How Small Law Firms Can Compete with the AmLaw 50—Without the Big Budget

In the legal world, big budgets often mean big advantages. The AmLaw 50 firms can afford armies of staff, expansive offices, and cutting-edge technology. So how can smaller firms stay competitive?



The answer is simple: strategic use of legal technology. In a recent webinar hosted by Assembly Software, Sheila Heistand, a solo practitioner who frequently goes head-to-head with massive law firms, shares actionable insights for smaller firms aiming to level the playing field. Here are the top tips:



Tech Is the Great Equalizer

Sheila is a seasoned trial attorney with over 30 years of experience. She doesn’t even bother trying to outspend the competition; instead, she outthinks them.



"Of course it’s intimidating when you see the big locust firms come down into your market… The best thing for me was to not be overwhelmed, but instead, ask: how am I going to address this?"



Her answer? Technology.



Small firms can leverage case management software, client portals, and workflow automation to outfox the big boys. These tools allow teams to manage complex caseloads with greater precision, less effort, and fewer staff.



Automate the Busywork, Focus on Strategy

Legal tech can effectively double or triple your output with the same resources. Instead of devoting hours to repetitive tasks like document generation or follow-ups, firms can automate them, freeing up time for legal strategy and high-touch client services, which is often their key selling point as a small firm.



"As attorneys, we tend to be good litigators or good personal injury attorneys, but maybe not good business people. The fact is, we wear multiple hats—including businessperson—and to run a good business, you need the right tools."



Sheila relies on the client portal Case Status to automatically update clients about their cases, reducing phone calls and increasing satisfaction.



Leverage AI Without Being a Tech Expert

Artificial Intelligence isn’t just for Silicon Valley. AI-powered features in legal software can:

• Summarize complex documents
• Extract key case facts and input them into case management platforms
• Generate documents for a variety of legal use cases
• Find weaknesses in opposing legal strategy



NeosAI Chat (embedded in Neos for the ultimate ease of use) even leverages effortless natural language prompts to perform a variety of time-saving tasks comparable to those listed above.



AI can boost efficiency and accuracy, amplifying each staff member’s productivity—a critical advantage when resources are tight.



Improve Client Communication (Without Adding Staff)

One thing big firms often excel at is client communication. But small firms can match this using legal-specific communication platforms.



"You have to have tools at your hands to be able to compete with these very large law firms. For instance, the large firms might have 50 paralegals—we don’t. But we can still provide excellent service if we’re smart about how we use technology."



Solutions like Case Status offer clients a mobile app to receive real-time updates, documents, and timelines—without pulling your staff away from the work that matters most.



Neos also offers native SMS texting that automatically saves all conversation threads directly to the case, making it easy for firms to communicate with clients on a platform that caters to their communication preferences.



Speed Up Signatures with DocuSign + Neos

Getting contracts and retainer agreements signed quickly is crucial, especially for personal injury and contingency-based firms. Sheila uses DocuSign, fully integrated with Neos, to eliminate delays and streamline this process:



"I’ve been using DocuSign for years... This also integrates with Neos. You start in Neos, it goes through DocuSign, it comes back, it gets saved. It’s really seamless."



By using prebuilt templates, Sheila automates signature requests without rewriting the same emails each time:



"You can have an automatic email... 'Please find enclosed the contract for your review and signature.' You don’t have to type that every time. You can create templates, and it all flows through Neos."



These small efficiencies compound, saving time and ensuring no step falls through the cracks.



Build a Future-Ready Firm

Competing isn’t just about today; it’s about building a sustainable future. Sheila emphasized the importance of adaptability:

"It’s about efficiencies. If you’re not evolving, you’re falling behind."

Instead of resisting change, firms should embrace it incrementally, starting with the biggest bottlenecks, whether it’s client intake, document management, or communication.



You Don’t Need a CTO, Just the Right Tech

Legal technology has evolved since the days of feeding CDs into disk drives to install applications (we all remember those!). It’s cloud-based, intuitive, and comes with dedicated support. You don’t need an internal IT department—just a trusted technology partner who understands your needs.



Case management platforms like Neos are built specifically for law firms, offering flexible reporting, smart checklists, and AI-enhanced workflows, plus dedicated customer success managers for each account to help you maximize your investment in technology.



It IS Possible to Compete, No Matter Your Size

Small law firms don’t need to match AmLaw 50 budgets to compete. They just need to be nimbler and more adaptable, and technology can facilitate that. By embracing automation, AI, and client-centric communication tools, even the smallest firms can deliver big results.



As Sheila Hiestand proved:

"It’s not about how many people you have—it’s about how you use your resources."



Want to learn how your firm can embrace technology to compete with AmLaw 50? Schedule a consultation with one of our experts today.