How Do I Start My Own Law Firm?

How To Be Successful At Starting Your Own Law Practice

You’ve gone through the tremendous effort of law school, earned that feather in your cap, and passed the bar exam. Now you’ve decided to hang out your own shingle. It’s an exciting endeavor, but it can also be immensely overwhelming.

The business of law is much different from the practice of law. To be successful in starting your own law firm, you need to master both. Fortunately, there are resources to help you be successful.

At Dean Standish Perkins & Associates, we devote a significant portion of our practice to helping new lawyers succeed. Our attorneys know what it’s like to build a law practice from the ground up because we have done it ourselves. Now, we find joy and purpose in providing guideposts for new attorneys setting out on a similar path.

3 Key Things To Consider When Starting A Law Firm

If you’re envisioning starting your own law firm, here are three things to think about early on, before you go out and hang your shingle:

• What’s your niche? Gone are the days when lawyers can be “jacks of all trades,” handling any legal issue that comes through the door. In today’s competitive market, you need to set yourself apart. Start with your passions. What area of law excites you? What would get you up in the morning, looking forward to the day ahead?
• Who is your target clientele? Once you know your niche, consider who would be looking for your services and then think about how to reach those people. If you’re passionate about immigration law, for example, start brainstorming ways to connect with potential clients in the immigrant community. If you want to build a practice around helping small businesses, get engaged with local small business associations. The more you network and build connections in the relevant community, the more business will come your way.
• Who will you look to for support and guidance? We all need mentors, especially when embarking on such a significant undertaking as starting a new law firm. You will face numerous questions and concerns along the way. Our firm provides ongoing guidance for new law firms. We also offer an incubator program for recent graduates of the Seattle University School of Law who are starting their own practices.

These are just a few of the big-picture considerations to take into account. There are also countless practical and legal details to consider. Take a look at our free checklist for starting your own practice in Washington state to make sure you’re covering all of your bases. You can also check out our marketing tips.

Get Help And Guidance On Establishing Your Own Practice

We are here to support you during this exciting – and potentially intimidating – time. We are passionate about helping new lawyers find their niche, develop their vision, get off the ground, and soar.

To learn more about how we can help you with your dream of building a new practice, call our Issaquah office at (206) 467-0701 or send us an email.