For both the law student and young lawyer, this guide provides an introduction to the basics of working in a law firm. It discusses how a lawyer can get around within the firm to succeed in law firm practice.

Softbound - New, softbound print book.

What separates this manual and textbook from others in the field of law practice management is the experiential component. The course takes students step-by-step through the process of opening their own law firm. The textbook incorporates breakout boxes with experiences from the authors' own law practices to illustrate points in the text. The book's appendix includes a comprehensive collection of sample forms that law school clinics and new attorneys can use as a reference for the various types of cases that they may be called on to handle. And, finally, the new edition of this book includes an exploration of the issues involved in deciding whether or not to open a virtual office. The teacher's manual lays out exercises in detail, week by week, for the entire process of opening a law firm. It also features simulations, class discussions, and written reflections to give students the experience of handling the kinds of dilemmas, struggles, and emotionally charged situations that are common when starting and running solo and small-firm practices.

This work is intended to be used by practitioners, law students, and others as an overview of fundamental law practice management issues, including the marketplace for legal services, forms of law firm organization, management of human resources, setting up and operating a law office, financial planning, and law office systems. It builds upon the theme that practice management skills are critical to competent practice, in that they give lawyers the tools necessary not only to achieve success, but also to avoid professional failure.