lawline presentation: building a law practice brick by brick
TRANSCRIPT
BUILDING A LAW PRACTICE “BRICK BY
BRICK”LAWLINE.COM PRESENTATION
MAY 6, 2016
CARI B. RINCKER, ESQ.
Rincker Law, PLLCLicensed in NY, NJ, CT, DC & IL
535 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(212) 427-2049
Twitter: @CariRincker @RinckerLaw
Instagram: @CariRincker
www.rinckerlaw.com
HARLAN YORK, ESQ.
Harlan York & Associates
60 Park Place, Suite 1010
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 642-1111
www.immigrationlawnj.com
DANIEL GERSHBURG, ESQ.
Gershburg Law, P.C.
85 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
(212) 390-8866
www.danielgershburg.com
OVERVIEW OF ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
• Laying the Groundwork
• Getting Clients
• Taking Care of Clients
• Money
• Reputation Management
• Dealing with Growth
• Additional Resources
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
When you first started your practice, what were some of the first things you did for set-up?• How did you decide on a business name?
• How did you pick your practice area?
• Did you get malpractice insurance?
• How did you decide on whether you were going to get a virtual or a brick and mortar office?
• What decisions did you make regarding phones?
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
What types of initial steps need to take place with marketing?
• Website?
• Business cards?
• Letterhead?
• Online attorney listings?
• Social media profiles?
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
Retainers/ Engagements Letters• Should this be ready to go before you
open your doors?
• How did you find forms to use?
• Tips on what should or should not be in the retainer?
GETTING CLIENTS
GETTING CLIENTS
• How should you announce that your firm is “open for business?”
• What have been the most effective ways to obtain clients?
GETTING CLIENTS
Networking• How important has networking been to your law
practice?
• Are you involved in any networking groups?
• How do you balance networking and practicing law?
• Tips to be a better networker?
GETTING CLIENTS
• What other types of marketing have you done?
• How involved are you with social media?
• What types of advertising do you use?
• Have you hired professionals for assistance?
TAKING CARE OF CLIENTS
TAKING CARE OF CLIENTS
• Do you recommend getting good mentors?
• How does somebody find good mentors?
• How did you develop your processes?
• What tips do you have for customer service?
• What tips do you have for client communication?
• What type of calendaring system do you use?
MONEY
MONEY
• What type of billing program do you use?
• How often do you bill clients?
• Do you use flat fee or hourly fee?
• Do clients pay up front?
• How do you work retainers?
• Do you accept money via credit cards? PayPal?
MONEY
• How can you prevent accounts receivable problems?
• How do you handle payment issues with clients?
• How do you fire clients?
REPUTATION MANAGEMENT
REPUTATION MANAGEMENT
• What do you do to manage your reputation both online and offline?
DEALING WITH GROWTH
DEALING WITH GROWTH
• What tips do you have for dealing with growth?
• Do you have associates or a secretary?
• When is the right time to hire people?
• What tips do you have for hiring, retaining and firing employees?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES