Law firms are under pressure to deliver faster, more accurate results, all while providing excellent client service and reducing overhead costs. Although the credibility given to employing the highest level of solicitors, barristers, and lawyers is high, the true secret to how well the firm operates often lies behind the scenes in its legal support staff.
More from the diary: Legal Secretaries and Paralegals to Document Production Specialists, Proofreaders, and Virtual PAs, these professionals are the lifeblood of sustainable law firms. However, many companies undervalue the benefits of their services, particularly when it comes to the potential to save you money. Ironically, cutting corners in support staffing can lead to higher expenses and lower productivity in the long run.
Here’s why hiring high-quality legal support staff is an intelligent business decision that saves both time and money.
As a matter of law, a record is a merciless thing. A single misplaced clause, typo, or inconsistency in format can have expensive consequences — be it a contract dispute, a late filing, or a court sanction. There must be professional assistance to recognise and address these mistakes before they get out of control.
Proofreaders and document specialists, for example, review legal filings for adherence to formatting rules, proper citations, and no misspellings. This is not just about protecting a firm’s reputation — it also saves hours that would have been spent on revisions, partner reviews , and damage control.
Consider the time and money that could be saved if a paralegal could actually put together a top-class bundle, which senior counsel added little to. Another reason experience and coaching matter.
The misuse of fee earners’ time is one of the greatest hidden costs in a law firm. Failure is somewhat of a constant on the path to achievement anyway. A recent project involved a firm that had discovered how far their fees were from those of their competitors. When solicitors spend countless hours on your diaries, emails, or putting together non-chargeable documents, it’s costing you your bottom line.
By hiring a Virtual PA or an experienced legal secretary to take these duties off the lawyers’ plates, lawyers can spend more time doing what they are paid for – practicing law. This both raises billable hours and enhances work-life balance, one of the key factors increasing fee earner retention.
For instance, passing admin tasks to a legal PA and, in doing so, liberating a Partner to work five hours or more on billable work. It adds up to thousands of dollars in recovered revenue over a year.
Customers expect instant results and answers today. It’s riskier than it used to be, with deadlines tighter, competition fiercer, and the impact of delays fraught with potential damage to client relationships and legal outcomes.
A robust team of legal assistants, especially those with experience in document production and litigation support, can process workloads more efficiently and deliver drafts, formatting, and review with quicker deadlines for filing.
Rather than falling over themselves to meet deadlines, firms with sufficient back-office support in place can deliver stress-free, compliant, and confident service to clients.
A bad hire can be costly. Recruitment fees, onboarding, training, and lost productivity from a premature departure can set a firm back months. Quality support staff with the right experience, cultural fit, and long-term potential reduce attrition and lead to stronger and more consistent teams for firms.
What’s more, if you are recruiting through your agency partner, such as Owen Reed, they gain a better understanding of the nuances of your legal support roles, and as a result, are in a stronger position to help you get it right the first time. With our Source & Screen model, we guarantee that every candidate we recommend is thoroughly vetted and tested, ready to hit the ground running.
This level of accuracy will save both the expense and energy in-house for doing said rehiring and training on a regular basis.
Administrative staff often serve as the first line of connection with customers, fielding questions, follow-ups, and responding to inquiries in a timely manner. Their professionalism, quality of work, and communication all play a significant role in determining the impression clients have of your company.
Whether it’s a well-researched brief, a timely follow-up email, or a perfectly formatted report, legal support staff contribute to the overall client experience in ways that drive trust and bolster brand integrity.
When client experience is everything, excellent back-end service leads to front-end loyalty and is the best source of new business referrals.
More law firms are adopting virtual legal service models in the post-pandemic new normal, a move designed to add flexibility and reduce office costs. Virtual PAs, off-site document production, and freelance legal secretaries provide firms with the opportunity to extend the reach of their resources without the need for physical space.
This model also creates the potential for a much larger talent pool, allowing companies to work with talented individuals who may not live nearby. It’s a win-win in terms of flexibility and pricing.
We are specialists in recruiting the most talented Legal support staff for top law firms across the UK. Through permanent and virtual hires, our Source & Screen recruitment model delivers more than just a CV; it delivers a candidate who fits your team, your culture, and your business strategy. We’re here to help you build a support team that delivers results.
The behind-the-scenes legal roles aren’t just administrative — they are strategic. They unburden fee earners, prevent errors from becoming expensive, bring deadlines forward, and enhance the client experience. Quality legal support staff help law firms do more than just save time and money—they become the differentiator that sets them apart in the marketplace.
Want to take the next step in your legal operations with stellar support staff?
Contact Owen Reed to discover how our services can help your business grow with confidence.
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