My first family law job was at a traditional firm in Santa Monica. The partner I worked for had a corner office with an ocean view and two full-time legal assistants. His monthly overhead likely exceeded $30,000. While the partner was directly responsible for these expenses, the true burden fell on the clients footing the bills.
Seventy years ago, law firms operated under a very different model—shaped largely by the limitations of the era's technology. Electronic legal research didn't exist, so firms invested heavily in extensive libraries of legal books. Computers were also nonexistent, meaning everything was drafted on typewriters. Lawyers, often unwilling or unable to type, dictated to legal assistants who prepared the documents. Billing, record-keeping, and payment of expenses relied on the U.S. Mail, checks, and typewritten records. A large, impressive office with a sizable support staff wasn’t just a luxury—it was a necessity and a status symbol.
Fast forward to today, and the landscape has changed dramatically, especially following the acceleration of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Law firms no longer need the overhead they once did. Documents are now prepared on computers and filed electronically with the courts. When I started my career, filings were still handled by couriers—hardcopies of court documents were picked up daily, delivered to the court for stamping, and returned to the firm. That process has since been replaced by efficient electronic filings.
Personally, I work out of my home, and I love it. My overhead is minimal, and I pass those savings directly to my clients. While I understand that a fancy office might provide some clients with an initial sense of confidence, it’s worth questioning whether that confidence is misplaced. Here's an experiment to try: Think of the personal injury lawyers you see advertising on TV, many boasting multiple large offices—some even a private jet. Look up a few of these firms on Yelp and read their client reviews. You might find that an expensive office isn’t synonymous with quality service.
The bottom line is this: What matters most is the quality of representation and the results delivered—not the opulence of the office. A lawyer with lower overhead isn’t cutting corners; they’re simply prioritizing efficiency and passing the benefits on to their clients.
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