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Posted: August 12, 2009
William Mitchell to host four-part seminar on starting a solo law practice
As part of William Mitchell College of Law’s commitment to helping its alumni retool for the new economy, the Office of Career and Professional Development and the Austin J. Baillon and Caroline M. Baillon Professorship of Real Estate Law present a four-part seminar on how to start a solo or small law firm.
The seminar, which runs Tuesday evenings from Sept. 15 through Oct. 6, is free and open to William Mitchell students, alumni, and other attorneys who have recently started their own firms.
Each session will feature panel discussions with Mitchell alumni who succeeded at launching and growing solo and small firms. Topics include business plans, financing, necessary resources, and how to grow a firm from the ground up.
Register online: https://www.wmitchellalumni.net/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=254&srcid=254
Seating is limited. A complete list of sessions and presenters follows.
Developing a Business Plan
4:30 – 6:15 pm Tuesday, Sept. 15
This seminar will explore the initial steps presenters took, or failed to take, while starting their law firms. Specific topics include:
- Why business plans are important
- How to develop an effective business plan
- The respective advantages and disadvantages of LLCs, PLCs, associations and partnerships.
Presenters include Craig Empey of Empey Law Office PLLC, Emily Rickaby of Murphy Rickaby LLC, Scott Seiler of Seiler & Associates PLLC, and Justin Short of Kramer & Short LLC.
Application will be made for 1.5 standard CLE credits.
Financing Your Law Firm
4:30 – 6:15 pm Tuesday, Sept. 22
This seminar will explore details related to financing a law practice. Specific topics include:
- How to pay bills
- Expectations related to profits and losses
- How much money it takes to start a law practice and where to borrow it
- How to manage student loans
- What expenses can be anticipated.
Presenters include Jeffrey Bruzek of Bruzek Law, Craig Empey of Empey Law Office PLlC, Sandra Kensy, and Trice Okrzynski.
Application will be made for 1.5 standard CLE credits.
Setting Up Your Law Firm
4:30 – 6:15 pm Tuesday, Sept. 29
This seminar will focus on the basic equipment, insurance, case management systems, and other resources necessary to start a firm, market a firm, and build a client base. Specific topics include:
- Basic equipment needed to open the door to practice
- How to set up and operate business books, including accounting, and trust accounts
- The importance of insurance—malpractice, liability, health, etc.
- How to start marketing
- Why it’s helpful to work with mentors.
Presenters include Patrick Cotter of Cotter Law Office, PLLC; Jeffrey Gram of Greenhouse & Gram;
Application will be made for 1.5 standard CLE credits.
Developing Your Firm
4:30 – 6:15 pm Tuesday, Oct. 6
This seminar will focus on how to develop a firm or practice in a manner that is manageable, ethical, and professional. The discussion will focus on areas of interest for newly practicing attorneys, including common mistakes, the Professional Responsibility Board, and PR Board discipline. Specific topics include:
- How to avoid conflicts
- What to do if a conflict arises
- Obligations related to confidentiality
- The importance of professionalism in creating and maintaining a high-caliber reputation.
Presenters include Mark Anfinson, Katrina Eggink of Eggink & Eggink, Patrick R. Burns, Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility, Jeremy Greenhouse of Greenhouse & Gram, and Naomi Perman of Perman Law Firm.
Application will be made for 1.5 ethics CLE credits.
Going Solo is part of William Mitchell’s Retooling for the New Economy program, which aims to help Mitchell alumni and students better anticipate, understand, and leverage areas of the legal profession that are growing despite the challenging economy. Learn more by visiting the following Mitchell webpage, http://www.wmitchell.edu/news/articles/default.asp?articleId=11883