How is Working with a Small Legal Firm Different from a Large One?

There are a lot of situations throughout your life where you might need to hire a lawyer. 

One example is if you or a loved one is in a car accident and needs to hire a personal injury attorney. 

If so, you have a choice to make between a big firm and a small one. 

The biggest goal when hiring a lawyer, regardless of other specifics, is that there is mutual trust. You want to ask certain questions such as whether or not the lawyer you meet with will be the one handling your case. 

When you're narrowing down your search, however, should you start with big firms, small firms, or does it matter?

The following are key considerations.

Types of Law Firms

Understanding the types of law firms is a good starting point. 

Some of the general types of law firms include:

• Solo law firms: A single lawyer runs these practices. That lawyer will usually work on general types of cases which can include personal injury and family law. Some solo lawyers, on the other hand, will specialize in one specific area. If you have a single issue you want help with or want to reduce costs, a solo law firm can be a good option. 

• Boutique law firms: Small law firms that have anywhere from two to ten attorneys are called boutique law firms. The lawyers can collaborate with one another on different legal concepts, so you can go to them for a broader range of help and expertise in many cases. 

• Large law firms: These are also called full-service firms. A large law firm can have dozens of lawyers and employees up to thousands of employees. These law firms will have not just lawyers on staff but also paralegals, librarians, administrative staff, and more. Some law firms have locations in multiple states or even countries. They will usually focus on all areas of law and are typically divided by department. 

Law firms can be divided in other ways as well. 

For example, some law firms focus only on litigation, meaning representing clients in court cases. Other law firms might specialize in transactional things, which are usually paperwork-heavy and involve disputes over insurance, property and money. 

There are also criminal law firms. 

A criminal defense lawyer tends to be highly skilled in this specific area of the law because of what's at stake for clients. 

The Pros of a Small Legal Firm

If you work with a solo attorney or you hire someone at a small firm, one of the biggest pros is that you're more likely to get personalized attention. 

If you're working with someone one-on-one, you can develop a stronger relationship and sense of trust with them. 

They may also be easier to reach. 

However, you do have to think that someone who is working on their own or with just a few other lawyers might be more likely to get overwhelmed, so, in theory, could have less time for you. 

This isn't necessarily a given, but it's a possibility. 

They don't have the support staff of lawyers at a larger firm, either. 

The key to getting the most benefits from working with a small firm is that you talk to them from the start about the level of communication they provide and what you can expect from them. 

At a small firm, a lawyer is much more likely only to take the cases they think they can win too. They are very selective because they can only do so much work at a time. 

The Benefits of Working with a Large Firm

When you work with a large firm, there are going to be more available resources. If your case is complex, then a large firm can handle it more effectively in many cases. They may have staff dedicated just to completing certain paperwork and doing research. 

In some ways, working with a lawyer at a law firm may mean more accessibility as well. 

You can reach the office staff more easily simply because more people are working. 

With that being said, you aren't necessarily going to be speaking to your lawyer.

There is also a very high likelihood you will end up working with other lawyers throughout your case. You may not have a very personal relationship with your primary attorney. 

There are pros and cons to both situations, and what's best ultimately comes down to what you're comfortable with and what you prefer. 

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