Hanging Your Shingle: Build the Law Firm You’ve Been Dreaming Of - In Person
Hanging Your Shingle: Build the Law Firm You’ve Been Dreaming Of
Starting your own law firm is one of the most rewarding steps you can take in your legal career—and Hanging Your Shingle is Colorado’s essential program to help you do it right.
Over three immersive days, experienced faculty will guide you through every stage of launching and managing a successful solo or small firm. You’ll learn practical strategies for:
- Business planning and financial management
- Pricing your services effectively
- Client intake and relationship building
- Marketing and ethical best practices
Whether you’re still planning your firm or already managing one, you’ll gain the tools, clarity, and confidence to move forward with purpose.
Many of Colorado’s most successful solo and small firm attorneys began their journey with this program. Join them—and take the next step toward the practice and career you’ve always envisioned.
CLE CREDITS: This program has been submitted for 15 General Credits, including 6.7 Ethics / Professionalism Credits.
Home studies will be available 2-3 weeks following the live program.
CBA-CLE is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, and employment. To request an accommodation please contact [email protected] at least 14 business days in advance.
The program is accredited in Colorado. CBA-CLE staff can provide a Uniform Certificate of Attendance, and it is the attendee's responsibility to complete the accreditation outside of Colorado.
Tuesday, January 13
8:30-9:00 AM
Registration and Coffee
9:00-10:00 AM
Your Business Plan
The goal of Hanging Your Shingle is to prepare you to create a business plan for your new practice. In this session, we will discuss the elements of a law firm business. As part of your materials, you will receive a business planning worksheet, which you will use throughout the remainder of the program to craft the law firm of your dreams.
Presented by Poorvi B. Parkhie, Esq., The Law Office of Poorvi B. Parkhie
10:00 – 10:50 AM
Accounting and Bookkeeping
Good accounts and bookkeeping are fundamental to a healthy law practice. Learn about key metrics, accounting concepts, and why a good accountant or bookkeeper might be your first key partner.
Presented by Steven Libhart, Numbers Matter LLC
10:50-11:00 AM
Morning Break
11:00-11:50 AM
Bank Accounts (1.0)
Learn the basics of ethical money management, including rules for operating and trust accounts, and how to define or determine when a fee is earned.
Presented by Margaret B. Funk, Esq., Chief Deputy Regulation Counsel, Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, Denver, CO
Submitted for 1.0 Ethics Credit
11:50 AM - 1:00 PM
Networking Lunch (Included in Tuition)
In person attendees can grab a box lunch and get to know the rest of your cohort.
CBA-CLE can provide dairy free, gluten-free, and vegan, and gluten-free options if attendees note their dietary needs during registration.
1:00-1:50 PM
Ethics Basics for Solo and Small Firm Life
Learn common ethical issues faced by solo and small firm lawyers and discover how to create office policies that will help you exercise your duties as an attorney. Includes discussions of confidentiality, informed consent, and file retention.
Presented by M. Kate Strauss, Esq., Fennemore
Submitted for 1.0 Ethics Credit
1:50-2:00 PM
Afternoon Break
2:00-3:00 PM
Panel: Practical Advice and Traps to Avoid
Hear from the folks who have done it and lived to tell the tale. A panel of solo and small firm founders will discuss the joys and challenges of running your own firm.
Presenters To Be Named Moderated by Caryn McGraw Turner, Esq., McGraw Law PLLC
3:00 PM
Adjourn
Wednesday, January 14
8:30-9:00 AM
Registration and Coffee
9:00-10:00 AM
Client Intake
How to develop a system for checking for potential conflicts, and how to screen potential clients to ensure that you can provide what they need, and to ensure that they will not become problem clients.
Presented by Jessica Bednarz, Esq., Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System
10:00-10:10 AM
Morning Break
10:10-12:00 PM
Pricing
Imagine a law firm that offers up-front pricing, based on the value provided to the client, rather than the to-be-determined amount of time the attorney is going to spend on a matter. Discover how to offer this pricing model to perspective clients, and the ethics of flat fee representation.
Presented by Jessica Bednarz, Esq., Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, and Lauren Lester, Esq., Lester Law, LLC
Submitted for 0.5 Ethics Credits
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Lunch (on your own)
1:00-1:50 PM
Limited Scope
Limited scope representation is a great tool for solo attorneys to provide customized service packages to clients. Learn the benefits of offering limited scope representation, and the ethics behind limiting the scope of your representation.
Presented by Gerald D. “Jerry” Pratt, Esq., Law Office of Gerald D. Pratt, P.C.
Submitted for 1.0 Ethics Credit
1:50-2:00 PM
Afternoon Break
2:00-3:00 PM
Marketing
Learn how to identify your ideal client, and strategies to reach that ideal client in an ever-changing media environment.
Presented by Georgina Miller, Crabapple Communications
Not Submitted for CLE Credit
3:00 PM
Adjourn
Thursday, January 15
8:30-9:00 AM
Registration and Coffee
9:00 -9:50 AM
Fee Agreements: Scoping and Setting Expectations
A good fee agreement is the best thing you can have in your client file. Learn how to draft a fee agreement that sets client expectations, and accurately describes the scope of your representation.
Presented by April M. McMurrey, Esq. Deputy Regulation Counsel, Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel
Submitted for 1.0 Ethics Credit
10:00-10:50 AM
Law Firm Tech, Part 1
The essential tech that will help your firm get off the ground, and the tech you may want to build up to in the future.
Presented by Justie Nicol, Esq., Colorado Lawyer Team
10:50-11:00 AM
Morning Break
11:00 AM -12:00 PM
Law Firm Tech Part 2- AI and the Small Firm
AI is a powerful tool that can help you perform business and legal tasks quickly and securely- if you know how to use it. Learn how you can leverage AI in your firm, without putting your license at risk. Bonus topic: Adrienne is currently running her practice from Spain, and has agreed to briefly discuss how she was able to create a practice with enough flexibility that it can be run from anywhere in the world.
Presented by Adrienne Fischer, Esq., Basecamp Legal
12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch (on your own)
1:00-1:50 PM
Attorney Wellness & Resources
Solo practitioners are not on their own! Learn about opportunities to receive mentorship, additional support in opening your firm, and assistance with mental health.
Presented by Ryann Peyton, Esq., Executive Director, Colorado Office of Attorney Professional Excellence (APEX), and Speaker to be Named, COLAP.
Submitted for 1.0 Professionalism Credit
1:50-2:00 PM
Afternoon Break
2:00-3:00 PM
Professionalism
Our closing session is an inspirational call to practice with professionalism and integrity, based on the Colorado Oath of Attorney Admission
Presented by The Honorable Adam J. Espinosa, Denver District Court
Submitted for 1.2 Professionalism Credits
3:00 PM
Adjourn
Registration Fees
| Non Member | $779.00 |
| CBA Member | $584.00 |
| CBA Solo Small Firm Section Member | $479.00 |
| LLP/Paralegal/Legal Support Staff | $292.00 |
| Public Service/Government/Military | $292.00 |
| ELITE Pass Holder | $25.00 |
| New Lawyer Edge Partner | $25.00 |
| Student Currently Enrolled in Law School | $0.00 |
- General Credits: 15.00
- Ethics Credits: 6.70
- EDI Credits:
To join the CBA or add a Section to your membership click