A friend stopped by my office this morning between meetings. I gave her a quick tour of the larger firm and also brought her to see my office. Her observation on leaving? “Such a law office.” And from that one comment, I knew exactly what she meant.
My friend got me thinking. How do clients view the office when they come to see me for the first time? Is the fact that I work at downtown firm intimidating or is it somehow reassuring? Are clients looking for the artwork and the view or do they just care about the person sitting across from them? Maybe a little of both?
I must admit, I am sometimes a little intimidated by the big firm-ness of my firm. I came from a much smaller firm, with a very different culture. Beard Winter has been very welcoming and the people I work with are great. Heading off to a retreat in Mexico mere weeks after I joined the firm certainly helped break the ice. But I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss casual Fridays and taking my dog to work on the weekend.
Perhaps there is a way of infusing some of the small into the big? In the way that I relate to clients, in the individualized service that I deliver, in the time I take to make a personal connection. Because family law is all about the personal. Creating an environment where clients are comfortable and able to speak openly is essential. My clients are sharing private details of the most intimate of relationships. Giving them a safe place to do so is important both to me and for the work that I do. And I can do that either in a tiny office or a big boardroom.
Just some musings for a grey and rainy Wednesday, people.
