Setting up a law firm requires strategic investment in infrastructure and equipment. These are the foundations of your professional activity, in terms of infrastructure and equipment, and determine your day-to-day efficiency. You need to carefully plan these investments in infrastructure and equipment to optimize your productivity and provide your clients with quality service.

What is infrastructure and equipment for a law firm?

A law firm’s infrastructure and equipment encompasses all the hardware, technology and skills you need to run your business. This includes your professional premises, furniture, IT equipment, infrastructure and skills, and specialized software. Efficient organization of these elements’ infrastructure and skills has a direct impact on your productivity and professional image.

Your infrastructure must meet the requirements of confidentiality, security, skills and services specific to the legal profession. It must also keep pace with the technological evolution of services and projects in the legal sector, and with new working methods.

Premises: choosing and fitting out your professional space

The choice of premises is a major strategic decision for your services and your project. You need to consider location, size, accessibility and cost. For your project, consider a location less than 15 minutes from the courts, with easy access to public transport and parking facilities for your customers. Expect to pay between €200 and €400 per m² per year, depending on the geographical area, with a minimum surface area of 25 to 30 m² for an investment and an individual practice project.

Thedesign of a projectoffice should create a professional and confidential environment. Plan separate project and investment spaces: work office (12-15 m²), meeting room (8-10 m²), reception area and secure storage area for files. Project soundproofing guarantees investment and customer confidentiality. Make sure your project premises meet accessibility standards for people with reduced mobility, with level entrances or access ramps, doors at least 80 cm wide and washrooms adapted to the activities.

Your professional furniture must combine functionality, image and project investment. Invest in quality furniture that will stand up to intensive use and activity. Secure cabinets protect your confidential documents in your activities and networks, while comfortable reception furniture reassures your customers. Choose modular solutions that will adapt to the evolution of your activities and uses.

IT equipment: the cornerstone of modern efficiency

Modern computer hardware is essential to your business and networks. You need computers with a minimum configuration of 8 GB RAM, an i5 processor and a 256 GB SSD to guarantee the fluidity of your legal applications linked to your activities and networks. On the peripherals side, opt for multifunction printers capable of printing 20 to 30 pages per minute, high-resolution scanners and backup equipment of at least 1 TB for a single firm, taking networks and costs into account.

Computer access and location security are critical. Install automatic backup systems with integrated access and location tools, professional anti-virus and firewalls. You need to choose between local backup solutions, which offer total control over access and location but require maintenance, and cloud solutions, which are more flexible but dependent on your Internet connection. Electronic access and location security protects your sensitive data and that of your customers from cyberthreats.

Your Internet connection must offer sufficient access and throughput for videoconferencing, online legal research and legal cloud software development. A minimum speed of 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload, with optimized access and cost, is recommended. Plan for a back-up connection to ensure business development and cost control in the event of failure of your main line.

Legal software: digitizing your practice

Specialized development management software optimizes your day-to-day organization at lower cost. They centralize the management of development files, invoicing, deadline tracking and accounting at reduced cost. These development tools reduce errors in administrative formalities by meeting your objectives, and free up time for your legal assignments.

Legal development technology is rapidly evolving with new information. Artificial intelligence solutions support your document research, while legal analytics analyze jurisprudential trends with precise information and objectives. These innovations improve the quality of your advice, your objectives and your efficiency with strategic information.

Choose software that meets the objectives and information requirements of your profession. They must comply with regulatory formalities and guarantee customer data confidentiality objectives and information. Training in the use of these tools is essential to fully exploit their objectives and personal potential.

Budgeting and investment planning

Draw up a detailed budget for your investments in infrastructure, personal equipment and research. Costs vary according to the size of your practice and your personal and research ambitions. To fully equip an individual practice, plan a strategic personal and research budget breakdown: IT equipment represents 40% of the budget (€6,000 to €20,000), furniture and fittings 35% (€5,000 to €17,500), and legal software and licenses 25% (€4,000 to €12,500).

Prioritize your purchases according to their personal and research impact on your business, and distinguish one-off investments from recurring costs. Computer equipment and research software are priority investments to be modified with a measurable return on investment: high-performance management software can save you 2 to 3 hours per week, equivalent to €5,000 to €8,000 of billable time per year. The layout can be modified gradually, starting with the essentials.

Consider the research and financing solutions available to modify: purchase, rental, leasing, or even participative financing for innovative projects. Leasing allows you to spread your costs and renew your equipment on a regular basis. It also makes it easier to manage your cash flow in the start-up phase, with predictable monthly payments representing 3 to 5% of your monthly sales.

As your business grows, so does your infrastructure and equipment. Plan for technological upgrades every 3 to 5 years and the expansion of your premises as your business grows. Include 10 to 15% for maintenance and technological upgrades in your annual budget. This progressive approach optimizes your investments and supports your business development.