Flexibility is a benefit to both employees and employers in an age where work-life balance has become more important than ever.
The legal profession has seen a significant shift in recent years. One of the most important facts about working life is that Britons work longer hours than their European counterparts. It is also common for households to have at least two working members.
76.1 percent of the UK’s working-age population is now in employment. This is the highest level since 1971. Millions struggle to balance work and family life. This is especially true for parents of dependent children.
The feminine factor
This trend has been largely driven by the increasing number of women working in the workplace. The legal sector has also been affected. The profession is likely to become more female-dominated over the coming years, as there are now many more women practicing law than ever before.
Law Society figures for 2017-18 showed that 68% of 18,000 law students were women.
Flexibility is a way to help everyone in the economy manage their work and personal responsibilities. For example, one parent can take care of the school run while the other does the rest. Flexible working can offer flexible hours, remote work, and the possibility to take leave as needed.
How law firms can handle this is the problem. Because of the high demand for clients and busy caseloads, successful law firms will be active. They will have to manage their resources efficiently to provide quality service and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
How content can offer more flexible working
This is where a content marketing strategy can help firms maintain their equilibrium.
Some people see the internet and email as a threat to their work-life balance. Clients may expect that their lawyers will be available 24/7 to answer any questions they might have.
This is a characteristic of the internet age where customers shop online and expect immediate delivery. This is a major demand in the current age, regardless of whether or not one views instant gratification as a positive thing.
It raises awareness
Retail has been transformed by on-demand services. High street shopping is declining and door-to-door delivery has increased. Does this mean that other sectors should also adopt the same practices? Do legal firms need to have online lawyers?
A content strategy is a better alternative. It will help you attract customers via the internet by producing optimized content that ranks high in search results. This will increase awareness and make it easier for consumers to consider your product. It can do much more.
Keep your clients updated
Smart content strategies will guide potential clients to pages that provide information about legal services. However, they should also include links to other resources to help them find answers to frequently asked questions. There will be fewer urgent inquiries if the answers are easily found.
Good content can keep clients informed about how their cases will proceed, what normal working practices are, and what timeframes they can expect. This is an important part of managing expectations. People expect e-commerce companies to deliver their goods the next day because they have been promised. It is better to overpromise than under-deliver.
This has the great advantage of letting clients know what to expect, which makes it less likely that they will be relentlessly hunting down staff at law firms. Flexible working can be a key benefit. A partner who is required to leave the office for the afternoon won’t suddenly be faced with an urgent task because that is what they expect.
Aiding remote working
Online content and a great website can also help to reduce the need for face-to-face meetings. This is where e-commerce could be used, as many people would rather deal with lawyers online than face-to-face. This allows lawyers to work remotely and reduces the need to be physically present at a particular location.
This content use is not an all-inclusive solution. The practice must be set up so that it has the flexibility to adapt and not be understaffed at times. It can still avoid any impediments to this flexibility.
Using flexibility to tell a good story
You can also create a content strategy by using the flexibility provided by the company.
Imagine, for example, that flexible work practices win the company an award. This kind of good news is great PR for law firms and makes for great content. A strong work-life balance can allow for all kinds of extracurricular activities, which can help create a positive vibe around the firm.
Imagine, for example, that some partners can take time off to attend a major charity event. This not only shows how the firm contributes positively to society but also creates a positive human story. It shows that there are real people behind the legal names.
Happier, more engaged employees
This is crucial because a good Content Marketing Strategy is meant to tell a positive story of a company, not just about its functions and services, but also its mission.
Flexible working is possible when you have a content strategy that emphasizes this mission. This helps to create a happier, more engaged workforce which then feeds back into the senses of mission and vocation.