← Return to Law Firm Launchpad
Law Firm Office Space: Brick-And-Mortar, Home Office, Or Co-Working?
(Current as of August 2020)
One of the most important decisions you’ll make when starting your law firm is where to set up shop. Your three main options are: (i) leasing your own “brick-and-mortar” office; (ii) setting up a home office; or (iii) renting in a co-working space or shared office suite.
Leasing Traditional Office Space
There are plenty of advantages to leasing traditional “brick-and-mortar” office space for your law firm. A physical office offers you a dedicated space to work and focus, a private place to hold meetings with clients, room to store files, and, if you’re starting a multi-lawyer practice, a space to collaborate with your team.
On the downside, the costs associated with maintaining a traditional office—i.e. lease payments, premises liability insurance, cleaning and maintenance, etc.—can pose a daunting financial undertaking for a new law firm, particularly if you’re still building a client base and don’t have money coming in the door every month.
If you decide that a brick-and-mortar office is right for you, consider the smallest possible space that will fit your immediate needs. You can always scale up as your firm grows, and avoiding a cumbersome overhead commitment in the beginning can help dramatically reduce the financial risk of starting a law firm.
Setting Up A Home Office
Technological innovations such as cloud-based practice management software now make it possible to handle many types of legal work from almost anywhere with a laptop, cell phone, and internet access. Forgoing brick-and-mortar office space and outfitting a home office with basic office furniture, computer hardware, and internet, phone, and fax is a great way to reduce your overhead costs.
While a home office can be a great way to bootstrap, there are some privacy and safety concerns to consider. First, you may not want to publicly advertise your home address as your principal office address. You also may not want to use your house for client meetings or other in-person conferences. Luckily, there are many “virtual law office” solutions that will allow you to work primarily from home, while still projecting a professional image and maintaining personal privacy.
Virtual Business Address. With a virtual mail service, you can obtain a local business address to list as your principal office address on your business cards, letterhead, website, and other law firm advertising. Many virtual mail services also offer mail scanning and forwarding options if you don’t want to pick up your mail in-person.
Meeting Space Rentals. Meeting space rentals are easier than ever to find on an as-needed basis. If you need to host a client meeting, deposition, or in-person conference, there are many executive suites and co-working spaces that rent out meeting space by the hour or day.
Davinci Virtual is a virtual office provider that offers business addresses and meeting room rentals at thousands of locations nationwide.
Renting In A Co-Working Space Or Shared Office Suite
If a home office isn’t the right fit for you, but leasing your own brick-and-mortar location is cost prohibitive, you may find that renting in a co-working space or shared office suite is a great middle ground. Many co-working providers offer scalable options that you can tailor to your firm’s budget and needs—ranging from first come, first served “hot desks,” to private offices with shared access to common areas.
Most co-working plans will allow you to use the shared workspace address as your principal office address. You’ll also typically have access to traditional office amenities—such as conference rooms, printers, and photocopy machines—on an as-needed basis.
Regus, WeWork, and Davinci are popular co-working providers.
A word of caution: remember that sharing a common workspace with other businesses demands heightened vigilance when it comes to protecting confidential client information and attorney-client communications. While it is generally acceptable for lawyers to share workspace with non-lawyers, you are still required to uphold all ethical duties of confidentiality.
Conclusion
Whether a traditional brick-and-mortar office, home office, or co-working space is right for you will depend on a number of factors, including the type of legal work you do, your own personal work style, the size of your firm, and the needs of your target clients.
Before you settle on an office arrangement, be sure to check your state’s ethical rules governing law offices. While most states authorize some form of virtual or remote practice, regulations and procedures vary by jurisdiction. (Some states, for example, have Bona Fide Office Rules that require you to maintain some form of physical office location.)
OTHER ARTICLES ON THE LAW FIRM LAUNCHPAD:
Choosing A Business Entity Structure
Getting An Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Getting A Business Credit Card
Opening Law Firm Bank Accounts
Buying Legal Malpractice Insurance
Assessing Your Furniture And Office Supply Needs
Setting Up Internet, Phone, and Fax
Assessing Your Computer And Technology Hardware Needs
Assessing Your Software Solutions Needs
Fortifying Your Electronic Data Security
Setting Up Mailing And Shipping Accounts