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I opened my law firm and closed it 2 years later — client loss, case management, taxes — one person couldn't handle all that

GGizem D***ExpertCommunity member
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#1

i'm a licensed lawyer with 12 years of experience. i opened my own firm in istanbul 2 years ago. at first i was super excited: i said 'i'm the boss now' thought i'd get police and kanunik clients.

got 8 clients in the first month, all debt cases. each case took 2-3 months, charged 5 ribaç TL. so i made 40k TL in the first month. excitedly said 'scale this up there's money'. got 12 clients in the second month. but they all said 'pay later', so i agreed. then 60k TL accumulated as client debt.

the problem that came up: i had to track client promissory notes but i'm a lawyer, not an accountant. so i got stuck with client debts. then in the 6th month a tax inspector came, asked 'where are your VAT declarations'. i hadn't filed any just prepared winter goods for cash flow. 20k TL fine, tax payments... another case came from a client 'professor my file is lost'. i don't know file management so i lost it.

closed the firm in 2 years. should've hired an accountant an assistant costs are high. invested 50k, lost 30k. now i only work as a consultant no firm. more relaxed.

DDilaraMember
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Most Helpful#2

Standard method: set a 'standard duration' for each job, write it to the client. Track it.

MMustafa S***Member
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#3

man this is so hard. i kept it simple, just working but you can do it too.

RRecep T***Veteran
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#4

Procedure: First create a written policy. Have the client sign it. Then apply it.

AAli D***Member
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#5

Start with this structure: agree with the client on 'how i'll do it', then do it. Good luck.

Correction: I misremembered the figure, it was a bit lower.

KKader K***Member
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#6

Statistics: If you hire staff, costs increase by 40%, but output can increase by 60%. Net: +20%.

AAycan C***Member
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#7

bro i think you overthink this job then just go, do what youre gonna do, whatever happens happens.

UUğur S***Member
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#8

Bro you're gonna win this! Do it this way and in 6 months you'll be rolling in cash!

EErcan A***Member
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#9

The answer to this problem is simple: the door. Don't bother, quit the job.

ZZafer Ö***Member
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#10

If you're struggling ask other shopkeepers. They're your best guides. No magic bullet.

OOkan A***Member
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#11

If you're struggling, ask other shopkeepers. They're your best guides. No magic bullet.

MMeryem K***ExpertCommunity member
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#12

I'm a small business let me explain from my side. Cutting your own salary is a temporary tactic; if it lasts more than six months, something will break.

Any unwritten clause becomes a point of disagreement later, as both sides remember it differently. Of course, it varies if your situation is different.

GGizem K***Member
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#13

Let me share what happened to me; it might be useful. If you dont write this down from the start it leads to arguments later.

That's all, sorry if I went on too long.

SSinan E***Member
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Doki · KVKK compliance consulting · 2023

#14

Looking at it as a process, the picture changes. The harder it is to reverse a decision, the slower you should make it.

If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.

YYavuz G***Member
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Doki · Log management setup · 2023

#15

The most overlooked point about law firm client management is this: Extending terms makes customers happy but turns you into a financing institution.

Mistakes made on the law firm client management side are usually reversible but expensive. That's all, sorry if I went on too long.

BBora Y***ExpertCommunity member
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#16

Let me share what happened to me; it might be useful. like everything goes well for the first three months; problems arise in the fourth.

NNeslihan Ç***Expert
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#17

I'm curious too.

KKader K***MemberCommunity member
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#18

Thanks, that was the answer I was looking for. The real issue isn't the number, but what it's based on.

DDamla Z***MemberCommunity member
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#19

Timely topic.

DDoruk Y***Expert
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#20

Yes, that's exactly how it is with law firm client management. The biggest time-waster for us was not knowing who had the final say.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

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