For a lawyer who’s thinking about striking out on their own and starting a firm, there are naturally pros and cons. You gain more autonomy in how you practice, but lose the structure of an established firm. You get to choose how you run your business, but you also take on more risk.
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I’m a young lawyer. I started law school in 2010, which was a scary time to be entering the profession. Jobs had disappeared and a scarcity mindset had taken root. I was relieved when I managed to find work, first as an appellate clerk, and then at several mid-size Seattle firms. But relief and satisfaction […]
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Rainmaking, bringing home the bacon, chasing cheddar—whatever you want to call it, most lawyers want to find clients, build trust, and attract new business. But most lawyers are also heads down in practicing law, not marketing themselves. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, especially for solo and small firms, but there are definitely tricks of the […]
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Some lawyers avoid collecting unpaid legal fees because the process makes them acutely uncomfortable or they’re concerned about a bar complaint that could result. While some clients may indeed take offense at your efforts to collect money owed you, using appropriate, empathetic, and consistent follow-up can lead to better client communication and interaction, improved cash […]
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I recently attended legal industry technology guru Barron Henley’s presentation, “Champagne Technology on a Beer Budget.” We learned plenty of information to help make a law practice more efficient and productive — all while saving tons of money! Here are a few helpful tips.
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Representing comic book creators can be exciting: you get to use your JD to protect costumed heroes and villains! Given Hollywood’s love of the comic book property, attorneys who practice IP law and work in the entertainment industries should have a working knowledge of the legal issues comic book creators face each time they begin […]
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Up until very recently, whenever I asked other lawyers what they thought “low bono” meant, most ventured an uncertain guess along these lines: “Is it like pro bono, except instead of paying no fee, the client pays a low fee?”
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Communicating with other people is an important part of what we do as lawyers. Here are a few suggestions that I offer to attorneys who want to communicate more effectively, whether it’s with clients, colleagues, or friends and family.
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In the February 2016 issue of NWLawyer, trial attorney Paul Luvera shares his top 10 tips for jury selection — along with some memorable quotes from great thinkers. Here are a few of our favorites.
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Attorney Ally Kennedy Garcia offers her tips for gaining a foothold for success in a law firm.
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If you’re like many of the attorneys I know, you want to do pro bono work, but it can be hard to find the time. Most lawyers are busy, with important responsibilities to current clients, families and friends. If this describes you, good news: a new way to serve low-income clients has arrived in Washington.
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If anyone at your firm is routinely inputting lots of information, you might want to explore whether you could automate that system. Tacoma immigration attorney Greg McLawsen explains how it’s done.
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The federal district court in Spokane recently addressed lateral-hire screening to avoid disqualification in Assenberg v. County of Whitman, No. 2:14-CV-0145-TOR, 2015 WL 5178032 (E.D. Wash. Sept. 4, 2015) (unpublished). While the court rejected disqualification in this case, the ruling underscores the importance of early and thorough screening when law firms take on new lateral […]
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Attorney Kristina Larry offers up her top four secrets to happiness in the stressful legal profession.
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Video is a powerful platform for connecting with new prospects, establishing a stronger online presence, and providing resources for your current clients. As part of our ethics day on Aug. 26, 2015, we will be covering how to create content — including video — that avoids common ethics violations. But what makes a good video […]
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In flat fee cases, sometimes the attorney wins and sometimes she loses. But sometimes an attorney stands to lose much more badly than others.
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