LONDON – LexisNexis UK (www.lexisnexis.co.uk), a leading provider of content and technology solutions, today announced that its latest Bellwether Report 2017, The Art of Success, reveals that a ‘quality over quantity’ attitude underpinned by bespoke client service is key to the success of independent law firms.
The report further finds that most independent law firms see success as a trinity of three elements: the quality of their expertise, solid commercial logic, and commitment to a happy working environment.
65% of those interviewed cited being bespoke as the key driver to their success, and it appears that this difference in focus will have a material impact on the market. Predicting the next three to five years, 69% of independent firms expect an increase in smaller, specialist suppliers providing quality versus quantity; and 65% believe that specialist firms will start to steal business away from the traditional high-street firms that can’t compete with these levels of bespoke service.
Unsurprisingly then, the top priorities and success criteria for specialist and smaller firms is slightly different to those offering a more generalist service in the independent sector. 27% of specialists place a greater emphasis on being well informed about their client’s business versus 19% of all those interviewed. They are also more concerned about the quality of their legal expertise, 70% cited this as a contributing factor to success versus 57% across the whole sample.
At an individual level, lawyers recognise that there’s more to being a good lawyer than just having the right knowledge and skills. 69% of the respondents claim that understanding how to apply the law to get the best result for the client is of highest importance. Despite this, only 11% of respondents claim that having a sound grasp of the business world is a top priority. And 43% of lawyers said they lacked access to the quality legal information they need.
Overall though, it seems to be a good time for independent law firms. 87% of firms said they’re either stable or growing, higher than any year since the Bellwether report began in 2013.
“Disenchanted by the way that larger law firms operate, successful independent lawyers are determined to learn from their past experiences and create a healthier working culture in their own firms for staff and clients alike,” commented Jon Whittle, Market Development Director at LexisNexis UK. “Their firms’ ethos, driven by things like bespoke service, good staff morale, fairer pay, realistic targets and common business goals, is delivering both commercial success and job satisfaction. These new enlightened decision makers are proving that business achievement starts with client care and a good working environment and culture for their people. It’s these elements, coupled with sound investment in the right tools, technology and information to enable them to provide the bespoke services their clients now expect, that will help them to not only survive but thrive over the coming months and years.”
The Bellwether Report 2017 is the fifth annual report in the series and explores the current and future state of the legal landscape from the point of view of independent law firms. It examines their priorities, challenges, attitudes and appetite for change, uncovering some telling differences of opinion between lawyers and private clients. This report, The Art of Success, is the first of three reports in the Bellwether 2017 series and is based on 10 qualitative interviews and quantitative research among 118 lawyers in independent law firms, focusing on the theme of success. Each report will build on the previous report.
The full report is available here: www.lexisnexis.co.uk/BW17/1
About LexisNexis Legal & Professional
LexisNexis Legal & Professional is a leading global provider of legal, regulatory and business information and analytics that help professional customers make more informed decisions, increase productivity and serve their clients better. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis and Nexis services. Today, LexisNexis Legal & Professional harnesses leading-edge technology and world-class content to help professionals work in faster, easier and more effective ways. Through close collaboration with its customers, the company ensures organizations can leverage its solutions to reduce risk, improve productivity, increase profitability and grow their business. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 175 countries with 10,000 employees worldwide, is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries.
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Source: RealWire