The Drive-Thru at the Kocian Law Firm
We all knew it would come to this eventually. The legal profession — once reserved for studious minds who diligently ponder the most complex moral, ethical, and legal issues of the day — has been reduced to a collection of short-order cooks, who whip up documents instead of eggs and toast.
Actually, that change probably happened many years ago. Generations ago, even. But there is something visual striking about the new Connecticut offices of the Kocian Law Firm. The firm is operating out of an old Kenny Rogers Roasters building. The Kocian lawyers are keeping the drive-thru window — and they’re using it as an easy and efficient way to exchange documents and quick advice with their clients.
Somewhere, Partner Emeritus is crying…
The story comes to us from NBC Connecticut. Here’s how Kocian intends to use the window:
“We have drive-thrus for ATMs and we have that customer convenience. Why not a law firm?” attorney Nick Kocian asked.
Kocian wanted to make things convenient for customers to easily drop off and pick up documents. He has been told this is the first drive-thru legal service in Connecticut and possibly the country.
But it’s not just a pick-up/drop-off service. You’ll also be able to ask questions:
A paralegal operates the window, hands out documents and answers questions.
“They really love it. It’s convenient for them,” said Rosa Castillo, one of the firm’s paralegals.
But, don’t mistake the quick and convenient drive-thru for a firm that’s short on giving customers attention.
I’d tell law students to try to summer at Kocian. Even if they don’t give you an offer, the drive-thru experience could prove invaluable during your next career.
Maybe the visual of receiving legal services at a drive-thru window isn’t so bad? I mean, the legal profession is a service industry. People who don’t want to be involved in a service industry probably shouldn’t go to law school, because they probably won’t make very good attorneys. Practitioners should always be trying to find way to better serve their clients.
But you have to ask yourself, how many years of school do you really need in order to be qualified to work at a place accepts customers at a drive-thru window? If it makes sense to turn law firms into fast food joints, then it would make sense to turn law school into a six week correspondence course.
