Starting a Practice 

 Starting a Law Practice Kit and Checklist 

Tips

Law Practice Management Tips
Smart Soloing Center

Articles and Websites

•  Mirror Time Before Starting a New Firm or Joining Another
• New Meaning for Working "In-House": In-Your-Home Law Practice
• Looking for Mr. (or Ms.) Right: How To Choose A Law Partner
• Office Sharing Article and Checklist
• Writing a Business Plan
• The Lawyer's Guide to Creating a Business Plan: A Step-by-Step Software Package (available through LPM Lending Library)
• Should Lawyers Fresh Out of Law School Start Their Own Practice? (Podcast)
• Smart Soloing Center 
  Hanging a Shingle: How to Start Your Own Practice 
  How Much Does it Cost to Start a New Solo Practice?

Choice of Entity

An Accountant's View: Financial Trends that Affect Law Firms

Do you need to contact The Missouri Bar if you're forming a law firm organized as a PC, LLC, LLP?

If forming a Professional Corporation, you will need to send the name of the proposed professional corporation to the Clerk of the Supreme Court along with the names of the proposed lawyer-shareholders plus a $5.00 fee for each shareholder. The Court will send you a Statement of Good Standing for each of the shareholders that will need to accompany your Articles of Incorporation that will be filed with the Secretary of State's Office. Write to: Clerk of the Supreme Court, P.O. Box 150, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0150.

If forming a sole proprietorship, LLC or LLP, the above is not required.

ClientKeeper

A collection of sample forms to help you communicate with your clients to form lasting relationships and develop satisfied clients

ClientKeeper (Word)
ClientKeeper (PDF)

Resources on Starting a Law Practice

Available through the LPM Lending Library:

How to Start & Build a Law Practice
Flying Solo
Running a Law Practice on a Shoestring
 Minding Your Own Business: The Solo and Small Firm Lawyer's Guide to a Profitable Practice

IOLTA Forms

All licensed attorneys must certify compliance with Supreme Court Rule 4-1.15 relating to trust accounts. Each attorney must provide information about the trust account(s) they use, or certify a valid exemption for not maintaining a trust account. www.moiolta.org

Forms
Eligible Financial Institutions

Law Firm Partnership Agreements

Available Resources from the LPM Lending Library:

Law Partnership: It's Rights and Responsibilities
Law Firm Partnership Agreements
Law Firm Partnerhship Revisited

Professional Liability Insurance

Endorsed by The Missouri Bar - The Bar Plan

Insurance Programs

Why Should I Buy Professional Liability Insurance?

Credit Card Processing for Attorneys

LawPay: Credit Card Processing for Attorneys. Trust your transactions to the only payment solution suggested by over 50 bar associations. Correctly safeguard and separate client funds into trust and operating accounts. Funds are never commingled. The ability to accept credit cards attracts clients, improves cash flow and reduces collections. Plus, members will save up to 25% off their credit card processing fees. If you are considering accepting credit cards or want to confirm that you are processing credit card transactions correctly, call 866-376-0950 or visit LawPay Credit Card Processing.  

Trust Fund Handbook

A practical guide for setting up your trust account and making trust account decisions.

Lawyer Trust Account Handbook (PDF)
Lawyer Trust Account Handbook (Word)

Working with Virtual Assistants

Working with a Virtual Assistant: What Lawyers and Administrators Should Know by Andrea Cannavina
Ruby Receptionist

Missouri Bar Solo and Small Firm Committee and the active listserv, sfig

Solo and Small Firm Committee

The sfig listserv (Small Firm Internet Group) is the very active listserv of the Solo and Small Firm Committee. Committee members share information, help to answer questions, and network for referrals.
What you need to know about SFIG

To join, click here, select Committees and Listserv.

Free Online Legal Research

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