Someone must mention the idea

[Wild Jack Maverick]

DL law students forming their own law firms?


Benefits:

Avoid the hassle of firms who don't accept DL law degrees
Feel accepted and understood by peers.
Share knowledge, areas of specialty, experience with co-lawyers.
Share expenses--rent, utilities, electronic services, etc
Lower rates for group insurance, retirement plans, etc.


Other things to consider:

entrepreneural ability?
accounting and bookkeeping ability?
office management?
marketing--advertising and publicity
liability--cost of malpractice insurance

any other good ideas?


 

[nate]

why not just attend a real law school?

[Wild Jack Maverick]

why not just attend a real law school?

Hey, great idea. I might use that in my personal statement.

[chaser]

I think it's a great idea and am talking to two other students about it.

I feel you didn't mention three important advantages:

1) Split office cost
2) Split advertising cost
3) Split malpractice insurance.

[chaser]

Oh, wait, you sorta mentioned a couple of them--I don't think the "advertising" one, though.

DL students will probably gravitate to PERSONAL INJURY and BANKRUPTCY (I would assume) and maybe IMMIGRATION.

(Secondary fields might be LIGHT CRIMINAL (i.e., DUI, etc.) and PER DIEM WORK for other firms [show up in court when the other attorney doesn't want to and "plead" something.)

These fields aren't really BIG-FIRM CENTERED, or SCHOOL-DRIVEN--the downside is that they require a lot of advertising expenditure (or "networking driven" in the case of per diem, but when you have 3 guys you presumably have 3 times as many "contacts.")

[Nontradstudent]

Though I plan to work in Public Interest law, I think you have a great idea.  If you are successful and the firm grows, you could even offer internships and clerkships to DL students.  Best of luck!!!!

[Wild Jack Maverick]

I think it's a great idea and am talking to two other students about it.

The best idea is to start networking with other DL law students while in school. There are enough of them to form some very large firms, and certainly enough for that competitive edge...

[duckasourus]

wow your malpractice insurance is going to be through the roof, well if any of you can actually pass the bar.