Going Solo

CHAPTER 1

§ SHOULD I GO SOLO?

§ AM I SELF-RELIANT AND SELF-CONTAINED?

§ DO I ENJOY HANDLING ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS?

§ DO I HAVE GOOD “STREET SMARTS” AND COMMON SENSE?

§ CAN I SELL MYSELF?

§ DO I HAVE PATIENCE, PERSEVERANCE AND A HIGH TOLERANCE FOR RISK?

SETTING UP

CHAPTER 2

§ WHAT FORM SHOULD MY BUSINESS BE?

§ STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

§ INSURANCE

§ SOLE PRACTITIONER: SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP VS. PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

§ BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS: PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION VS. PARTNERSHIP

CHAPTER 3

§ WHERE SHOULD I SET UP SHOP?

§ COSTS

§ SUBLEASING

§ NATURE OF PRACTICE AND LOCATION

§ AMENITIES

CHAPTER 4

§ FINANCING MY BUSINESS

§ PROJECTING REVENUE

§ COLLECTIONS

§ EXPENSES

§ CALCULATING CASH FLOW

§ SECURING THE CAPITAL

§ BUDGETING

§ ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE

CHAPTER 5

§ SETTING UP YOUR BOOKS

§ TIME & BILLING SYSTEM

§ GENERAL LEDGER SYSTEM

§ RECORDING TRANSACTIONS

§ BASIC BOOKS, RECORDS AND PROGRAMS

Client Ledger (Time & Billing)

Cash Receipts and Disbursements (Time & Billing and General Ledger)

Trust Account Cash Receipts and Disbursements (Time & Billing)

Chargeable Time System (Time & Billing)

Invoice Ledger (Time & Billing)

General Ledger

§ LAW OFFICE ACCOUNTING OPERATION

Contribution of Capital

Payment of Office Rent

Client Engagement

Retainer

Work Performed

Costs Advances

Preparation of Invoice

Receipt of Payment

CHAPTER 6

§ INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR SOLO PRACTITIONERS

§ THE BASICS

§ TIME, BILLING AND ACCOUNTING

§ PERSONAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

§ AUTOMATED RESEARCH

§ PROTECTING YOUR DATA

§ BEYOND THE BASICS

§ MEETING YOUR NEEDS

§ CONCLUSION

CHAPTER 7

§ EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY CHECKLIST

§ FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT

§ SUPPLIES

CHAPTER 8

§ WHAT ABOUT MALPRACTICE INSURANCE?

§ SELECTING AN AGENT

§ PICKING A CARRIER

§ SCOPE OF COVERAGE

§ LIMITS AND DEDUCTIBLES

§ LOSS PREVENTION COUNSELING

§ COST OF COVERAGE

Area of Practice

Size of Firm

Claims History

Prior Acts coverage

§ CONCLUSION

OFFICE POLICIES

CHAPTER 9

§ PRACTICAL RECRUITING 65

§ DETERMINING MY STAFFING NEEDS

§ ADVERTISING/HELP WANTED

§ RECRUITING/EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES

§ REVIEWING THE RESUME AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND LOOK OUT FOR

§ CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW

§ TESTING

§ REFERENCE CHECKING

§ SALARY AND EMPLOYMENT OFFER

§ OTHER ALTERNATIVES

CHAPTER 10

§ BASIC EMPLOYMENT ISSUES

§ HIRING OF EMPLOYEES

§ REQUIRED BENEFITS UNDER MARYLAND LAW

Health Care

Workers Compensation

Unemployment Insurance

Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMCA)

§ SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY

§ IMMIGRATION REFORM AND CONTROL ACT

§ WAGES AND HOURS OF EMPLOYEES

§ OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

§ POSTING OF NOTICES

§ CONCLUSION

CHAPTER 11

§ OFFICE POLICIES

§ TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

§ REGULAR WORKING HOURS

§ COMPENSATION

§ STATUTORY BENEFITS

§ HOLIDAYS

§ VACATION POLICY

§ SICK DAYS

§ OFFICE SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

§ ATTIRE

§ SMOKING

§ OTHER ITEMS

§ ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS

CHAPTER 12

§ HOW DO I GET AND KEEP CLIENTS?

§ THE BASICS

§ CLIENT SERVICE

§ POSITIVE NAME RECOGNITION

§ NETWORKING

§ ADVERTISING

§ CONCLUSION

CHAPTER 13

§ HOW DO I ORGANIZE MY WORK?

§ TYPES OF CALENDARING SYSTEMS

§ FILE ORGANIZATION

§ ORGANIZING WORK IN SEQUENCE

§ USE YOUR SYSTEM

CHAPTER 14

§ THE BOTTOM LINE: HOW DO I COLLECT MY FEES

§ THE RETAINER AGREEMENT

The Identity of the Client

The Scope of the Work

The Fees That Will Be Charged

Clients Are Usually Billed In One of Four Ways

Who Performs the Services

Payment of Costs

Retainer Deposit

Frequency of Billings

Responsibility for Payment

Terms of Payment

Termination of the Services

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts

§ BILLING THE CLIENT

§ COLLECTING YOUR BILLS

§ TERMINATION OF THE REPRESENTATION

§ CONCLUSION

CHAPTER 15

§ WHAT ABOUT MY VACATION?

§ PLAN AHEAD

§ KEEP UP TO DATE

§ HANDLING MATTERS BY TELEPHONE WHILE ON VACATION

§ TEMPORARY SUBSTITUTE COUNSEL

§ CONCLUSION

CHAPTER 16

§ DO THE RIGHT THING!

§ HOW DO I AVOID NEGLECT OF CLIENT MATTERS?

§ WHAT IF I NEED HELP IN A CASE?

§ WHAT ARE GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICES?

§ HOW DO I AVOID CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

§ WHAT IS FALSE AND MISLEADING ADVERTISING?

§ WHEN (AND HOW) IS WITHDRAWAL FROM REPRESENTATION APPROPRIATE?

§ TIPS FROM THE ETHICS COMMITTEE

CHAPTER 17

§ PRACTICE RESOURCES

§ MARYLAND STATE BAR ASSOCIATION (MSBA)

§ LAW OFFICE MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATOR (LOMA)