On this page
- 01Key takeaways
- 02Why do fee earners lack time for business development?
- 03What can move out?
- 04Where should the freed time go?
- 05When is outsourcing support inappropriate?
- 06What does this look like in practice?
- 07Business development checklist
- 08Next step
- 09Sources and further reading
- 10Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
In small law firms, new work comes mainly through fee earners' relationships and referrers. Yet fee earners spend hours on file admin, billing queries and routine correspondence. Outsourcing routine support work frees time for business development: referrer meetings, client follow-up, talks and content. Legal work and regulatory duties stay with the firm.
- Most new instructions come through relationships.
- Fee earners lose hours to routine file admin.
- Outsource admin, keep legal work in-house.
- Protect regular business development blocks.
Want to free fee earner time for business development? Message us on WhatsApp.
Chat on WhatsApp →Why do fee earners lack time for business development?
Because billable work and its admin fill the week. Fee earners are measured on hours recorded, and admin that sits around client files eats the rest. Business development, which has no deadline, becomes something done in evenings, if at all.
What can move out?
The firm keeps legal advice, supervision and its SRA obligations, including transparency rules.
- File opening admin.
- Billing preparation and routine billing queries.
- Diary management and court bundle formatting.
- Document formatting and routine correspondence.
Where should the freed time go?
- Regular contact with key referrers.
- Follow-up with past clients.
- Talks and articles for target client groups.
- Prompt responses to new enquiries.
When is outsourcing support inappropriate?
When work involves legal judgement or confidential matters that cannot be shared under your arrangements. Check confidentiality and data protection terms carefully.
What does this look like in practice?
A pattern we see: a family law team spends Friday afternoons on billing queries. Moving them out funds monthly referrer meetings with mediators and accountants, which become a steady source of instructions.
Business development checklist
- Measure fee earner admin time.
- Move routine support work out.
- Keep legal work and supervision in-house.
- Book referrer meetings monthly.
- Track new instructions by source.
Next step
List your top ten referrers and when each last heard from you.
Message us on WhatsApp to plan fee earner time, or book a 30-minute consultation.
Chat on WhatsApp →Sources and further reading
- Transparency rules · Solicitors Regulation Authority
- Check a solicitor's record · Solicitors Regulation Authority
Frequently asked questions
How do law firms generate new business?
Mainly through relationships: referrers, past clients and visibility in target client groups. That needs regular, protected fee earner time, which is why freeing them from routine file admin often makes a bigger difference than marketing spend. Take advice where the rules are unclear, because outsourcing work does not transfer your legal responsibilities.
What admin can a law firm outsource?
File opening admin, billing preparation, routine billing queries, diary management, bundle formatting and routine correspondence are common. Legal advice, supervision and regulatory responsibilities stay with the firm, with confidentiality and data protection agreed in writing. Take advice where the rules are unclear, because outsourcing work does not transfer your legal responsibilities.
How much time should solicitors spend on business development?
It varies by role, but regular, protected time each week works better than occasional bursts. Partners usually carry more. Track instructions by source so you can see which activities produce work and focus time there. Measure it for one normal week rather than relying on estimates, because most people underestimate routine work.
Written by
Global Bridge Labs (GBL) is a UK–Sri Lanka partner for social media, websites and BPO. Everything here comes from client delivery, not theory.
