you’ve given your choices proper consideration, it doesn’t have to be stressful.

Your First Office: “I work remotely and want to move into private office space. How do I pick the best space?”

You’re taking a big step, both for your practice and for your bank account. Make sure you properly vet any space you are looking at to ensure it satisfies your growing firm’s growing needs and doesn’t become unaffordable overhead.

We recommend asking the following questions of your potential landlord or space provider:

  • What’s the shortest lease term I’m able to sign?
  • What happens if I need to scale up during my lease term? Or scale down?
  • What amenities are included in my base rent and what ones are add-ons that I need to pay each month (like water, heat, office equipment, etc.)?
  • What are the benefits to being at your space? And can you think of any negatives?

We especially want you to ask that last question – there are negatives to ANY arrangement, and having a landlord or space provider who is honest and upfront with you means you’re getting into business with someone you can trust.

Your New Office: “The attorney I sublease from isn’t renewing their lease. What do I do next?”

Many attorneys sublease space from other attorneys – who are effectively trying to be both landlords and law firm owners. It’s no surprise then, that so many find themselves suddenly kicked out of their space when the attorneys they sublease from decide to give up the dual roles and not renew their leases.

If this is your situation, you’re probably stressed out, and potentially a little angry. You want to make sure your next situation is stable, and you probably discovered a few options:

  1. You can sublease again
  2. You even take on the dual role yourself and lease a large floor
  3. You can take an office with a shared office space provider

Before you make a choice ask yourself: “What do I really need to practice law successfully.”

If this move isn’t really that cumbersome, and isn’t interfering with your day-to-day business, then go with option one. Just keep in mind that you may need to move again sooner than you expect, and that your options may be more limited so price and location shopping will be difficult.

If you loved your traditional space and like the idea of having a small floor of other attorneys in a community you hand crafted, then go with option two. Make sure you speak with other attorneys who have done so first, though. Otherwise you may find yourself stressed and overworked (and not with legal work).

If this move is causing stress, and you want both stability and the ability to shop around for the best price and best location, then a shared office space is your best bet. Additionally, you’ll get the same benefits as option two – a community of attorneys – if you choose a boutique shared office space provider who specializes in supporting law firms. Check if your area provides one!

Your New Beginning: “I’m opening my firm in a new state. Any advice?”

Congratulations on your success! Aside from the legal business of becoming an attorney in a new state, you’ve got a new market you’re trying to enter. Many of our own attorney clients find success by first setting themselves up to work remotely. Most often they purchase a Virtual Law Office program which gives them a local address on one of our floors, a local phone number for their firm, as well as access to all of our locations and our conference rooms for meetings. This saves them the overhead of renting private office space until they are more established in their new city, while giving them all the amenities they need to run their practice in the new location.

The added benefit of opening a Virtual Law Office is that when they do make the move into physical, private space, they are able to maintain their address by simply upgrading from their Virtual Law Office into private office space. Need more information on how this works? Visit our Virtual Law Office page!

Additional Resources for moving your law firm:

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Established Attorneys Who Don’t Choose Traditional Space for Their Firms

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Established Attorneys Who Don’t Choose Traditional Space for Their Firms

Shared legal office space isn’t just for new solo attorneys. We have law firms of all sizes here at Amata. Why? Because flexible space is good for every firm, at every stage.

Having an office space that gives your firm options for expansion as well as shrinkage means:

  • Less resources (both money and time) spent on moving
  • Consistency for you and your clientele
  • Staying cost-effective, no matter what happens

Many attorneys who sign up for traditional law office space find themselves losing profit to pay for space they aren’t using. For instance, if an attorney or employee leaves their firm, they suddenly have an unoccupied office they are paying for. Or if they are looking for offices downtown for three partners and a secretary, their only options may be large build-outs with six offices (two more than they need). Other law office solutions exist, however.

Here a few examples of established attorneys who choose alternative law firm office options, and how that choice helps their firms.

The Defectors

A new CEO, a merger; they change the corporate structure of firms. A couple of attorneys frequently get together in these times and decide to break away to start their own practices.

How shared legal office space providers help

Defecting attorneys need discretion, and they need to set up shop quickly. By going with a shared office space for attorneys or a legal coworking space, they can keep things discrete, because they won’t need to post ads to hire staff or run around the city looking for space or furniture. A shared office provider presents itself as a “pop-up” law firm option: the defecting attorneys can create their PC or LLC, rent the few offices they need (which come fully furnished), get a new phone number for their firm through the shared office space (who set everything up with the phone company), and they’ll have a receptionist who is answering their calls the moment their number is active.

All the attorneys have to do is give notice and show up in their new space! Should they decide to hire more staff and add more offices – or customize their office with their own furniture – they can do so later on without issue.

The Established Attorney in a New State

Making a leap and branching out into a new state can be scary; if going the traditional route, it becomes all the more frightening.

How shared legal office space providers help

Like a defector, the ease of setup gives this attorney less to worry about. A smart attorney branching into a new state will also want to keep over-head costs as low as possible while building up their client base. Starting their firm out with a Virtual Law Office – which includes access to a shared law office space floor’s common space to work from, conference rooms to meet clients at, a business address on the floor for receiving mail, a phone number with their new city’s area code, and access to the shared law office space staff – allows them to have a professional presence in the new city, without the high overhead cost of traditional office space.

Virtual legal office programs allow the attorney to telecommute until their firm is established enough in the new city to hire a permanent associate at that location, and upgrade to a dedicated private office space on the floor!

The Satellite Firm

For successful large firms, overhead may not be as large of a concern. Putting associates in an environment where they can meet other professionals and establish themselves in the community, however, may be.

How shared legal office space providers help

A shared office space for attorneys is a giant floor filled with a medley of attorneys from firms as small as one to as large as fifty! With all these attorneys in one space, making connections is as easy as making a cup of coffee. If associates are new to a city, having this built-in network can help them find a group of peers to integrate with, network within, and assist in building the firm’s referral network in the new city. A more holistic benefit is their well-being. Associates and partners who are able to work from a shared law office space will have a higher ability to find like-minded individuals who aren’t colleagues; new people to have lunch with or go to happy hours with after a long day.

Feeling part of a community is an undeniable wellness benefit, and hard to ignore in an industry plagued with stress and mental illness.

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Which Chicago Office Space Provider is Best for Your Business?

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Which Chicago Office Space Provider is Best for Your Business?

 

It’s important to know just what you’re getting with your office space provider before you sign on the line. We chose three major law office space providers in Chicago – WeWork, Regus and Amata – and broke down the differences to provide you better insight on where your firm might thrive best.

The Basics: Pricing & How Each Chicago Office Space Provider Measures Up

All three of the office space companies have a variety of locations and therefore will have pricing that varies depending on square footage and office building location.

What you really need to focus on, is where the additions come into play, and most of that can only be found once you request a proposal.

WeWork: Need phone services? Then you’ll need an office or desk…

Only members with a Dedicated Desk or a Private Office are able to request phone services. So, if you are looking for an all-inclusive Virtual Office package, you will need to look elsewhere.

Regus: Build what you need – but pay attention to price.

Regus is a build what you need facility, and that means all their amenities are add-ons, including essentials like the internet. This is good if you need the bare minimum (or less) but your invoice can add-up quickly if you don’t pay attention.

Amata: An attempt to bundle services, but not an exception.

Amata makes things easier by bundling select services into their Private & Virtual Offices – internet and furniture is included for their private offices, for instance.

But you can only bundle so much and so like WeWork and Regus you will need to request a proposal if you are interested in a private office. If you are looking for a Virtual Office program, however, full details and pricing are listed online.

Amenities Make All the Difference – Who Has the Best?

Let’s face it: amenities can often make or break the deal. If you’re going to pay for law office space, you want more than four white walls and a door.

WeWork: Perfect for start-ups, incubators, and aspirations of being Google.

With any WeWork office space in Chicago, you’ll also receive:

  • Reception
  • Micro-roasted coffee, tea, and fruit water
  • Beer on tap at select locations
  • Locations may also include: ping pong tables, bocce ball courts, and meditation rooms (these are just a few fun perks!)

Regus: The basics you need, none of the riff-raff.

While Regus doesn’t offer quite as many amenities as WeWork, they do offer the basics you need to run a business.

  • Reception and telephone answering
  • Admin support
  • Coffee, water and tea

Amata: Tailored to small firm attorneys who need more from their space.

The list speaks for itself, but at Amata, you’ll get to enjoy amenities tailored specifically to attorneys like:

  • Paralegal services and administrative support
  • Customizable reception and phone answering
  • Legal networking and education events
  • Fixed-fee court filings
  • Spanish translation services
  • Coffee, water, tea; coke fountain machine at select locations
  • Cognac room for important meetings and celebrations

Choose the Partnerships that Work Best for Your Firm

The best way to decipher a company’s true interests is to look at the partnerships they invest in. Are they linking with companies that help their clients? Are they joining with non-profits to create a better world? Or are they simply partnering with people that help fulfill their needs?

All good companies are a mixture of these things but pay attention to partnerships and you may uncover more about the character of the people in charge.

WeWork Partnerships

2U: Education Technology Company, Airbnb, Techstars’ Accelerator and Start-up Programs, and Salesforce.

Regus Partnerships

Business Continuity Institute, American Airlines Admiral Club, Delta Airlines Crown Room Club, Equity Office Properties, Hines Interests, and Mack-Cali Realty Corporation.

Amata Partnerships

Union League Club of Chicago, The Metropolitan Club, Republic Bank, CBA Insurance Agency (a subsidiary of The Chicago Bar Association), and R4 Services.

No matter which Chicago office space provider you choose for your firm, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting and how those features, amenities, and partnerships can benefit and even possibly help grow your law practice.

Download this chart for a side-by-side comparison of each of these office space providers.

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The Modern Office is Changing to Accommodate Small Businesses

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Modern Office is Changing to Accommodate Small Businesses

Small businesses are having a great couple of years, and they are continuing to be optimistic towards the future. If you’re one of the many experiencing growth in your business, and evaluating office space, don’t go straight to the realtor’s office. Instead embrace the varied options available thanks to continued demand for flexible, cost-efficient space for small businesses.

Overhead for Permanent Offices is Shrinking in Shared Office Facilities

Looking for a brick-and-mortar location to house your business or team? There’s a better way than leasing large amounts of space at exorbitant costs and taking on all the property management responsibilities that come with it.

Now, you can enjoy private office space for your company at a much lower cost by sharing the community areas like reception, cafes and lounges. You’ll save on monthly expenses in not only your physical space but also in your staffing requirements as you’re able to take advantage of professional front-end staff members of the facility your company is located within.

Day Office Rentals Allow More Freedom

Many business owners simply need a place to meet, on occasion, with their clients. Either they work primarily from home, have a job that requires extensive travelling, or spend all day running around the city from meeting to meeting. If this describes you, day office rentals are a great option to keep costs down, while giving you a spot to work when you do need it.

Shared office providers offer everything from full private offices to rentable desks for the day. Whether you prefer the confidentiality of a classic office, or work best in a bubbling open coworking space, there is an option out there for you. And if your needs change you will find shared office providers allow an easy transition from this on-the-go virtual working into a more permanent space.

Business Addresses: When the Only Office You Need is at Home

Your business is just starting, you may even be working a different part-time job right now, and you have no need for meeting space or even a receptionist to answer your calls – not yet at least. What you need is a business address. An address that, when looked up by prospective clients or partners, does not return as a residential location.

Having a professional business address for your business is the ultimate way to say “I’m successful” without taking on the overhead costs of real office space. Not only will you enjoy the privacy of not giving out your home address, but you can take advantage of mail handling services – such as scanning and forwarding — that make it a breeze to still receive all your incoming correspondence in a timely manner. Like the options listed above, you can find business addresses and mail services at your local shared office space provider.

Interested in working virtually? 5 things you should know first.

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5 Things You Should Know if You Want to Work Virtually

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work virtually from home office

3.9 million Americans now work virtually at least half of the week, and that number continues to grow. While there can be many perks in working remotely, there can also be drawbacks unless you’re prepared. We’ve put together a list of 5 things you should know if you want to work virtually, so that you are able to enter the remote workforce and experience success, not burnout.

1. Set Business Hours & Stick to Them

When you work virtually, your home becomes your office. And while that may seem appealing to many, it can create quick burnout unless you set business hours and stick to them from the very beginning. Establishing business hours allows you to not feel tied to your computer during family time or feeling the need to open your laptop as soon as you roll out of bed.

Remember: If you were at an office, you’d be more likely to only handle work there, not at home. So treat your home office the same.

2. Create a Designated Space for Your Virtual Office

In the same way you’d have a designated office if you didn’t work virtually, you should also create a specific space for one when working from home. The reason: It allows you to leave work, “at work”. This is a crucial step in addition to tip #1 that will offer you freedom from burnout and overworking. Creating a designated space for your virtual office will also establish boundaries for any other family members that may be home during your working hours. They’ll know that when you’re in your office, you’re working, and it will help you stay focused.

If you’re self-employed and file a Schedule C, you can also claim the Home Office Deduction on your taxes.

3. Eliminate Distractions by Scheduling Breaks

Working virtually can lead to one of two scenarios: Either you are so focused on your work that you plow through any break time (including taking that lunch that will re-energize you for a busy afternoon of meetings), or you find yourself constantly being distracted by all the things you could be doing and wind up having to work outside of your scheduled hours to play catch up.

Set an alarm on your phone for a 15-20 minute break in both the morning and afternoon, and make sure to include an alarm for your lunch break. Develop the habit now of only scrolling through social media or answering personal emails during these windows to help you be the most productive during your “on-the-clock” working hours.

4. Maintain a Professional Appearance for Your Business

Have you considered the drawbacks to providing your home address or personal cell number to clients when working remotely? Amata’s Virtual Office packages allow you to obtain a professional business address from any one of our prestigious downtown Chicago locations. You’ll also enjoy the functionality of utilizing a cutting edge 3CX VoiP business phone system to maintain your privacy while working from home.

5. Enjoy the Freedoms Allowed for Those Who Work Virtually

Just because you work virtually doesn’t mean you have to be sequestered to your home during working hours. Coworking facilities offer a great place for you to work when you’re feeling the need for a change in scenery. They’re also the perfect place to hold client meetings and provide the professional environment your clients are looking for. You can even book conference rooms or day offices as the need arises as well.

Amata is rewriting the rules when it comes to remote work. Our Virtual Office programs bring your virtual working experience to a new level of professionalism and exceptionality without breaking the bank. Choose the services that work best for you and run your business the way you want from virtually anywhere.

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77 West Wacker’s Latest Shared Office Space Caters to Chicago’s Attorneys

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Prestigious Attorney Offices on the 45th Floor in Chicago's Legal District Bring You Big Clients

Amata Law Office Suites’ newest attorney office space location at 77 W Wacker in downtown Chicago offers premium space for your firm in a prestigious setting. Featuring private offices as well as coworking and virtual space on the 45th floor in Chicago’s Legal District, it’s the perfect location for your firm.

Housing your practice on the 45th floor of this incredible building will bring you the big clients you’ve been looking to land. Top-paying clients will be impressed and feel an immediate sense of trust when they step through the doors.

In addition to the opportunity for increasing your firm’s revenue by relocating to this premium locale, there are exclusive perks for attorneys at this location through Amata Law Office Suites.

Vast Parking Options for You and Your Clients

One of the incredible advantages of choosing to house your Chicago law firm at our spaces at 77 W Wacker is the vast parking availability for yourself and your clients. This location boasts a lower-level parking garage as well as 1,200 additional parking spots you can gain access to via a skybridge and easy access to the Pedway.

When parking is convenient for your clients, you open up the doors to that many more choosing your firm over others that don’t include ease-of-access.

Amenities Designed to Impress Your Clients

Treat your clients and guests to a meal at the Early Society Restaurant or take advantage of their catering for your next meeting. Provide more ease-of-access to visitors with the on-site concierge services and cab stand located at the entrance of the building. In need of a notary or umbrella loan? Those services are both offered for your convenience at this location as well.

Luxuries that Amplify Your Life

The fitness center located at 77 W Wacker is incredible and features several wellness programs, a basketball court, yoga, massage therapy, and more. There are over 100 different services offered in total, including educational seminars that address common issues for attorneys such as stress management, fitness on the fly, and blood pressure.

Services that Increase Your Bottom Line

Amata Law Office Suites sets our Chicago attorney office spaces apart from the rest by offering unique services that are focused solely on increasing your productivity and therefore, your bottom line.

We offer conference room bookings that include catering services so you don’t have to take time to figure out all the details, and our state-of-the-art video conferencing technology means you can conduct your meetings when it works best for you and your clients. Our reception and phone answering services come complete with calendar scheduling and thorough new client intake. Amata Law Office Suites has professional staff on hand to provide expert deposition support right when you need it.

If you’ve been looking for the office space for your Chicago firm that will yield the high-paying clients you’ve been vying for, look no further. Schedule your tour of our law office spaces on the 45th floor at 77 W Wacker today.

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The Ethics and Practicality of Shared Office Space

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The Ethics and Practicality of Shared Office Space

Last Thursday, Amata Law Office Suites’ co-founder and CEO, Ron Bockstahler, attended an event hosted by The Chicago Bar Association where he spoke about the ethics and practicality of shared office space.

As a consultant to law firms for over 20 years and having witnessed first-hand how positively attorneys have been impacted through spaces that Amata provides for them, Ron shared his knowledge of the benefits and feasibility that shared office spaces bring to the table.

If you are a member of The Chicago Bar Association and would like to view a video replay of the meeting, you may watch it by clicking this link: http://www.chicagobar.org/am/mediaplayer/player.aspx?code=LAWPR0518W

Also, please note that watching the video replay will not count toward your CLE credit.

The Chicago Bar Association primarily consists of judges and attorneys from Cook County and the State of Illinois and is one of the oldest and most active metropolitan bar associations in the United States. The CBA is proud to sponsor and support continuing legal education programs and cultivate social relationships among its members.

To attend opportunities like this in the future, check out all of Amata’s attorney networking opportunities on our events page.

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Law School Students Get Exclusive Treatment at Amata

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Law School Students Get Exclusive Treatment at Amata

Amata is aware of how hard and costly it can be to get your law firm up and running. And for law students, if you want to be successful in the legal world, you need more than stellar grades and an innate knowledge of law.

The increasingly competitive nature of the legal marketplace has meant that attorneys need to make sure that all aspects of their business are flawless. And your physical workspace can’t be overlooked. In fact, it has become more important than ever before. After all, it can make a meaningful difference in your productivity and longevity.

Discover How Amata Can Help

Starting a law firm, particularly in today’s aggressive market, is no easy task. But Amata Law Office Suites is making it our business to help law students’ transitions to the legal marketplace easier than ever before. For any startup law firm that’s looking to grow, Amata can provide credibility and a more professional image, both of which are key to selling legal services.

Qualified participants in the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law’s Solo & Small Practice Incubator program are able to receive many of Amata Law Office Suites’ services at no charge. With our assistance, you can maximize your chances of success.

Instantly Jump Start Your Law Practice

We also offer a program available exclusively to attorneys – both those that are leaving the Chicago-Kent Incubator program and those in their first year of practice – specifically designed to financially assist new attorneys in getting started with their solo law practice.

Amata knows that the environment you choose to work from can have an instrumental impact on your success. Establishing a strong network is one of the most important steps to starting a law practice. Word of mouth will always be a key driver of law firm growth, so building up a network of attorneys, as well as other professionals, can help generate business.

Enjoy Immediate Access To The Features And Services You Want and Need For Your Firm

The legal profession is one that involves great responsibility in the handling and resolution of important matters in our clients’ lives. Trustworthiness and professionalism are a necessity for any attorney to be successful at landing clients and growing their firm.

Perhaps even more crucial is the workspace environment and staff on hand.

Take Advantage of Amata’s Highly Trained Staff With A Personal Receptionist

Having a polished office space with high-end finishes is an easy way to exude professionalism. Amata comes complete with luxury finishes and even a highly-trained receptionist to greet your prospective clients. We provide these professional reception services at no charge, so you can concentrate on what’s truly important.

  • Incoming calls are handled by a professional receptionist
  • Assistance is provided with any new client intake
  • Receptionist greets visiting clients and announces them upon arrival

Daily Task Assistance Made Easy

The daily tasks of a burgeoning attorney can stack up very quickly, and when you’re still burdened with finishing law school, coming up with the funds to pay for these services can seem overwhelming.

  • Custom call answering based on your requests
  • Personal phone number with voice messaging
  • All assigned phone numbers are owned by you and easily portable
  • Free document scanning at all Amata locations

Grow Your Practice With Exclusive Networking

Attorney networking opportunities can be the platform for taking your law firm to the next level. Working at Amata Law Office Suites with other attorneys is an excellent way to form strong relationships early on. You can establish mutual referral arrangements, share resources and information, and learn valuable lessons about marketing and running a business from other attorneys who are in a similar position.

What’s more, Amata offers exclusive networking events tailored specifically for attorneys like yourself.

  • Membership with 800+ Chicago-based attorneys
  • Social activities designed with lawyers in mind
  • Networking events and speaker series for professional development

Make It Professional With Bonus Access To Many Amenities

The daily needs of a law student preparing to start their own firm extend far beyond routine services. You need a place for working and meeting clients, as well as a collaborative and vibrant workspace. Amata has all your bases covered.

  • Access to all of Amata’s open work areas
  • Private huddle room and client intake room access
  • Free access to WiFi at all of Amata’s locations

A La Carte – Member Rate Services

When you need to go beyond the routine services and are looking for access to specific needs, Amata is your complete source. Amata Law Office Suites offers law school students the ability to gain access at member discounts.

  • Copier and mail machine use when you need it
  • Utilization of our paralegal and administrative team and court filing services
  • Access to our network of business partners and discounted rates

Starting a law firm is no easy feat. There’s a lot to consider, including your potential revenue and expenses, as well as the environment from which you work.

For your workspace needs, let Amata Law Office Suites be your ultimate solution. You can customize your plan today, and take advantage of all Amata has to offer. As a law student, it could be just what you need to get your firm up and running.

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Amata Brings More Opportunities for the Firms of the Future

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Law Firms – How Big is Too Big for Law Office Suites

Over the past five years, the landscape has dramatically changed in terms of what today’s practicing attorneys consider to be viable, and logistical, space for their firm.

Law Offices Changing with the Times

Traditionally speaking, law firms elected to have their own office spaces, which meant signing a non-flexible lease with a building. However, such is not the case these days.

Technology has many attorneys working remotely, greatly reducing the need for an office dedicated to every attorney in the firm.

Eliminating Large Overhead Costs

For instance, Amata has a fourteen-attorney firm here in Chicago where the attorneys reserve the use of our Amata offices in advance. Between them, they share ten offices, and because they are all rarely in the office at the same time, it allows the firm to keep their office costs down while continuing to grow their practice. The firm maintains an ongoing option to add or remove an office as the needs of their firm change.

Coworking Becomes Commonplace

We live in a business environment where coworking has become the norm for small companies and large corporations alike. It seems only natural that attorneys would want to adapt to this new reality and reap the profitable, worthwhile benefits of shared office spaces.

“So while the world around the legal profession is changing dramatically, few lawyers are making changes to the way they practice law.” – Law Practice Today

The old adage says lawyers are slow to change, and that may still be a true statement, but the firms that will lead the way in the future are quickly moving to play by new rules.

Shared Office Space – Not a Foreign Concept

In many ways, solo and small law practices have already been sharing office space with larger firms for years, so the concept is not totally new.

However, this traditional way of sharing space with larger firms can present several very real, very big problems for those smaller practices.

Traditional Law Firm Space May Leave Your Firm Stranded

The biggest problem is that you may get kicked out with short notice when that large firm you’re sharing space with needs more space for their own growth.

Trying to scramble to find a suitable place at an affordable cost that’s still convenient to your current clients as well as your own needs becomes increasingly difficult when you’re juggling a crunched timeframe.

Another downside to this arrangement is that the larger practice is focused on promoting themselves, not you within the space.

Traditional Law Firm Space Poses Problems for Your Firm’s Expansion

Another rather large issue that should be addressed is when a mid-sized firm takes traditional space with plans to grow. Normally, they will sign a long-term lease for more space than the practice currently needs with plans to add attorneys and staff in the future.

But when those plans don’t materialize as quickly as planned, the firm ends up playing the role of landlord, forced to find other tenants to occupy the empty space until they need it for their own firm.

In the real estate world this “empty space” is referred to as “shadow space”.

Playing Landlord Isn’t Using Assets to Your Advantage

Perhaps the worst part of this process is the fact that the attorney leaseholder rarely has the experience and knowledge of the market and therefore ends up charging tenant-attorney rates below cost, covering the balance with income from the law practice.

At the end of the day, are you practicing law to cover the cost of excess space? Isn’t there a better way to utilize this excess income?

Amata Law Office Suites Provides the Solutions

Amata Law Office Suites is office space designed specifically for attorneys, providing the comradery, connections, and atmosphere attorneys enjoy without the overhead for unused space and long-term equipment lease, reducing the risk of operating a law practice.

You Can Grow and Downsize Your Law Firm as Needed with Amata

As your firm grows at Amata you are easily able to add office space, controlling your costs and incidentally, being aware of your exact cost to add an associate or staff member.

If times become hard for your practice and you need to reduce, you have the option of removing office space to keep your costs in line with your revenue.

Amata Offers Perks You Won’t Find in a Traditional Firm Setting

At Amata Law Office Suites, we’ve been supporting attorneys for over twenty years, so we understand the things you and your clients truly want and need. These are just a few of the perks Amata provides that you won’t get in a traditional firm setting:

  • Lead and Referral Generation
    Amata places great importance on providing a road for your firm’s success. We host numerous attorney networking events throughout the year where you can gain high-quality leads that are often pre-qualified.
  • On-Site Paralegals, Ready to Assist
    Not ready to expand your firm’s staff yet but still need some extra hands on deck? The paralegals located at Amata Law Office Suites are incredibly trained and ready when you need them.
  • Professional, Trained Reception
    Our reception at Amata raises the bar for all others. Professional to the core, they greet your clients and screen your calls so you can focus on the casework you need to.
  • Exclusive Marketing Exposure
    Amata loves nothing more than to proudly support and promote our members. We offer opportunities that include getting published in Attorney-At-Law Magazine, guest blogging at Amata, and more!
  • Flexibility for Every Budget
    Why pay for space you don’t need? Add an attorney or staff member, add an office or workstation; lose an attorney or staff member, remove the cost of the space with a one-month notice. Pay for only what you need, when you need it, and increase your profits. Amata Law Office Suites features plans built-to-suit so you can run your firm more efficiently, including virtual and telecommuting packages!

Place your law office where it should be – with Amata Law Office Suites.

For more information, give us a call us at 312-741-1000, or complete the form below.

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How To Work When Your Firm’s Been Displaced

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How To Work When Your Firm’s Been Displaced

What happens when the unthinkable occurs and you find your law office space in Chicago has been displaced due to fire, flood, or other catastrophic event? This is a question no attorney wants to mull over as it can present a slew of potential headaches, financial pressures, and strains to consider that will affect your firm during the transition period. However, if you don’t have a contingency plan in place, you’re setting your firm up for a difficult and strenuous displacement.

When displacement occurs, the main focus should be on getting your firm back up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible. The transition should be swift and smooth to provide both you and your clients a feeling of seamlessness while maintaining your firm’s integrity as well as your clients’ faith that the ball won’t be dropped on their cases just because you’ve experienced a situation out of your control.

In order to provide this security for your firm and clients, you should consider the following:

1. Rent Only the Space You Need – Conference Rooms

With your law offices in Chicago out of use, you’ll need a professional place to meet with your clients, conduct closings and depositions, etc. The last thing you want to do when dealing with displacement is allocate more funds than necessary for a temporary space. By utilizing a conference room rental, you can choose the size of space tailored to your firm’s needs and use it only when you need it. Make sure your conference room includes necessary items like a conference phone and high speed Internet.

  • Day Offices
    You should be able to focus on your cases in a space that offers the feel of a firm or schedule a day of meetings with clients where you can provide them with the sharp, professional aesthetic they’ve come to know and expect from you.
  • Large Conference Rooms
    It’s important to have a place to meet with your litigation teams that is large enough to hold everyone and is close to the courts so you gain time preparing witnesses during trials. Make sure your conference room is located conveniently to the courts in Chicago, and if not, close to transportation so you can quickly get to and from them.
  • Board Rooms
    When law offices in Chicago are displaced for any period of time, board room rental is an affordable solution for gatherings of large groups and provides an excellent opportunity for attorney networking during meetings and seminars.

2. Take Advantage of Attorney Networking Opportunities

Just because your law office space in Chicago has been displaced doesn’t mean you can’t find and enjoy perks in the meantime – perks like taking advantage of attorney networking where you can receive expert guidance and co-counsel opportunities as well as a vast referral network that you only get with a virtual or coworking space for attorneys. These all offer the ability for your firm to grow and prosper even in the event of a disaster.

  • Virtual and Coworking Space for Attorneys
    Virtual and coworking space for attorneys allows you to utilize a professional office space when you need it. Present the professional image of your firm when you want, and save financially by working from home during the other times. Just make sure wherever you choose to house your Chicago attorney office rental it has multiple locations to take advantage of. This will ensure you can conduct firm business when and where you need at a moment’s notice.
  • Surround Your Firm with Experts
    Attorney networking is critical to growing your firm – whether just starting out or having been in practice for a few decades. By choosing a location for your firm during displacement that offers a community of lawyers, you are essentially boosting the potential success of your firm in spite of the situation you’re currently facing with displacement.
  • Use Your Time for Billable Hours
    It’s enough to have to deal with finding a Chicago attorney office rental when your firm’s been displaced. Adding on the daily mundane tasks to that ever-growing pile of frustration is easily avoidable. Make sure the space your firm will temporarily be utilizing offers highly-trained, expert attorney staff on-hand that handle things like call answering, administrative tasks, and client intake. Get an even bigger bonus when you find a location that includes this service as a standard.

3. Private Chicago Attorney Office Rental

If your law office in Chicago is in need of a longer time table for space during displacement, you may want to consider renting a private office space. When considering a private office, you’ll want to ensure it offers the same attorney networking benefits as virtual and coworking space for attorneys as well as the following:

  • Individually Priced Offices
    The last thing you should waste money on is a private office space that is half the size but the same price as the larger, corner office down the hall. When seeking out a Chicago attorney office rental for private offices, make sure the pricing is individualized. That way, you a find what fits in your budget.
  • Saves on Extras
    Enjoying a community of lawyers that allows for attorney networking when your firm’s been displaced happens best when your Chicago law offices are in a space that shares common areas like cafes and lounges. Look for common areas that expand your space without expanding the price. It should always be included.
  • Chicago Law Office Aesthetic
    Even though your firm has been displaced, you and your clients shouldn’t have to feel the burden of change during the transition period. Choosing a Chicago attorney office rental space that holds the aesthetic that best represents your firm is key to ensuring a smooth shift from one space to the next and back again. Keeping with the look and feel of your current law offices in Chicago will also keep you working efficiently and more productively as you’ll feel at home.

Keeping all of these things in mind when looking for Chicago attorney office rental space will greatly ease the burden of displacement. It’s important for your firm to get back to focusing on billable hours and not dwell on the situation at hand.

If you’re looking for a Chicago attorney office rental that offers all of these things and more, look no further than Amata Law Office Suites. With multiple locations to choose from, all boasting different aesthetics from traditional to modern and everything in between, there’s something for everyone. Our locales are all convenient to Chicago courts and major transportation as well to save you time and money so you can focus on what really matters – getting back to business.

Tired of wasting time being an office manager instead of handling firm business? Give Amata a call today to find out the Amata difference!

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