Lance Robinson

Make a plan and work toward it. If you have a great idea, figure out the steps you need to take to bring it to life, and always be working toward a ten-year plan for your business.

 

Lance J. Robinson is a practicing criminal defense and personal injury lawyer in New Orleans. After receiving his law degree from Tulane University School of Law in 1996, he went on to work for the Louisiana State Attorney General’s Office and later a large personal injury firm. In 1999, Lance started his own law firm as a sole practitioner, where he has continued to offer clients one-on-one relationships and legal representation that works best for them.

The Law Office of Lance J. Robinson has offices in both Metairie, Louisiana and Grenta, Louisiana. Lance represents clients throughout the greater New Orleans area and surrounding parishes. He is certified by the NHTSA and trained as a practitioner in field sobriety testing.

Lance has been named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers. He is an active member in good standing with the Louisiana Bar Association. In addition, he holds active and past memberships in the New Orleans Bar Association, the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the National College for DUI Defense.

With over 22 years of experience in both criminal and civil matters, Lance uses his expertise to help clients make informed decisions. He outlines every legal option available, shares his professional recommendations, and fights for clients’ rights. Lance knows how to look for errors and inconsistencies that can get charges dropped and has been able to avoid jail time for most clients.

Where did the idea for your company or organization come from?

The idea to start my own firm originated from my desire to be a full-service law firm. I didn’t want to get pigeonholed in one practice area. I also enjoy working one-on-one with clients and believe in giving each person the individual attention they deserve, which having my own law firm allows me to prioritize.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

My typical day starts with going to court, where I often appear on behalf of my clients. In the afternoon, I usually meet new and current clients in my office. I always keep my phone on me so I can make the most of my time in between tasks. Clients know they can call or text me 24/7, and I check my email on the go, too.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I’m always thinking of new ideas, approaches, and strategies. But the best way to bring them to life is to implement a plan toward that goal. Once I know the steps I have to take, I can plan accordingly and bring my idea into reality.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Seeing more and more law firms gaining a presence online excites me. When someone gets arrested and needs help, they can find the right lawyer in just a few clicks. Not only does this help bring clients peace of mind, but it also allows us to start providing legal advice as soon as possible, which can keep a client from inadvertently damaging their case.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I’ve always been a hard worker, and I’m willing to work weekends and after hours. When you start your own law firm—or any kind of business—you’re the person who’s most invested in your success. Working odd hours, or extra hours when you need to, gives you the flexibility to be more productive.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell myself that the Internet is more important than I could have ever imagined and to get involved with building an online presence earlier. I’d also tell myself to make a ten-year plan for my law firm, so I could always have that goal in mind and be taking steps to achieve it.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Lawyers are almost always honest, and we really care about our clients’ needs.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I highly value timeliness and communication, and I recommend others do, too. You should always show up on time, because you never want to keep a client or someone else waiting. This is especially true for lawyers, because we also need to appear on time in court. It’s also important to communicate frequently with clients to make sure you’re fulfilling their needs and keeping them informed.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Advertising has been a huge help in growing my business. You can offer the best product or service in the world, and it won’t matter if no one knows about it. I’ve advertised on TV, billboards, bus signs, and the Internet, which has helped me reach a variety of audiences and see what works best for my firm.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

One of the missteps I made running my firm was how I collected funds on clients who had monthly payment plans. Previously, I would just mail an invoice to clients who fell behind on payments, which wasn’t always effective. Now, I personally call my clients so I can talk to them about late payments one-on-one, which has improved my client relationships while also yielding better results.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Legal tech is a huge field today that aims to use technology to facilitate legal services. In my experience, clients respond well to working with attorneys they like and trust, so I think an online matchmaking service that pairs clients with lawyers could be very successful.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

Recently, I purchased new antivirus software to help protect my files and email. Most business owners, and lawyers especially, have important information stored online. It’s always worth investing in the latest and best software to keep your information secure.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

I started using tawk.to, a free live chat app, so I could offer live chat on my website. It allows me to have even more productive client communication without worrying about the cost of offering live chat. By giving people the option to call, text, email, fill out a contact form, or live chat, I can talk to them whenever they’re ready and however they feel most comfortable.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

I strongly recommend “Understanding Family Law,” which is published by Carolina Academic Press. It helps readers understand the simple facts about law involving families, which is important because it can affect anyone who has a family.

What is your favorite quote?

“It’s every lawyer’s dream to help shape the law, not just react to it.” — Alan Dershowitz

Key learnings:

• Most lawyers are honest and have your best interests at heart. If you need representation, find a lawyer you feel comfortable with and trust.
• Communication is key. Clients benefit from frequent, personalized attention. If you can offer them a variety of options, from phone calls to texting to live chat, as well as flexible hours, you’ll be able to serve them better and gain more clients.
• Get online. People are spending more and more time online, and when someone needs something, they can look for it right away in just a few clicks. Build a strategic online presence to stay competitive.
  Make a plan and work toward it. If you have a great idea, figure out the steps you need to take to bring it to life, and always be working toward a ten-year plan for your business.
• Make a plan and work toward it. If you have a great idea, figure out the steps you need to take to bring it to life, and always be working toward a ten-year plan for your business.

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