Law Office Management: Building Smart Space
Over the past year, our firm has engaged in various renovations of our office space, including opening an office in Oakville for meeting with clients. It turns out that many law firms have caught the renovation bug, and are striving to modernize and smarten up their office space, and with that, their image in the marketplace.
A recent article in the November/December 2006 issue of Canadian Lawyer commented on this recent trend. The goal appears to be to redesign one’s office space so that it doesn’t look like a typical, conservative, traditional law office. Many law firms now want to project a look and image that is modern, flexible, efficient, and progressive. A way to do this is by redesigning office space. Flat panel television screens are replacing portraits (usually, of old sombre gentlemen) and dark wood panelling is giving way to soft colours and glass. Partners, say goodbye to those large corner offices – smaller offices that are all the same size are part of the redesign of law office space.
The Canadian Lawyer article makes the interesting point that changing one’s office space represents a huge opportunity for firms to re-brand themselves or reinforce their existing brand. A firm’s working environment reflects who they are and how they want to be perceived by clients. Redesigning one’s office space is also about taking advantage of the latest technology, facilitating work, cutting costs and improving client services. For example, standardizing the size of lawyers’ offices can cut overhead costs while improving efficiency. No more time wasted on office politics about who got the nicer office!
Have a great day!
Bianca La Neve
