I Think It Is Fear

I was speaking to a friend recently over the phone and he asked, "Why don't lawyers want to move their offices home or at least greatly reduce their public presents outside of the home"?

He suggested it was a mindset issue.  Where I agree, I tend to think it has to do with fear.  Fear that they will lose their support structure.  Fear they will become marginalized if they are not around their staff and employees all of the time.  Fear that it will not work and they will go broke.  Fear that others will think less of them.  Fear that their clients will not approve.  Fear that they do not have the self-motivation to make it work.  Fear that they will have to give up their possessions.  The list is really endless.

My friend said, "That is all fine and good, but don't they understand how much cheaper it is to work in this way?"

My point is that I think that is pretty obvious to anybody that looks at the economics of it seriously.  You only have to take out a pen and a piece of scratch paper and total up where you are now and where you will be if you move the bulk of your operation home.  It is not a little bit cheaper, it is overwhelmingly cheaper.  I think traditional lawyers who have even thought about moving home or working from home more often understand this.

Remember, however, in the last presidential election the exit polling strongly suggested that voting for the Democrat was perceived to be in their financial best interest by most voters, but these voters did not vote Democratic because they were fearful.  As former President Clinton said at the time, people preferred someone that is wrong and strong than someone they perceive as right and weak.

The overall point is that people in general, and lawyers in particular, often vote or act in opposition to their financial best interest based upon fear of change.  Some times they do it based upon wants and desires that override one's financial best interest.  Is it the best way to conduct your business life?  I suppose not, but then how other lawyers conduct themselves is not my concern.  Besides, on a very basic level we are all guilty of this practice.  The last car I bought for myself was a BMW.  I could have bought a cheap Toyota.  When I elected to buy a BMW, I voted against my financial best interest.  Lawyers that do not work from home, or reduce their public accommodations,  are voting against their own financial best interest.  I wish it was not so, but what can I do about -- other than argue against it.

Comments

[Thomas Wooldridge]

I have been in a virtual office from Day One of opening my law firm. It is wonderful. One day a week I meet new clients and use the conference rooms for depo's or whatever else I need them for. I spend 3-4 days per week working from the home office in my P.J.'s. My overhead is generally around $1,000.00 per month and my profit is through the roof.

Now, I only have a 2 person law firm, not sure this would work for a firm with more than 4-5 attorney's, but for now this is a wonderful way to manage my firm and keep my overhead low.

My biggest fear is increasing the overhead by going in-house!

[Samantha]

I'm a national speaker and attorney and I work from home too. What do you do about the isolation? Especially when you move to a new city with less contacts and friends?

[Henrique Arake]

Hi, there!

I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty to translate this post to brazilian portuguese! It's posted under the title "Acredito que seja medo"

Keep on with the good work!

[Charlotte Lawyer]

Do not argue about it, it is their own choice. Every person is unique, every person has their own opinion and reason why they come up with their decision.