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

cari@rinckerlaw.com

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

hyork@immigrationlawnj.com

DANIEL GERSHBURG, ESQ.

Gershburg Law, P.C.

85 Broad Street, 18th Floor

New York, NY 10004

(212) 390-8866

Daniel@danielgershburg.com

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