As the legal profession continues to grow increasingly competitive, rapid response rates to client referrals could make all the difference in landing lucrative matters or watching them slip away. In the legal field, quick response to referrals can be crucial – a lesson one could easily learn from Jordan Rothman, a partner at The Rothman Law Firm and founder of Student Debt Diaries.
As per Rothman’s account on Above the Law, there have been instances where lawyers have missed out on handling significant legal matters merely because they took too long to follow up with referrals compared to other attorneys. In one such instance, Rothman had a referral to make to a lawyer known from his law school days. However, after several hours without a call back, out of necessity, Rothman gave the referral to another acquaintance who picked up her phone directly. She gratefully accepted and went on to reap the financial rewards for a few years on a complex case. When the original contact responded a couple of days later, Rothman had to inform him that he was too late and that the client had already secured different counsel for the matter.
While it can be challenging to respond promptly to referrals when busy with court proceedings, on vacation, or managing the plethora of tasks the legal profession entails, it’s important for lawyers seeking new work to make an effort. Any delay in response can mean someone else may secure the opportunity, not necessarily due to a higher level of competence, but quite simply because they were there first. As succinctly encapsulated by the phrase, ‘Time waits for no lawyer’, the business side of law does not decelerate for anyone; it rewards those who act promptly.
In conclusion, while technical competence and expertise are vital components of being a successful lawyer, the modern legal landscape requires more. Promptness in communication, particularly when dealing with client referrals, has become a necessity that could make the difference between gaining or losing a lucrative opportunity. Thus, for those ready to seize opportunities, increased responsiveness could be an effective game changer in their legal career trajectory.