LAW
inside THE BUSINESS :
BRIDGER ’ S LAW
They say timing is everything …
STARTING A LAW FIRM JUST BEFORE LOCKDOWN SOUNDS LUDICROUS , BUT BRIDGER ’ S LAW IS PROOF THAT ( AS THE SAYING GOES ) ‘ IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS THERE IS ALSO OPPORTUNITY ’. INITIALLY A TEAM OF FIVE , EACH WITH THEIR OWN OFFICE AND ROOMS TO SPARE , AND NOW A TEAM OF 26 PEOPLE AND TWO OFFICES , BUT THE SAME APPROACH , WE HEAR FROM FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR , DUANE BRIDGER .
The journey
Bridger ’ s Law was born from the desire to create a law firm that provided not only sound , practical , problem-solving legal advice , but a good customer experience as opposed to purely selling legal services . Taking aspects of client care gleaned from his involvement running a diverse range of companies in his homeland of South Africa ( law firms , a restaurant and an air ambulance ), Duane is passionate about building relationships . The company ethos of building relationships with clients , estate agents , suppliers and other law firms , resonates throughout . There is no ‘ hard-sell ’, just a ‘ try us once and see if you like us ’ approach .
The experience
There is not a dedicated receptionist at either office , in fact you are welcomed by whichever team member is nearest to the door ! You are offered a coffee and a seat before meeting with whomever you are there to meet ; we believe that client care starts at the very moment you enter . All aspects of the firm are discussed with the team , from the voice we use for our hold music to the colour and style of the furniture .
The team
A range of solicitors , trainee solicitors and licensed conveyancers , paralegals and experienced legal assistants make up the team here at Bridger ’ s . Training and career progression are very much encouraged , along with regular whole team training with the objective of continued good client experience , compliance and sound legal knowledge . The addition of finishing work early and having a chat with your colleagues for half an hour before the weekend was implemented to assist with mental health and foster a close team , which also means that work is left at work .
The pandemic
Less than a year , in fact only nine months after opening the doors of Bridger ’ s Law , the UK Government implemented the first complete lockdown . Being a new firm played a great advantage at this point , meaning that the latest technology was already in place . Every member of the team was immediately able to efficiently work from home and able to offer everything from onboarding to electronic ID verification . This was also the birth of the Bridger ’ s
Law branded electric mini ! The team recognised that particularly anxious , older or vulnerable clients needed reassurance , so a team car was purchased and branded . When someone arrived to witness their will through a window , or was delivered original documents , there was the additional reassurance that we were who we said we were .
The future
At Bridger ’ s Law we don ’ t have finite goals - quite the opposite . We are constantly evolving to adapt to the economic climate as well as our client ’ s needs .
We will grow . How and where will be determined by our clients , both existing and future . We ’ ll be where they need us to be to see them through .
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