All sessions are from 9:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

2012 Schedule

• Wednesday, February 8—Day one: How to Start a Law Firm (Session closed)
• Wednesday, February 22—Day two: How to Grow a Law Firm (Session closed)
• Wednesday, March 7—Day one: How to Start a Law Firm
• Wednesday, March 21—Day two: How to Grow a Law Firm
• Wednesday, April 11—Day one: How to Start a Law Firm
• Wednesday, April 25—Day two: How to Grow a Law Firm
• Wednesday, May 9—Day one: How to Start a Law Firm
• Wednesday, May 23—Day two: How to Grow a Law Firm
• Wednesday, June 6—Day one: How to Start a Law Firm
• Wednesday, June 27—Day two: How to Grow a Law Firm

This program is sponsored by the Practice Management Service Committee of the D.C. Bar. It is free for and limited to D.C. Bar members and their staff.

Description
The program is for lawyers who want to know about the methods and skills necessary for starting and growing a solo or small firm and who want to participate actively in the learning experience. This interactive program consists of two full–day sessions that cover:

Day One: How to Start a Law Firm—All you need to know to get an office up and going in the District of Columbia. This segment of the program focuses on the skills, tools, and rules plus planning issues including:

• The solo’s workplace, firm naming, insurance and office location issues.
• Fees and agreements: Types of fee arrangements; hourly, flat and alternative law office accounts; getting paid.
• IOLTA, operation of the trust and business (operating) accounts and record keeping.
• Office operations; office policy; of counsel and contract arrangements; file creation, retention, storage and destruction.
• Time management, productivity analysis and planning to grow.
• Planning for the unexpected: What if you cannot work? Do you have a backup plan?
• The business plan, financial and productivity planning.

Day Two: How to Grow a Law Firm—Marketing, problem solving, understanding clients, and technology that serves, including:

• Working strategically on your business.
• Marketing on a shoestring, marketing to avoid, smart marketing, building a Web site that can be found by potential clients, networking, social media, the contacts list and mining the gold therein.
• How to enter your potential client’s problem recognition process.
• Client issues: Selection and intake, communications and problem solving.
• Case management and time and billing solutions.
• Free and low cost legal research.
• Thinking tools and productivity.

The program, consisting of parts one and two, can be taken at any time and in any order, however it is recommended that they be taken sequentially in the same month. 

If you would like to know more or to register, send an e–mail to Daniel Mills, manager, Practice Management Advisory Service or call 202–626–1312. Please specify the date(s) of the session(s) you wish to attend.