Building Your Own Thriving Law Practice

Blueprint for Success: Building Your Own Thriving Law Practice – LACBA Events

Date: Friday, October 6th
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Registration: Opens at 9:30 AM
Location: Omni Hotel, 251 S. Olive, Los Angeles 90012

CLE: 4.0 Hours of General CLE Credit Including Ethics

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Co-Sponsored by: LACBA Small Firm and Sole Practitioner Section and CLA Solo Section

This day-long in-person seminar is designed to build the skills and confidence you need to strike out on your own and grow your own legal practice.  Gain practical tools from lawyers who have successfully built their own firm with a solid foundation, brick by brick.  Going out on your own can be daunting, but this seminar is devoted to teaching lawyers the skills needed to succeed with confidence.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

SECTION 1 – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 

Speakers:  Josh Bonnici, Ashley Andrews and Michelle Fonseca-Kamana
Carolin Shining – Moderator

A Foundation for Success

• Leaving Your Previous Firm
• Choosing a Practice Area
• Your Firm Name
• Your Firm Branding
• Your Firm’s Business Plan

Setting Yourself Apart from the Rest

• Identifying Your Firm’s Target Client
• Developing a Firm Mission, Vision & Values
• Specialty and Niche Practice
• Setting your Firm Apart
• Firm Website
• Social Media

SECTION 2 – 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

Speakers: Ryan Kilmer, Erin Joyce, and Amanda Moghaddam

Taking Care of Finances

• Funding Your New Firm
• Bank Accounts for Your Practice
• Proper Trust Accounting
• Creating a Firm Budget
• How to Determine Your Fees and Fee Structures
• Maintaining Cash Flow
• Billing Clients
• Firm Insurance

BREAK 12:00 PM – 12:10 PM

LUNCHEON 12:10 PM – 1:10 PM

Keynote Speaker: Dan Kramer

Daniel Kramer is a trial lawyer who specializes in representing families and individuals involved in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death matters, as well as employment discrimination and retaliation lawsuits. Dan will share how he has built a vibrant trial practice and faced the challenges of small firm ownership.

SECTION 3 – 1:10 PM – 2:10 PM

Speakers: Cynthia Elkins and Laura Withrow

Firm Personnel

• Outsourcing Work
• Principles for Managing Your Firm
• Establishing Firm Policies & Procedures
• Your Ethical Responsibilities to Attorneys/Staff
• Recruiting and Hiring Employees
• Separation of Employment
• Hiring a Human Resources Manager vs. Consultant
• Alternatives to Employees
• Networking Experts
• Sharing Staff

SECTION 4 and 5 – 2:10 PM – 3:10 PM

Speakers: Joy Murao, Robbie Klein and Steve Mayer

Firm Office & Infrastructure

• Physical Office Space
• Mobile Lawyering
• Types of Offices
• Space and Location Considerations
• Telephones, Faxes and Printers

Law Practice Technology

• Assessing Your Firm’s Needs
• Firm Email
• Legal Software and Research
• E-Filing Documents
• Computer Security, Privacy and Related Ethics
• Going Paperless with an Electronic File