Lawyers looking to start a firm should look into any federal or state license or permit requirements which may be applicable to them.
Most lawyers starting a practice anticipate and understand the challenges of starting up a law firm such as negotiating a lease, obtaining equipment for their new firm, and staffing. However, many do not look ahead at establishing the necessary office systems to ensure the firm operates smoothly from Day One.
Whether you have just graduated from law school or have been working at a law firm for decades, starting your own practice is always an option. Although it is scary to consider putting on the pilot's hat and flying your own plane, if you follow some of these guidelines, there is no reason why you cannot learn to fly successfully.
If you are wondering how much it costs to start your own law firm, then you are probably also seriously considering hanging your own shingle. The good news is that in the long-term, your decision to start your own legal practice could be very beneficial.
FindLaw's guide for solo or small law firm practitioners on the client intake process.
Although success as a solo requires much trial and error, some steps that I took to market my business from the beginning really paid off.
A key decision when launching a new firm is deciding "what you are." The days of the general practice lawyer are gone. Your chances for success are much greater if you limit yourself to a particular area of law where you can become an expert.
Picking a practice area for your law practice is an important decision for many reasons including: avoiding legal malpractice; being able to pay the bills; and career satisfaction. Increasingly, clients expect their lawyers to focus their practices on a particular area of the law.
When it comes to management at law firms, management does not simply refer to case management. It is also connotes the fact that law firms are businesses. Therefore, lawyers must also manage the business aspects of the firm, including payroll, purchasing supplies, and human resources. However, most lawyers are not specifically trained to handle the business side and would prefer to stick to the legal matters.
Most clients don't know how to judge the depth of your knowledge, skill, judgment or experience. After all, they didn't go to law school and you did, so they couldn't possibly appreciate what you know. But they can measure what they see and feel.