Dennis Donahue III, an Olivette intellectual property attorney, works out of a home office in his basement. He hung out his own shingle in September, after a decade at Husch Blackwell Sanders. “Ten years ago, I definitely would not have ...
Read More »MONEY MATTERS
Stephen Bough, a solo practitioner in Kansas City, recalls when a friend was weighing the move to solo practice. “He came up with two budgets: the ‘we’re great’ budget and the ‘we suck’ budget,” says Bough, a personal injury attorney. ...
Read More »LONE GUN
This issue of Practice, Practice focuses on how to launch a solo practice. Going solo is not for the faint of heart. And it's certainly not something to jump into on a whim.
Read More »The business of law
For this issue of Practice, Practice, we asked legal management consultant John Olmstead, president of Olmstead & Associates in St. Louis: What percent of its revenue should a law firm spend on payroll and benefits? 17%-25% Solo lawyer (no ...
Read More »Small perks make big difference
Q: If a small law firm doesn’t have much money to spend on perks for its attorneys or other employees, what is something inexpensive and ongoing it can do to make everyone feel appreciated? Linda Oligschlaeger, membership services director for ...
Read More »All those files take up space
As firms look for ways to cut expenses, file storage is an issue in search of a cost-effective solution. Of course, the simplest option may also be the most obvious. “If you’re a firm just starting out and you’ve got ...
Read More »It isn’t always easy leasing green
With “green” issues rapidly coming to the forefront in commercial and residential development, a whole new array of challenges – and costs – are working their way into leasing agreements. “Anytime you are dealing with a sustainable project, a sustainable ...
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Read More »Open doors to better lease deals
As any law firm leader knows, the biggest overhead costs boil down to two things: peo ple and space. People decisions are painful decisions. So, for many, negotiating a smart deal on a lease can be the preferred option for ...
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Read More »Good walls make good neighbors
In a recessionary economy, office sharing can be a boon to any law firm’s bottom line. But hazards lurk for lawyers who fail to heed common-sense tips to avoid ethical dilemmas. “It can be a very positive arrangement, but ethically ...
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Read More »Succession planning helps firms survive
Ben Keller remembers an experience at a law firm years ago: Two longtime associates glimpsed a senior partner lunching with one of his most important clients — and the partner’s son, whom the partner had just brought into the firm. ...
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Read More »Mentor talent to find next generation of leaders
Knowledge may be difficult to acquire, but one goal presents an even greater challenge to an organization — passing it on. A law firm’s mentoring program can affect the talent pool from which successive generations of leaders can emerge. “At ...
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