Minding Your Own Business: Starting Your Own Law Practice

Running a business is a challenge for anyone, particularly if you have not had any business experience.  Join licensed attorney and counselor at law, June Middleton, as she provides attorneys with the foundational tools needed to start their own practice.  

June begins by defining and examining the legal entity, the difference between an incorporated and unincorporated business entity, and the requirements for legal formation.  

She continues by examining the considerations inherent in the decision to have one or more partners, the importance of having written contracts such as by-laws or operating agreements and what to consider if you plan to have other employees or independent contractors. June discusses possible Worker’s Compensation and disability insurance requirements as well as any other insurance you may need. 

Lastly, June examines marketing, maintaining, and growing your practice, and the importance of having letters of engagement with your clients and setting fees.

This program is designed to make you aware of how to build a solid infrastructure based on business law, from which you can launch a solid practice to address your passion for the practice of law.

Learning Objectives

1. Comprehend starting your own law firm as both a practice and a business
2. Understand the various considerations needed to decide whether you should go solo or have a partner
3. Grasp client selection and intake as well as identify how to find clients and solidify the services offered
4. Determine whether you need a business plan and, if so, decide:
   1. Its purpose and audience
   2. A budget: personal and business
   3. Physical versus virtual office
5. Understand the importance of legal structure:
   1. Unincorporated (sole proprietor, partnership)

This course originally appeared as a part of our December 2014 Bridge the Gap Event.