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Courses/Law/Law Practice Management

What Law School Didn't Teach You: Starting Your Own Firm

From Virtual Offices to Technological Innovations and Compliance, Get Practical Tips on Starting and Running Your Own Law Practice

Created byToronto Lawyers Association
BeginnerUpdated Apr 9, 2023
What Law School Didn't Teach You: Starting Your Own Firm

What You'll Learn

check_circleExplore different approaches to setting up a solo or small law practice, including virtual offices, shared spaces, and home offices.
check_circleUnderstand how to maintain confidentiality and manage conflicts in shared or non-traditional office arrangements.
check_circleLearn about technological innovations for law practices, including cloud computing, VPNs, remote access, and automation tools.
check_circleGain insights into professionalism and compliance issues related to technology, data security, and trust fund management.

About This Course

Thinking about going out on your own, but don’t know where to start? From technology choices to deciding between office space and a virtual setup, there are countless decisions to make.

In today’s evolving legal services landscape, there are numerous options that break away from traditional ideas of what a law practice should look like.

But setting up a sole or small practice doesn’t have to be daunting! This program is designed to give you a solid foundation on where to start and what questions to ask.

Four different lawyers, with varying levels of seniority and different approaches to setting up their practices, share their real-world experiences in a roundtable discussion.

Session Topics:

Where to Work

(20 minutes: Confidentiality, Business of Law, Strategic Planning)

  • Virtual office, shared space, temporary space, home office
  • Dealing with confidentiality in different office arrangements
  • Managing conflicts in shared spaces

Technological Innovations

(20 minutes: Compliance, Professionalism, Technology in Law, Security of Information, Productivity and Efficiency)

  • Cloud computing and email
  • VPN and remote access
  • Legal software and automation
  • Moving towards a paperless practice
  • Payment systems and options

Discussion Points:

  • Expected professionalism and compliance in new tech environments
  • Law society guidance on tech use
  • Responsibilities in safeguarding client data
  • What banking and payment systems are permitted or restricted when handling trust funds

Compliance

(20 minutes: Confidentiality, Trust Funds, Conflicts, Relationship to Other Lawyers)

  • Bookkeeping
  • Trust account audits
  • Conflict management
  • Interactions and boundaries with other legal professionals

Business Generation

(5 minutes: Conflicts and Referral Fees)

  • Traditional vs. non-traditional methods
  • Using technology to attract clients
  • Managing referral fees and potential conflicts of interest

Your Instructor

Toronto Lawyers Association
Toronto Lawyers Association

Toronto Lawyers Association

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For more than 135 years, the Toronto Lawyers' Association, located within the Courthouse Library, has represented the interests of lawyers practising in the City of Toronto. The association was founded to support its members in three key areas: Knowledge, Advocacy, and Community.To uphold these pillars, the association offers a year-round mix of online and in-person education programs for lawyers, hosts both free and paid events to foster in-person networking, and submits advocacy pieces on behalf of its members to the Ontario bench and bar, all levels of government, and the broader public.

Credit Information

What Students Are Saying

4.0
Student's Choice
2 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 300+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 27 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.

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