Before I ever went to work for a bar association, I was involved with three types of bar activities: 1) My local hometown bar association, The Cleveland County Bar; 2) The Oklahoma Bar Family Law Section and 3) The Oklahoma Bar Association Annual Meeting, which takes place this week. (Info here.) I think beginning lawyers
Starting a law practice
A Father’s Advice on How to Succeed as a Lawyer
By Jim Calloway on
Over 40 years ago, a Texas lawyer wrote a letter to his son about how to succeed as a lawyer. The advice is still inspirational today. I read it long ago, but Richardson, Texas attorney Mike Koenecke posted it to Solosez yesterday and I wanted to pass it along to those of you who…
Site of the Week: GPSolo’s Resources for Starting a Practice
By Jim Calloway on
Starting a law practice is a challenge many lawyers accept each year. But, for many, all that is associated with running a business in addition to doing the legal work for clients can prove intially demanding. This is particularly true for those fresh out of law school or those leaving a large firm where most…
The Lawyer’s Bank Accounts
By Jim Calloway on
The Lawyer’s Bank Accounts is the topic of my article in this month’s Oklahoma Bar Journal. It is a brief overview and may be particularly valuable to the new lawyer setting up a law practice. There are links to other resources about bank accounts for lawyers, including a recent article by Dan Pinnington on…
The Initial Client Interview
By Jim Calloway on
"In many ways for lawyers the initial client interview is like a first date. You do not know each other that well and hope to get better acquainted. There is often a bit of tension or wariness. There are lots of unanswered (and unasked) questions, and it may have its awkward moments. But both of…
Advice to a Law Student About Opening a Law Practice
By Jim Calloway on
When should I begin serious planning about starting my own law practice?
Well, even if you are still in law school, the answer is sooner rather than later. While you can certainly “hang out a shingle” without much planning, your chances for success will be greatly improved if you have a business plan, a marketing …
Site of the Week: The Ten Minute Mentor
By Jim Calloway on
"Imagine if, at the click of a mouse, young lawyers could receive mentoring from some of the legal profession’s most highly regarded practitioners." That’s how Bob Ambrogi opened his post about The Ten Minute Mentor yesterday. Yes, this idea is not only a reality, but an extraordinarily well-executed reality recently launched by the Texas Young…
Twelve Ways Technology Can Make You a Better Trial Lawyer
By Jim Calloway on
Today "Twelve Ways Technology Can Make You a Better Trial Lawyer" was posted to Notes from the Legal Underground by David Swanner. It is, in my judgment, a "must read" for all lawyers, even those who never see the inside of a courtroom. Read it once. Read it twice. Add it to your…