Comments on: How to Start a Law Practice http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2007/11/how-to-start-law-practice.html the art and science of criminal defense trial lawyering Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:37:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Sheryl Sisk Schelin http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2007/11/how-to-start-law-practice.html/comment-page-1#comment-680 Sheryl Sisk Schelin Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:39:00 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/?p=395#comment-680 Ah, so many things. Understand finance and bookkeeping - at least well enough to outsource and adequately supervise a bookkeeper. Skip the books, and stick like glue to a budget. Create your practice the way you want to - you're not limited to "business as usual." Embrace flat-rate billing wherever allowed by your jurisdiction and courts. Get a blog and do it right. Wrap your mind around the idea now that your clients are doing YOU a favor - not the other way around. <br/><br/>I could go on, and on, and on ... and as for the law school's response, unfortunately I'm not surprised. Ah, so many things. Understand finance and bookkeeping - at least well enough to outsource and adequately supervise a bookkeeper. Skip the books, and stick like glue to a budget. Create your practice the way you want to - you’re not limited to “business as usual.” Embrace flat-rate billing wherever allowed by your jurisdiction and courts. Get a blog and do it right. Wrap your mind around the idea now that your clients are doing YOU a favor - not the other way around.

I could go on, and on, and on … and as for the law school’s response, unfortunately I’m not surprised.

]]> By: Matlock http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2007/11/how-to-start-law-practice.html/comment-page-1#comment-677 Matlock Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:54:00 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/?p=395#comment-677 That should obviously read "not" hiring for reputation. That should obviously read “not” hiring for reputation.

]]> By: Matlock http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2007/11/how-to-start-law-practice.html/comment-page-1#comment-676 Matlock Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:51:00 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/?p=395#comment-676 I would agree with Guest about defining what areas you are willing/ want to practice within. If you want to do criminal defense, don't do divorces just to pay the rent. <br/><br/>Remember that perception is reality. If they appear as though they know what they are doing, the potential clients will assume they do and will be more willing to hire them. <br/><br/>Set a budget and stick to it. Especially when it comes to advertising. It is very easy when you first start out and are desperate for clients to try every advertising scheme under the sun. Pick what you want and don't be suckered into the "next big thing."<br/><br/>Get involved and make sure others know you are there. Young Lawyers Assocs. and Bar Assocs. are good, but not the only ways to get your name out there. <br/><br/>You don't need all the books you get offers for. Use the damn law library. <br/><br/>Make sure your phone is answered. At that early stage, a potential is hiring you because of reputation. If they can't get you on the phone, they will go to someone else.<br/><br/>I'm sure we all have a million of these, but these popped into my mind. I would agree with Guest about defining what areas you are willing/ want to practice within. If you want to do criminal defense, don’t do divorces just to pay the rent.

Remember that perception is reality. If they appear as though they know what they are doing, the potential clients will assume they do and will be more willing to hire them.

Set a budget and stick to it. Especially when it comes to advertising. It is very easy when you first start out and are desperate for clients to try every advertising scheme under the sun. Pick what you want and don’t be suckered into the “next big thing.”

Get involved and make sure others know you are there. Young Lawyers Assocs. and Bar Assocs. are good, but not the only ways to get your name out there.

You don’t need all the books you get offers for. Use the damn law library.

Make sure your phone is answered. At that early stage, a potential is hiring you because of reputation. If they can’t get you on the phone, they will go to someone else.

I’m sure we all have a million of these, but these popped into my mind.

]]> By: Robert Guest http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2007/11/how-to-start-law-practice.html/comment-page-1#comment-674 Robert Guest Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:28:00 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/?p=395#comment-674 Under capitalization. To start my practice I took out a business loan. I put together a business plan and went to my bank. Under capitalization. To start my practice I took out a business loan. I put together a business plan and went to my bank.

]]> By: Bill M http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2007/11/how-to-start-law-practice.html/comment-page-1#comment-672 Bill M Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:18:00 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/?p=395#comment-672 Well, if you are taking your presentation to the law school, the students there are going to face two chief problems:<br/><br/>1) Inexperience, and<br/>2) Under-capitalization<br/><br/>Address yourself to those issues. In particular, the under-capitalization. Robert Guest suggests investing in technology and iPhones, but frankly some of us can't even afford the good suits he also recommends.<br/><br/>So low-cost startup/office management and low-cost/free marketing would be 2 key areas.<br/><br/>Bill M.<br/><br/>P.S. When are you bringing your presentation to Austin? Well, if you are taking your presentation to the law school, the students there are going to face two chief problems:

1) Inexperience, and
2) Under-capitalization

Address yourself to those issues. In particular, the under-capitalization. Robert Guest suggests investing in technology and iPhones, but frankly some of us can’t even afford the good suits he also recommends.

So low-cost startup/office management and low-cost/free marketing would be 2 key areas.

Bill M.

P.S. When are you bringing your presentation to Austin?

]]> By: Robert Guest http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2007/11/how-to-start-law-practice.html/comment-page-1#comment-671 Robert Guest Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:01:00 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/?p=395#comment-671 Define the fields you will practice in. In the beggining, when work is sparse it is tempting to take every paying client.<br/><br/>If you can't afford staff, automate. Invest in technology. Get an iphone.<br/><br/>Demographics are destiny. Pick a growing area and learn Spanish.<br/><br/>Get good suits. You are selling yourself. <br/><br/>Be friendly, meet the local bar, and network for referrals. Define the fields you will practice in. In the beggining, when work is sparse it is tempting to take every paying client.

If you can’t afford staff, automate. Invest in technology. Get an iphone.

Demographics are destiny. Pick a growing area and learn Spanish.

Get good suits. You are selling yourself.

Be friendly, meet the local bar, and network for referrals.

]]> By: Anonymous http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2007/11/how-to-start-law-practice.html/comment-page-1#comment-670 Anonymous Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:58:00 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/?p=395#comment-670 Rent an office because it won't look professional doing it in your mother's kitchen Rent an office because it won’t look professional doing it in your mother’s kitchen

]]> By: shg http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2007/11/how-to-start-law-practice.html/comment-page-1#comment-669 shg Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:00:00 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/?p=395#comment-669 Plastics Plastics

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