Starting a Law Firm | The Conference Room Conundrum

I guess this blog is supposed to have some day to day type of stuff in here, so that's what this post will be about.

As I've already written, I'm in the process of relocating my office. I found a great space - here are some pictures (a before view - I'll show you an after view after I move in) - but I've hit a bit of a snag with the landlord.









As you can see, the way it is set up is completely open. I like this. But I wanted to have a space where I can have some privacy if necessary - for new client meetings, interviews, and the like. This space doesn't have that, so I was going to build it out. But I want a look like this. It's open, allows the light to get all the way to the back of the office, and leaves the office with that big, open feeling.



The only problem with that is that option is expensive. Like $20,000 expensive. Not worth the investment. Not at all. So I started looking for other options, and I found this as an acceptable alternative. Not exactly the same but very close. Doable. I actually don't have a cost on this yet, but am bidding it out as we speak.



The landlord understood what I wanted and agreed to give me a credit for what they would have built - a boring, closed in conference room with windows. I thought they'd give me about $1,500 because that is what it cost. I get the lease and you know what the allotment is? $400. You have got to be kidding me.

I call the realtor (the guy working for me) and tell him the landlord is crazy if he thinks $400 would put that wall up. Come to find out the guy only included the expenses (and it's still not enough). He didn't include labor because he's got guys that do it in house.

I like this space, and I don't want to look anymore (this is pure laziness, by the way), so I'm trying to come up with an option that works for everyone. I figure if he gives me a free months rent (app $900) we'll just call it good. I'll build out the conference room how I want and that will be that.

What do you all think about this? Any suggestions?

Bookeeper on the Payroll

My "team" will be nearly complete after this afternoon. I've now got a realtor, an accountant, and now I'm adding a bookkeeper to the mix. I'm doing this for two reasons. First, I'm putting Kelsey on the payroll and I don't want to figure out how to do it. Kind of one of those "my time is more valuable than that" things. Second, I'm hiring a summer law clerk. I can get reimbursed for some of the cost of that through their law school, but I've got to have them on the payroll. And third, it's only going to run me about $100/month, well worth the cost.

It seems like right now the law firm expenses are really piling up. But as you become more and more successful you'll see that things get more and more complicated. Paying an accountant and a bookkeeper a little every month, moving into an office that suits my needs completely, and hiring a law clerk are all costs that add up. But each one of those expenses frees up more of my time and energy to bring in even more work. One new client a month (total, not for each) still pays for more than those expenses combined. That means I'm making money by adding to my team.

RJon Phone Call Update

I wanted to bring your attention to this comment I received this week about RJon, my business coach. I think it's really important that you try to find someone like this to help you through that side of starting a law firm (even if you don't use him). Here's what Angela had to say:

Hi Chris,

I chanced upon your blog a while back after googling "how to start a law firm" or something similar. I read your information on RJON, looked at his website, contacted him from various forums and this Monday participated in the free intro call. It was a very inspiring and clarifying 40 minutes. I can recommend that anyone should take him up on his free call, its free and really not that much of a time investment.

I hope to participate in his program but you are right- it is expensive. I'd love to call you to ask in more detail how the program worked for you.

angela

I don't want to sound like I'm pushing you all too hard to RJon, because like I said, I don't care if you use him or find someone else to help you, but finding someone to coach you through this business stuff could be the difference between success and failure for you. It's not as straightforward as it seems, and there are some things that you can do to really make your practice take off at the earliest time possible.

Have a great weekend. Let me know if you have any questions, and I'll talk to you next week.