So, You’re Going Out on Your Own
The early days of starting a law firm look nothing like the polished image many lawyers have in mind. There’s no support staff and no paralegal to lean on. It’s just you — managing cases, chasing new business, answering phones, sending invoices, and trying to look professional while doing it all.
A few smart decisions early on can give you the tools, structure, and support your practice needs — without unnecessary overhead.
As Dan Sullivan explains in Who Not How, the question isn’t “How do I do all of this?” — it’s “Who can help me do it?”
That shift in thinking is essential for any lawyer stepping into business ownership. You don’t need to figure everything out alone — you need the right people in your corner.
This article is about how to start smart — with practical, affordable support that helps you look professional, stay focused, and build a firm that’s ready to grow.
Knowing When is the Right Time
Most solo lawyers think about hiring an IT consultant after they’ve run into a problem — a website issue, email not syncing, or something breaking mid-case. But the best time to get help isn’t after things go wrong — it’s right at the start.
Speaking to someone who understands how to build law firm systems from the ground up can save you time, money, and stress. A good consultant or technology partner will help you make a few smart choices early that set you up to grow with confidence — and without wasting your energy on trial and error.
What You Actually Need to Start
You don’t need a massive setup or a six-figure budget to launch your law firm professionally. You just need a few key pieces in place — the kind that give clients confidence, help you stay organized, and lay a foundation you can grow on.
Start with the basics:
A domain name typically costs around $15 per year, and secure website hosting comes in at about $18 a month. If you want a website that reflects your brand — clean, modern, mobile-friendly, and built specifically for a law firm — you’re looking at roughly $65 per month. That usually includes design, maintenance, and regular updates, so you’re not left doing it yourself or relying on outdated templates.
Your professional email address — something like you@yourfirm.com — should run on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, which costs around $26.40 per user/month (monthly commitment, current at the time of writing). This isn’t just email. With that license, you get access to Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive — all set up to support secure communication, document management, file sharing, calendaring, and real-time collaboration.
This means from day one, you’re running your firm on a business-grade platform — the same kind used by top-tier professionals — without the overhead of building it all yourself.
Add a dedicated business phone number with voicemail and call routing, and make sure your Google Business Profile is set up accurately so clients can find you, leave reviews, and feel confident that they’re dealing with a legitimate, established practice.
These aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re practical, affordable essentials that signal professionalism from the start. And when they’re set up properly, they can grow with you — so you’re not stuck rebuilding six months down the road.
Beyond the Basics
Once the essentials are in place — a website, custom email, domain, and business phone — the next step is building the systems that will keep your practice secure, efficient, and ready to grow.
Most large firms spend thousands on cybersecurity, infrastructure, and IT support. But the truth is, solo and small firm lawyers can now access the same level of protection, with many of the same tools and safeguards — starting at around $249/month. These solutions are scaled to fit smaller practices, without the enterprise-level overhead.
Several jurisdictions, bar associations, and regulatory bodies now require or strongly recommend these kinds of baseline cybersecurity measures, especially for law firms handling sensitive client data.
This is where your technology stack starts to matter. You may not need a full-time IT department, but you do need a system that protects client data, supports how you work, and gives you the flexibility to grow — without distractions.
With the right setup, you’ll have protections in place from the start — including email filtering, multi-factor authentication, and the kind of behind-the-scenes monitoring that helps prevent security issues before they interrupt your day.
Your Microsoft 365 environment is configured properly from day one — not just for access and email, but with security settings that reflect how law firms actually operate. As your practice evolves, those protections can evolve with you.
You’ll also have support when you need it, so you’re not spending hours trying to troubleshoot things yourself or worrying whether you missed something important.
The key is not to overcomplicate things, but to make informed decisions early — ones that give you flexibility, protect your clients, and free up your time to focus on what really matters.
1. Make Sure You’re Asking the Right Questions
Bringing in a technology partner or consultant isn’t about size — it’s about making smart, informed decisions as early as possible. Whether you’re building your firm from the ground up or you’ve already got systems in place, it’s worth stepping back and asking: Is my current setup truly supporting where I want this firm to go — or am I stuck working in the day-to-day, instead of building something that can grow?
Sometimes the answer is obvious — there’s no IT person, no strategy, and every tech task falls on your shoulders. In that case, speaking to someone who understands how law firms run can save you time, reduce costly mistakes, and help you focus on your clients instead of your inbox.
Other times, you might have a trusted IT provider or someone who helps with day-to-day issues — but they’re not thinking about scalability, security, or long-term strategy. That’s where an outside expert can complement what you already have. It’s not about replacing anyone — it’s about bringing in fresh perspective, filling in the gaps, and making sure the systems you rely on are actually working for you.
Think of it like having a second set of experienced eyes — someone who isn’t in the day-to-day, but who understands how tech and law intersect, and can help align your systems with your goals.
2. Choose a Partner Who Understands Your World
Not all IT providers are created equal — and not every tech expert is the right fit for a law firm.
Most generalist IT firms are built to support a wide range of businesses. They’ll keep your systems running, reset passwords, and respond to tickets. But that’s not the same as working with someone who understands the pace and pressure of legal work — from ethical obligations to document workflows and practice management software.
The right technology partner doesn’t just fix problems. They understand how lawyers collaborate, how matters are managed, how deadlines rule your calendar — and how critical it is that your systems quietly support all of it, without getting in the way.
They also understand that not every lawyer wants — or needs — hand-holding. Many firm owners today are comfortable with basic tech and don’t want to pay for all-you-can-eat IT support they’ll never use. The right partner offers a modular approach — giving you just what you need now, with the flexibility to scale up later.
This isn’t about replacing your instincts or micromanaging your inbox. It’s about having a partner who respects your knowledge, understands your industry, and helps you use technology in a way that supports your goals — not someone else’s checklist.
Because in law, technology isn’t just about uptime.
It’s about trust, reputation, and doing the job right.
3. Need an Outsider’s Perspective
You know your business best. But sometimes, it can be difficult to see past what is really needed to make your business successful. An IT consultant brings in unbiased expertise to introduce new and improved technology solutions you may not have thought of before or new ways to improve.
4. You Need Some Extra IT Help
Sometimes the IT problems that Law Firms need solving are really important, but they don’t necessarily have the manpower to focus on them. Companies still have to focus on their day-to-day operations, and new projects typically require reprioritizing employees’ core job responsibilities. But hiring new employees to fill these gaps doesn’t always make sense either, seeing as many of these projects are a one-time deal. Whether it’s a short- or long-term project, practices (especially Small Law Firms and Solo Practices) might struggle to get the teams in place to do this critical work.
In instances like this, consultants can serve as temporary, highly skilled employees. This avenue is often cheaper to use than to hire someone new. Since IT consultants work with a variety of different businesses, they’re used to fast-paced environments that require little onboarding or training. By hiring the Best IT Consultant for Your Law Firm, Law offices don’t have to pull their employees away from their everyday tasks.
5. You’re Willing to Change
If you have taken a step back and realized that your technology is not working efficiently and you’re ready to make changes, you’re ready for an IT consultant. A consultant will come in and be honest about the changes you need to make to be successful. If you’re not ready for this candid feedback, an IT consultant might not be ready for you at this time.
Is MoreMax the Right Fit for Your Firm?
The truth is, we may not be the best for each other.
We believe in being upfront about who we work best with — and who might be better served elsewhere.
MoreMax is built specifically for law firms with 15 people or fewer — firms that are growing, evolving, or rebuilding. But it’s not just about your size — it’s about where you are in your journey, and how you view technology in your business.
If you see IT as just another line item — something to minimize, delegate, or avoid — we’re probably not the right fit. There are plenty of tech shops or freelance IT guys who can reset passwords and keep the lights on. That’s not us.
We work best with attorneys who are ready to build something sustainable — and who are willing to invest the time to do it right. We’ll ask questions, give guidance, and expect a seat at the table when decisions are made. We don’t need all your time — but we do need your attention and trust so we can actually help you move forward.
We’re also Microsoft 365 and Windows-only. We don’t support Mac environments or Google Workspace — not because we don’t respect those tools, but because they don’t align with the systems we’ve built to support law firms at scale. Most of the legal software ecosystem is built around Microsoft, and we design environments we can manage securely and efficiently from a single pane of glass. Mac might be great for individual users — but when it comes to integration, control, and consistent cybersecurity across a growing team, it becomes a frustration instead of a strength.
If you already have internal IT, we’re happy to complement your team — offering fractional CIO support, IT spend audits, or strategic consulting when you need a second opinion or someone to navigate change with you.
And if you’re looking for a “tech guy” who’ll fix things fast, stay out of your way, and charge as little as possible — we totally get it. That person exists. He’s just not at MoreMax.
That said, we genuinely enjoy working with solo practitioners and smaller law firms. Why? Because the journey is personal, the impact is visible, and the results of good technology decisions are tangible — in your growth, your confidence, and your time. If that’s the kind of partnership you’re looking for, we’d love to have that conversation.
How to Hire the Best IT Consultant for Your Law Firm
If you’ve never worked with an IT consultant or hired one before, there are a few things to consider. It’s important to form a mutually beneficial relationship before all is said and done.
Before hiring a consultant, be sure to review the following:
- Ask for projects they have done similar to yours in the past
and what the outcome was like. - Ask for testimonials from past clients they have worked with
- Ask other industry colleagues for their advice when hiring an IT consultant
- Contact any references they provide
1. Make Your Expectations Clear
Be clear about what kind of expertise or assistance you want and need. Different IT consultants offer different types of expertise and guidance. If you’re looking to implement a specific kind of technology, be sure the IT consultant you’re looking to hire knows that from the get-go. Also, be sure they can provide examples of similar projects they have worked on in the past. That way you can have the peace of mind that the technology will be implemented correctly and be successful.
2. Hire Someone You Can Work with Easily
Personality and fit are essential. Chances are some issues will require close collaboration with the consultant. All things being equal, it is easier to work with someone you like, or whose personality fits the culture of the organization. Open communication is essential. Make sure you find someone who really listens to you.
3. Sign off on an Agreed Upon Contract
Take the time to work with an IT consultant to spell out goals, deliverables, and processes. Design what the partnership will look like to instill success for both sides. This is about clarifying expectations for your business and the consultant. A good IT consulting relationship is essential for finding and implementing effective solutions that will work for you and your organization. Having everyone on the same page is vital. Make sure you have clearly communicated the scope of the project, what is expected, and who the point of contact is in your company and the IT consulting firm’s company.
4. Providing Actionable Insights and Advice
An experienced IT consultant should be able to give you actionable advice to improve your technology. Assuming you have screened out the one-size-fitsall solution, determine if the advice is general and generic, or is it actionable and practical. If it is action-oriented, can the people in your company implement this type of advice with the consultant as a guide or will you need to hire more outside expertise to implement it? Your IT consultant should know this type of information in the beginning for a better sense of direction.
Benefits of Hiring the Best IT Consultants for Your Law Firm
Your IT consultant can guide you through your IT needs and help you trace the critical IT issues in your organization. Hiring an IT service provider will help you increase productivity and gain an edge over your competitors. You can’t keep working on old technology. Your IT consultant will help you upgrade the latest technology.
1. Focus on Your Core Business Functions
There will come a time when you will be faced with some IT or technology related issues. If you own a small law firm and do not have an IT employee on staff, you as an owner may be left to research the best solution on your own. Not to mention the time it takes to research the solution and choose the best option; you have to spend the time and money implementing this new solution. This could take much longer than anticipated and still not turn out the way you imagined it.
If you hire a professional IT partner, they will take care of all the IT-related situations in your business. This way you and your staff will get more time to focus on everyday core business operations. An IT consulting firm has more staff experienced in IT and can focus on the solutions your business needs to get new solutions up and running in a time-efficient manner.
2. Reduce Downtime
If there is a regular system failure or even downtime for a few minutes, it’s costing your business both time and money. Maximize your uptime by choosing the right IT consultant. Small businesses cannot afford any abruption or connection failure with the internet, email communications, data corruption, or system failure.
An IT service provider offers planned, evaluated approaches to maintain the system, backup for security, and data recovery. Your system can be remotely monitored 24/7 which results in reducing expensive downtime.
3. Increase Productivity
Technology improves communication, knowledge, and collaboration among employees which leads to innovation and productivity. Enhanced productivity can be achieved through technologies such as high-speed internet, unified communication, cloud computing, and other innovative tools. If your business already has one of these solutions implemented but you’ve noticed it’s not working as well as it first did, an IT consultant can introduce new ways to improve. Or maybe your business has grown and now you need tools to collaborate, an IT consultant can help find new ways that work best for your business. It can benefit the productivity of the company. IT service providers know the best practices and have the experience to implement and maintain the system so that your team can complete the work successfully.
4. Reduce Cost and Operating Expenses
Hiring an entire team of IT professionals can be expensive. You have to pay for their salary, benefits and also time training them. By hiring an IT consultant for a project or on an ongoing basis, you’ll know exactly how much their services cost from the start and can better plan your business budget going forward. At the same time, an IT consultant is there when you need them. And you won’t be paying the the salary of a full-time employee when things aren’t needed.
The IT Consultants for your Law Office
Searching for the best IT consultant to serve your small law firm, Law office or Solo Practice isn’t always easy. We hope these helpful tips aid in your journey to find the right one for you. If you’re in the market for an IT consultant or want to learn more about what our team can do for you, reach out to us today! It is obligation-free to ask questions. We’d love to chat about how we can help!
Related Posts