There’s something oddly theatrical about Big Law. The glossy reception areas. The espresso machines that cost more than entire months salary (which says a lot about my salary). The solemn silence of open-plan offices where no one actually talks.
But beneath the theatrics, Big Law does a few things very, very well—and SMEs can steal those tricks without the overheads.
First, process. Big firms don’t operate on chaos. They’ve got onboarding workflows, client care checklists, style guides, and escalation matrices. That might sound corporate and cold—but it’s also what lets them take on complex cases without everything grinding to a halt.
SMEs need that. I’ve seen too many small practices relying on a single overworked admin or a “we’ll figure it out as we go” approach. Spoiler: you won’t. Document your workflows. Train your juniors. Use templates. It’s not micromanaging—it’s future-proofing.
Second? Pitching. Big firms pitch like it’s the final round of The Apprentice. Slide decks, client intelligence, value propositions. It’s not fluff. It’s making the client feel like their business matters. SMEs often undersell because we think “the work speaks for itself.” Sometimes it does—but not before someone else’s glossy brochure has already won them over.
Finally, Big Law doesn’t fear tech. They beta test software, they trial new platforms, they invest in integration. You don’t need a six-figure budget to do that—you just need curiosity and a little courage.
So, SMEs: steal the polish. Take the best of Big Law, skip the ego, and build something sustainable. That’s how you win.