Tips to Make a Coworking Space Work for a Solo Lawyer
'Coworking space' is not new anymore, and so we have learned how to use it.
It wasn't even new when people started using the term; it used to be "office sharing." It meant sharing expenses by working with other people in close quarters.
With the ascension of tech companies, however, coworking space evolved to become entrepreneurial space. As it turned out, coworking is also perfect for the modern solo practitioner.
Solo Connections
Coworking space is ideal for budget-minded business people who don't need a lot of room to operate. They can find space in high-rent districts at a fraction of the cost of traditional office space.
The benefits go beyond low-rent and shared expenses, however. In the typically high-energy coworking space, it's about making connections. That requires some good etiquette, such as:
- Turn down the volume; headphones are cool
- Clean up after yourself because it's a community
- Don't bogart the joint, i.e. the conference room
- Connect and collaborate, meetups included
"One of the key places to meet people is the kitchen," says Christine Dang, a NextSpace manager. "There's constant high traffic around the coffee machine. I also see a lot of people just sit down and say hello and get into a conversation in the open seating area."
Clients and Referrals
Ethics rules strictly prohibit lawyers from going into business with non-attorneys, but those rules hardly apply to office-sharing or coworking as long as clients' interests are protected. So choose your coworking space wisely, especially for client consultations.
Location, of course, is important to any entrepreneur. If you have a tech practice, coworking space is a no-brainer. But if you have a specialty or niche practice, do like Willie Sutton, Jr. and go where the money is.
In other words, you can look at coworking like any self-respecting lawyer hungry for business. Is it lunch time yet?
Related Resources:
- Coworking: Office Space Options for Solo Lawyers and Small Firms (FindLaw's Practice Management)
- Coworking Space for Lawyers: A Viable Option? (FindLaw's Strategist)
- Is Facebook Live Good for Free Attorney Marketing? (FindLaw's Strategist)