After
graduating from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law with his Juris
Doctorate in 1976, Philip Sandler made the decision to open his own law
firm so that he could be in complete control of the direction his career
would take and the services that he could offer to clients. Opening a
law firm presents a range of challenges to the young attorney, so keep
the below in mind to stand the best chance of success.
Network Constantly
Your
firm will thrive on referrals, especially during the early years. As
such, you need to network constantly to ensure those in the profession
understand who you are and what you can provide to clients. Of course,
you also need to remember to give a little to receive these referrals,
so build working relationships with attorneys outside your field of
practice and refer potential clients to them.
Remember the Business Aspect
Running
your own law firm is about much more than offering quality advice and
representation to your clients, though this is certainly a major part of
it. You also need to understand that you are operating a business so
you treat your firm like one. Stay on top of the financial details and
make sure you pay attention to your administrative duties.
Location
Your
location will prove very important in your efforts. Opening your firm
where demand for your services is already being met by more established
firms may not be a good idea, so make sure you do your research and
choose a location where your services are needed.
Philip Sandler Attorney is an attorney with many years of experience.