Checklist for Starting a Law Firm

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         MyShingle.com's Checklist for Starting a Law Firm

              Background reading & research
                 Read books and blogs about starting a law practice
                 Attend bar sponsored solo boot camps or meet with Bar LPM advisors
                 Meet with and/or email solos already in practice
                 Sign up for Solosez
                 Read business books/trends books
                 Review state bar rules.
                 Review admission rules for jurisdictions where you intend to practice.Planning
              Bare Basic Business Plan
                 Mission Statement
                 Law firm name
                 Key practice areas
                       bread & butter
                       aspirational
                       niche
                       emerging
                 Firm location
                 Target clients
                 Fee structure
                       hourly
                       flat fees
                       contingencyRevenues
                 Projections
                       costs
                       anticipated revenue
              Set Up
                 Decide on office


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            Home Office
            Virtual office (completely online)
            Part time virtual office space
            Rented space
                check Craigs list, bar newsletter
                ask colleagues
         Choose Corporate Form & Set-Up Entity
            Sole proprietor
            LLC/LLP
            Professional Corp.
            Partnership
            S-corp
            Corporation
         Choose law firm name
            Trademark if necessary
         Obtain federal EIN # for bank accounts & taxes
         Get DUNs #
         Comply w/ any state/local business licensing or registration reqts.
         Accounts
            Set up operating account
            Set Up IOLTA Account
            Get law firm checks & credit card
            Set up credit card account
         Tech Choices (Bare Basics)
            Internet service
            Email address
            Phone service
            Computer




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               Scanner
               Printer
               Word processing tools
               PDF generator
               Law Practice Management tools
                  buy now or wait?
                  free v. fee?
                  practice specific needs
                  cloud v. desktop tools
            Research
               Lexis/Westlaw
               low cost bar options
               Google Legal?
               Practice specific books or tools
               Forms
            Malpractice Insurance
            Bar requirements
               pay licensing fees
               gain admission at relevant courts
         Countdown to Launch
            Web Presence
               website
               blog
               Social Media Profiles
                  Avvo
                  Justia
                  Linked-In
            Business Cards




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               printed
               "Virtual" biz card
            Announcements
               printed cards
               letters
               letters to former firm clients
         Completion - you are a solo by choice!




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