5 Questions Every Law Firm Should Ask Before Signing a New Tech Lease

For law firms, leasing is one of the smartest ways to stay current with technology while protecting capital. But not all leases are created equal, and what looks like a good deal on paper can lead to hidden costs, compliance issues, or operational headaches if it’s not structured correctly.

Whether you’re leasing laptops, servers, AV equipment, or infrastructure for a new office, asking the right questions upfront is key to avoiding problems later.

1. Does this lease align with our technology lifecycle?

Your lease should match how long the firm realistically uses the equipment, not just how long the vendor recommends. If most laptops are refreshed every 36 months, a 60-month lease may save money short-term but introduce risk, performance drops, and internal frustration down the line.

2. Are there end-of-term penalties or unclear return conditions?

Many firms get caught off guard by ambiguous end-of-term clauses. Before you sign, understand what happens at the end:

• How much time do you have to return equipment?

• Are there auto-renewal triggers?

• Who covers return shipping and packaging?

 Clear answers here can save thousands.

3. Will this lease allow us to scale or restructure mid-term?

If your firm is growing, merging, or shifting how teams work, flexibility matters. A good lease should allow for co-terminous additions, early restructuring, or even sale-leasebacks of owned equipment. This flexibility makes your strategy more adaptable.

4. Are we tracking this lease alongside our other agreements?

Firms often have dozens of active leases across departments and vendors. If they’re managed in isolation, it’s easy to lose visibility. A centralized dashboard or lease management tool like Core C.A.R.E. makes it easier to avoid missed deadlines, penalties, or inconsistent refresh schedules.

5. Does our leasing partner understand how law firms operate?

Leasing isn’t just about hardware. It’s about uptime, performance, and service, especially in a legal environment. Your leasing partner should understand the demands of billable hour recovery, hybrid teams, confidentiality requirements, and growth planning. Without that context, even a well-structured lease might fall short of your needs.

How CoreTech Can Help

CoreTech works exclusively with law firms to structure, manage, and optimize their equipment leasing. We help you ask the right questions upfront, avoid surprises later, and keep your firm running smoothly, no matter how your needs evolve.

Contact CoreTech Leasing at info@coretechleasing.com to build a leasing strategy that works for the way your firm actually operates.