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LAW-2945 Business of Practice: Hit the Ground Running
Mr. Andrew Garcia,
2 credits day; 2 credits evening.
Students using this course to fulfill the experiential learning requirement may not also use this
same course to meet the legal writing requirement.
For decades lawyers at local courthouses have sat around complaining to each other about topics
such as: How do I get more clients? What do I do with this problem secretary? How do I make
more money? The common refrain has always been, “why didn’t they teach me that in law
school?” In this course, Suffolk intends to solve that problem.
The practice of law is a noble profession and a necessary component of any advanced society.
But, in the modern world, a law firm must be viewed as a business like any other business. So, it
should take in more than it spends, reward its principals for their risks and investment, attract
more of the “right” clients to help it grow, and provide high quality and valuable services.
This practical course covers the development and management of a small law business in today’s
ever-changing economy and is taught by a small law business owner who has lived through the
ups and downs (and the major mistakes) of almost 20 years of running a law business.
The course will consist of lectures, including various guest speakers, text and relevant practice
management article assignments and various weekly projects that, taken as a whole, will
constitute a comprehensive plan for starting a law practice. WARNING: the course is centered
around projects performed by “class law firms” (i.e., group projects) consisting of 2 – 4 students.
If you do not enjoy working in a group setting, then this course may not be for you.
Ultimately successful students will leave the course with a “law business in a box” consisting of
a business plan, an ethical marketing plan and some innovative ideas that will allow them to “hit
the ground running” when they are ready to hang up their shingle.
Elective Course
Meets Skills Menu Requirement
Meets Legal Technology and Innovation Concentration Requirements
Meets Experiential Learning Requirement
<<Course Updated: April 06, 2016>>