Starting your own law firm can be a rewarding next step in your legal career. It might seem intimidating at first, but a little planning goes a long way. For any law firm just starting out, you’ll want to know something about running a business, which goes beyond the skills necessary for being a good lawyer.
Once you’ve made the decision to start your own firm, or even if you’re still just considering, the resources on this page will help you get started—with everything from developing a business plan and getting your finances in order to finding a steady client base and thinking about the future longevity of your legal practice.
First steps to starting your own law firm
The first steps to starting your own law firm are critical. A passion for practicing law is essential, but beyond that, you'll also need to know how to run the business side of your firm. The more thought you put into these first crucial steps, the better you'll set yourself up for success in the long run.
Getting your first legal clients
When you’re first starting a law firm, acquiring your first clients is a critical factor to achieving profitability. Putting together a strong marketing plan will help ensure you find enough clients to generate revenues. To do so, you’ll need to be up to speed on the resources and strategies available.
Managing your law firm finances
The financial status of your legal practice is a reflection of the overall health of your business. When first starting your law firm, it's best to get your books in order early. With the right systems in place, you'll be able to get the information you need to achieve your firm's goals.
Leveraging technology for lawyers
Technology is revolutionizing the way we do business, and the legal profession is no exception. Starting your firm in the digital world means working more efficiently with better, more secure access to all the information at your firm. Learn more about the tools available, and how to apply them to your new legal practice.
Planning the future for your law firm
Starting a law firm is only the first step. Maintaining a profitable business is a task that will be ongoing. As you grow your client base, your revenue, and maybe your team, improving efficiency and keeping track of all your firm information will become even more important.
Starting your law firm is only the beginning
When you make the decision to start your own law firm, know that you don't always need to get everything right the first time.
Every decision (and every mistake) is part of the journey to finding and sustaining your success. The trick is to know where you want to take your firm, and identifying the key milestones that will get you there. This is where a little planning can go a long way.
Part of any legal start-up plan should take into consideration how you’ll manage the administrative side of your law firm. Storing case and contact information, setting up billing workflows, keeping track of your calendars and communications are all integral to running a legal practice. The better prepared you are to manage these functions, the more time you’ll have to work with clients.