Jan. 5, 2014 – Whether you are a new graduate trying to hang a shingle, a new law firm owner with an established book of business, or a manager of an established law firm, understanding basic business principles is a must if you want to be competitive in today’s legal market.
Starting on Jan. 20, 2015, State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE will host six, one-hour lunchtime “roundtables” for law firm owners and managers on the third Tuesday of each month at the State Bar Center in Madison.
This series is part of PINNACLE’s ongoing Business School for Lawyers (BSL), which focuses on giving lawyers the business tools they need to run successful law practices.
At each “Roundtable Series,” a panel of experts will discuss various topics relating to the business-side of law practice, including entrepreneurship, business plans, operations, financial management, marketing, human resources, and ethics. In-person attendees will have an hour post-panel to consult with panelists and other attendees, and those attending via live webcast can submit questions electronically while the roundtable is in progress.
Think Like an Entrepreneur
Law school prepares lawyers to practice law, but many lawyers find themselves called upon to help run the law firm as a solo practitioner or as part of the legal team working to improve efficiency, increase profits, and grow the enterprise.
Business School for Lawyers Roundtable Series: Upcoming Topics and Dates
Entrepreneurship (Jan. 20, 2015) – In this session, panelists will discuss what it means to be an entrepreneur and how being an entrepreneurial lawyer can help you embrace emerging opportunities. In-person and live webcast, with webcast replays Feb. 6, Feb. 16, Feb. 24, March 4.
Business Plans (Feb. 17, 2015) – In this session, panelists will discuss the importance of having a business plan, the elements of a useful plan, and how to find the resources to help you create, evaluate and adapt your plan to changing needs. In-person and live webcast, with webcast replays Feb. 27, March 5, March 13, and March 31.
While business students are trained to think expansively and creatively to generate revenue, lawyers are trained to think about risk management, which often restricts the business-minded decisions needed to grow the business. In addition, lawyers have unique ethical duties and obligations to consider.
The BSL initiative teaches lawyers to be more business-minded with careful attention to the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys.
Since the BSL launched in mid-2014, more than 300 lawyers have benefitted from experts, including business coaches and other solo and small firm lawyers, who deliver in-depth advice on various law firm business aspects.
The roundtables will cover business topics in greater detail, with the added benefit of one-on-one consultations and networking opportunities. The sessions will lead up to full-day BSL sessions, planned for August and September.
What does it cost? State Bar members pay $79 for each one-hour session.
What if I cannot attend in-person? All roundtables will be live webcasted, and each session will be available on selected dates via webcast replay. Check the BSL Roundtable web page for scheduling information.
How do I register? Go to the BSL Roundtable web page to see what’s available. Links will take you to online registration, and the page will be updated as more sessions open for registration.
