If you have some experience in a particular area this may be a fairly easy decision. Depending on the work available (and never, ever let the fact that you are a small firm keep you from exploring a particular practice area) and your feelings toward the practice area you may just want to keep on doing what you are doing.
For example, I am leaving a government job doing eminent domain law, real estate transactions and advising, and some general day to day advising. I love the work that I do, so I am going to pursue these three areas as my primary practice area. I may do something else from time to time for friends or something, but I will not be taking a call in case if it does not fit within my practice area.
Update - 10/7/09: I have decided to do something else, since the market, and people losing their property to the government, didn't need me (or I couldn't find them). So, now you are reading a blog from a Seattle DUI defense lawyer.
There are benefits and drawbacks to each decision. As you've just heard, I will be turning potential clients away at my new law firm if they do not need the criminal defense and DUI defense services I am offering. This is definitely a drawback.
On the other hand, however, it can also be a benefit with the potential to make some easy money. As you get out into the world, you will meet other attorney's that practice in other areas. So long as you trust them to do a good job, and your local ethical rules allow it, it is beneficial to both of you to form attorney referral relationship.
A benefit of specializing is that it is much easier to become known in the community as an expert. Experts almost always make more money in the long run. As you work in a particular area your name will become more well known, and assuming you do a good job, people will start to come to you for specific work. Being recognized as someone who knows what they are doing commands more money, plain and simple. For example, in a couple of years I should be able to build myself up as one of the better DUI defense attorneys in Seattle, maximizing my appealability to people with those specific problems.
Whatever you decide to do, the great thing is, when starting a law firm, if the path you've chosen isn't working, you can just change it. If you start out as a general practitioner and end up finding an area of the law that you love, just start focusing on that. If you start your law firm as a specialist and decide you don't like it, just start taking other clients.
I think in the end your new law firm will thrive and get more clients by specializing in something. But it can come naturally. You'd be surprised at the opportunities that will walk in your door. You just have to have the foresight to take advantage of them!
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Starting a Law Firm | Office Space
Starting a Law Firm | Goals and Objectives
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