CLE
Charity Anastasio
Charity Anastasio The American Immigration Lawyers Association
Starting a Law Practice and How To Enjoy It The Basic Building Blocks To Put You on the Right Foot
Overview AI Webinar Summary
Starting a Law Practice and How To Enjoy It: The Basic Building Blocks To Put You on the Right Foot

Starting a practice can be daunting. Get the basics and answer key questions here, with our experienced speaker, Charity Anastasio, who has been advising lawyers on such matters for a decade. Answer questions such as:

  • What are the “must haves” before taking clients?
  • How do I choose the right technology?
  • How to start on a shoestring budget?
  • Deciding between a physical and virtual office
  • How to actually enjoy it?

Topics covered include:
Law Firm Management Law Practice
Agenda:
  • Introduction
    • What are the “must haves” before taking clients?
    • How do I choose the right technology?
    • How to start on a shoestring budget?
    • Deciding between physical and virtual office
    • How to actually enjoy it?

  • Choosing a Business Entity
    • Sole Proprietorship
    • (Professional) LLP
    • (Professional) LLC
    • S-Corp
    • C-Corp

  • Insurance
    • Professional liability
    • Office
    • Health
    • Cybersecurity

  • Bank Accounts
    • Operating accounts
    • Trust accounts
    • What is your money and what isn’t

  • Marketing
    • Business cards
    • Website
    • LinkedIn

  • Hardware
    • Laptop
    • Phone
    • Scanner
    • Printer
    • Online fax service?

  • “Software”
    • Practice management
    • Accounting
    • Microsoft Office
    • Adobe Acrobat/PDF manipulator
    • Applications
    • Generative artificial intelligence

  • Cybersecurity Measures
    • Storage and backup
    • Encryption
    • Training
    • Insurance

  • Legal Research, Forms, and Templates
    • Fee agreement
    • Common deliverables
    • Form decision letter
    • Disengagement/nonengagement letter
    • Closing letter
    • Other common documents

  • Policies and Procedures
    • What are the rules of the firm?
    • How do you do the work?

  • Connection, Leadership Skills, and Hiring for Your Weaknesses

  • Physical v. Virtual Offices
    • Idea
    • Budget
    • Client base
    • Home office
    • Growth plans
    • Your personality

  • Questions & Answers
Duration of this webinar: 60 minutes
Originally broadcast: January 17, 2025 11:00 AM PT
Webinar Highlights

This webinar is divided into section summaries, which you can scan for key points and then dive into the sections that interest you the most.

Introduction and Speaker Background
Charity Anastasio, the speaker, has a background in law practice management and ethics counseling. She outlines the topics to be covered, including the "must haves" before taking on clients, technology choices, budget considerations, and practice enjoyment.
The Three Hats Concept
Charity discusses the 'three hats' concept, which outlines essential roles in a law practice. She explains the roles: the lawyer, the entrepreneur, and the operations manager, each crucial for business success. Charity emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's strengths and weaknesses in these roles to address blind spots. She advises on the necessity of having a clear business plan and understanding one's ideal client base.
Essential Business Foundations
Charity discusses the importance of identifying one's passion and client base when starting a law practice. She advises on the flexibility of business plans and the need to adapt if initial client targets do not materialize. Charity stresses the importance of separating personal and business finances through establishing a legal entity. She highlights the benefits of forming an LLC for liability protection and better tax treatment. Charity emphasizes the necessity of professional liability insurance, especially for new practitioners. She discusses the importance of cybersecurity insurance and the risks associated with cyber threats.
Financial and Marketing Essentials
Charity explains the need for separate operating and trust accounts for managing client funds. She outlines the requirements for maintaining records and reconciling trust accounts according to professional conduct rules. Charity stresses the importance of having a marketing plan, including basic elements like a website and LinkedIn page. She advises on the significance of online presence for credibility and client acquisition. Charity suggests leveraging free platforms like social media and blogs for marketing. She emphasizes the importance of understanding one's client base and tailoring marketing efforts accordingly.
Technology and Cybersecurity
Charity discusses the importance of technology in law practice, including hardware like laptops and scanners. She advises on the necessity of practice management software for efficient case and client management. Charity highlights the need for accounting software to manage finances and comply with trust account regulations. She discusses the benefits of using Microsoft Office or Google Workspace for document management and communication. Charity emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity measures, including two-factor authentication and data backups. She advises on the use of client portals for secure communication and the need for cybersecurity insurance.
Legal Research and Documentation
Charity discusses the importance of legal research tools and the availability of free resources through state bar associations. She emphasizes the necessity of having a fee agreement in place before taking on clients. Charity advises on the use of templates for common documents to streamline practice operations. She highlights the importance of disengagement and closing letters for clear communication with clients.
Operational Skills and Work-Life Balance
Charity emphasizes the importance of connection and mentorship to combat isolation in solo practice. She advises on developing leadership skills and the importance of delegation for efficient practice management. Charity discusses the significance of hiring for one's weaknesses and the benefits of a diverse workforce. She highlights the advantages of virtual offices and the considerations for choosing between virtual and physical spaces. Charity advises on the importance of work-life balance and setting personal boundaries in practice. She discusses the benefits of using AI for operational tasks and the importance of cybersecurity measures.

Please note this AI-generated summary provides a general overview of the webinar but may not capture all details, nuances, or the exact words of the speaker. For complete accuracy, please refer to the original webinar recording.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

*CLE credit is only available to Justia Connect Pros. Not a Pro? Upgrade today>>

California CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Earn Credit Until: June 30, 2026

South Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Difficulty: All Levels

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2025

North Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Earn Credit Until: February 28, 2026

Texas CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2025


This presentation is approved for one hour of General CLE credit in California, South Carolina (all levels), and North Carolina. This course has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE in the amount of 1.00 credit hours.

Justia only reports attendance in jurisdictions in which a particular Justia CLE Webinar is officially accredited. Lawyers may need to self-submit their certificates for CLE credit in jurisdictions not listed above.

Note that CLE credit, including partial credit, cannot be earned outside of the relevant accreditation period. To earn credit for a course, a lawyer must watch the entire course within the relevant accreditation period. Lawyers who have viewed a presentation multiple times may not be able to claim credit in their jurisdiction more than once. Justia reserves the right, at its discretion, to grant an attendee partial or no credit, in accordance with viewing duration and other methods of verifying course completion.

At this time, Justia only offers CLE courses officially accredited in certain states. Lawyers may generate a generic attendance certificate to self-submit credit in their own jurisdiction, but Justia does not guarantee that lawyers will receive their desired CLE credit through the self-submission or reciprocity process.

Looking for CLE credit? Visit CLE Dashboard CLE Accreditation
Speaker
Charity Anastasio
Charity Anastasio Practice and Ethics Counsel
The American Immigration Lawyers Association

Charity Anastasio is Practice and Ethics Counsel for the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Practice and Professionalism Center in Washington D.C. She received her JD from Seattle University School of Law in 2007 and opened a solo practice in 2008 focusing on estate planning, probate, and family law. In 2013 she joined the Washington State Bar Association’s Law Office Management Assistance Program. In 2015 she became the Director of Profession and Practice Advancement at the Maryland State Bar Association, where she oversaw Law Office Management Assistance and member benefits for a year and a half. In 2017 she joined AILA. Charity advises members on ethics and practice management issues through one-on-one consultations, publications, and presentations, and collaborates with several committees and interest groups. She is a member of the ABA Law Practice Division, was named an ABA 2020 Women in Legal Tech Honoree, and a 2024 V|Lex/Fastcase 50. Read More ›

Watch Related Videos
CLE
Cliff Ennico
Cliff Ennico Law Office of Clifford R. Ennico
Representing the Small Business Client
Watch Now
Neil Barrow
Neil Barrow EnabledBD
Business Development Foundations for B2B Law Firms
Watch Now