How To Make A Solo Law Office Feel Bigger

I always dreamed of a huge office and a plush leather sofa on which to take afternoon naps.  I fantasized about spaces so big I could get lost in it.  Cubicles, rooms, conference areas and a big kitchen.

Then I became a lawyer and realized that these things cost money.  I also woke up to the fact that most of it was indulgent and not needed.  I had a solo law office, and I didn’t need all the extra room.  Even as my law office grew, my desire for space has been kept in check.  So my reality does not comport with my fantasies of youth.

My home office consists of a desk and nothing more.  Most days I’m sitting at the dining room table.  The physical office is high above midtown Manhattan, but consists of a 10 x 8 room.

Suffice to say, it’s not enormous.  And that means if I don’t make the best use of my spaces then I’m not going to be able to keep my head above water.

This solo law office space problem is pretty common, and we need to work hard to keep it from creeping up on us.  If we don’t then one day we’ll find ourselves displaced by all the stuff we’ve got.

Keep only what is essential. We receive gifts from friends, family, clients and referral sources all the time.  Knick-knacks, coffee mugs, calendars and pens emblazoned with the name of some random title company start to overrun the office.  Why are they still here?  A solo law office doesn’t have room for useless stuff.  Make a habit of tossing out everything you’re not using right this minute and you’ll free up enough desk drawers to make room for the important items in the office.

Use smart furniture. Instead of having a bookcase in the office, get a cabinet with closing doors that you can also use to stash books.  A 4-drawer file cabinet can easily be replaced with a 5- or 6-drawer model to increase storage capacity without taking up more space.  Consider chairs that stack when not in use.  If you’ve got a solo law office then there’s nobody to impress when there are no clients except you.

Trick your eyes. Even a small solo law office can look bigger if you put some thought into it. Painting the walls a bright color gives the illusion of a larger place (I use a semi-gloss paint to reflect some of the light without getting blinded). Putting up a mirror on one wall will not only look good (and help you make sure there’s no spinach in your teeth before a client meeting), but it creates the feeling of openness and more space. Of course, less clutter on the desk and floor will also make things seem a little more spacious.

More lights. A dark room feels crowded. A bright one feels bigger. Have windows which let in ample light. Use sheer rather than thick curtains. Replace your dim light bulbs with brighter ones.

Grab the scanner. The reason I started scanning in most of the paper in the office was so that I could get rid of it.  Less paper means less clutter.  less clutter means more space.  More space means greater tranquility.

Got any tips on making a small office seem bigger?

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Jay Fleischman

Jay Fleischman is a New York bankruptcy lawyer and legal marketing consultant. A nationally-known speaker on the topic of law firm marketing and consumer law issues, Jay uses his productivity and time management techniques every day.