A two-day intensive workshop on opening your own law firm co-sponsored with the Professional Liability Committee and the Solo & Small Firm Section of the Colorado Bar Association

 

“By far the best CLE I've ever attended.”

“This is the most important seminar I've ever attended – worth traveling a long distance to attend.”

“Speakers provide encouragement and support.”

“Excellent value for the $ - great speakers and great info.”

“This seminar provides a tremendous amount of valuable information whether you intend to open your own practice or not.”

“This program is an incredible value.  I leave feeling re-energized and ready to feel great about 'hanging my own shingle!'”

“All speakers were excellent, and did a great job giving us valuable information.”

“Thank you for putting this program together at an affordable price!”

 

Agenda: 

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.Registration⁄Introduction - Presented by David C. Little, Esq., Program Chair and Moderator

 

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.  Getting Started

-Setting the scene – initial decisions

-The law of leaving – ethical and legal issues

-Employment law issues

 

9:30 – 11:00 a.m.Computers and Technology Basics

-Defining your needs in relation to your skills, budget, and practice size, including cost estimates

-Choosing and implementing law office hardware

-Key software for managing your practice for success, including: case management and analysis, and time keeping and billing

-Ethical issues on how to bill your clients; C.R.P.C. 1.5

-E-filing and electronic case management

-Establishing a web presence; C.R.P.C. 7.1–7.5

-Online research tools

 

11:00 – 11:15 a.m.Networking Break

 

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.Business Planning – Nuts and Bolts Issues, with Sample Forms

-Establishing a business plan for the new or transitioning lawyer; monitoring and evolving the plan

-Budgeting for the start-up

-Tax considerations

-Employer⁄employee issues

-Setting your billing rates; C.R.P.C. 1.5

-Evaluating the cost of doing business

-Financing available

 

12:15 - 1:30 p.m.Lunch Break (On your own - another great opportunity to network with other attendees!  

1:30 – 3:00 p.m.Choice of Entity and Other Arrangements

-Choice of entity with form agreements, and advantages and disadvantages of each (LLC, PC, LLP, sole proprietorship); C.R.C.P. 265; C.R.P.C. 5.4

-Alternative business arrangements, including contract employment, of counsel, office sharing, and part-time

 

3:00 – 3:15 p.m.Networking Break

 

3:15 – 5:00 p.m.Business Development

-Developing a clear understanding of the obstacles to business development

-Creating a practical and comfortable practice development strategy

-Maintaining your business development efforts

-Meeting today's ethical concerns; C.R.P.C. 7.1-7.5

 

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.Networking Reception

 

 

9:00 – 10:15 a.m.Bookkeeping and Recordkeeping for Lawyers

-Maintaining your checking accounts (trust vs. office) – C.R.P.C. 1.15

-Keeping a check and client ledger

-Keeping a balance sheet

-Reports you need to be able to run

-How to tell if you're making money or not

-Collecting your fee

-Outsourcing with a bookkeeper or accountant

-Meeting trust account requirements including COLTAF, and recording activity; C.R.P.C. 1.15

 

10:15 – 10:30 a.m.Networking Break

 

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.Practice Maintenance Nuts and Bolts

-File set-up and review, diligence; C.R.P.C. 1.3

-Fee agreements and engagement letters; C.R.P.C. 1.5, 1.15

-Diaries and tickling

-Client interviews, scope and objectives of representation, unbundled tasks, informed consent; C.R.P.C. 1.2

-Delegation of work to support staff; C.R.P.C. 5.3

-Client correspondence and communication; C.R.P.C. 1.4

-Inventorying and support systems

-Managing your time

-Alleviating clients' confidentiality concerns; C.R.P.C. 1.6

 

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Lunch Break (On your own...and one more chance to connect with other participants!)

 

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.Risk Management

-Malpractice insurance, including cost estimates

-Malpractice exposure

-Recognizing and avoiding conflicts of interest; C.R.P.C. 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.13, 2.2

-Fees

-How to accept or reject a client

-Scope of engagement and identifying the client -Ethically networking for competence

-Asking for help - don't dabble; C.R.P.C. 1.1

-Client consent; C.R.P.C. 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.13, 2.2

-Ethics 2000

 

2:30 – 2:45 p.m.Networking Break

 

2:45 – 4:45 p.m."Hanging Our Shingle” – Panel Discussion

-Success stories, and pitfalls, from attorneys who have opened their own law firm

-Information you need to open, build, and benefit your practice

-Sorting through the advice you receive

-Dos and Don'ts

-Adjusting to change

-Candid question and answer segment

 

4:45 p.m.Adjourn

 

Denver:  CLE Classroom, 1900 Grant Street, Suite 300

Grand Junction:  1250 East Sherwood Drive

Colorado Springs:  421 South Tejon Street, Suite 100