LAW-2945 Business of Practice: Hit the Ground Running
For decades lawyers at local courthouses have sat around complaining to each other about topics such as: How do I get more clients? What do I do with this problem secretary? How do I make more money? The common refrain has always been, "why didn't they teach me that in law school?" In this course, Suffolk intends to solve that problem. The practice of law is a noble profession and a necessary component of any advanced society. In the modern world, though, a law firm must be viewed as a business like any other business. So, it should take in more than it spends, reward its principals for their risks and investment, attract more of the "right" clients to help it grow, and provide high quality and valuable services. This practical course covers the development and management of a small law business in today's ever-changing economy and is taught by a small law business owner who has lived through the ups and downs (and the major mistakes) of more than 20 years of running a law business. This hybrid course will consist of a combination of in-person and on-line live lectures, including various guest speakers, text and relevant practice management article assignments and various weekly projects that, taken as a whole, will constitute a final business plan for starting a law practice. WARNING: the course is centered around projects performed by "class law firms" (i.e., group projects) consisting of 2 - 4 students. If you do not enjoy working in a group setting, then this course may not be for you. Ultimately successful students will leave the course with a "law business in a box" consisting of a business plan with an ethical marketing plan and some innovative ideas that will allow them to "hit the ground running" when they are ready to hang up their shingle.