Start a New Firm: The Decision
Starting a new firm isn’t an easy task. It takes passion, commitment, and a whole new skill set. Joe Emmerth, a seasoned family law practitioner in the Chicago area, decided to take on this challenge. After spending 15 years practicing law, he felt the call to run his own business.
The Planning Phase to Start a New Firm
To start a new firm, meticulous planning is vital. Emmerth knew this and devised a comprehensive plan for branching out on his own. He investigated the tools and resources he would need, and then employed them to facilitate his new venture.
In this episode, he explains how he planned his move, and what tools he finds most essential in his new firm.
Show Notes
- Emmerth Divorce Law (Joe’s firm website)
- Clio (practice management software)
- Gravity Legal (payment processor)
- Core Solutions (legal accounting software)
- Kofax PDF software
- Zoom (video conference software)
- Andy Stickle’s YouTube channel (marketing tips)
- Maximum Lawyer Group
- Arrow Consultants YouTube Channel (North Carolina paralegal with great tips on using Microsoft 365 and other tech stuff)
- Microsoft Office 365
- Microsoft OneDrive (online file storage)
- Office 365 Planner
- DocuSign (e-signature software)
- Slack (virtual business collaboration software)
- Dragon Naturally Speaking
- Dropbox (online file storage)
- A Second Monitor (essential for modern knowledge workers)
- Google Chromebook (backup computer)
- Remarkable tablet (paperless tool)Joe Emmerth is a family law practitioner in the Chicago area who left the firm he joined out of law school to start his own firm. After 15 years of practice, he knew a lot about being a lawyer, but suddenly he had to make sure he knew enough about running his own law business.In this episode, he explains how he planned his move, and what tools he finds most essential in his new firm.
General Resources
- Check out my Inner Circle (to participate in ongoing discussions about tech tools I discuss and recommend)
- Check out this Law-Tech Assessment if you want specific recommendations for improving based on the technology you’re using in your practice
- Click for a list of the Best Tech Tools for Lawyers
- Subscribe to: The 80/20 Principle newsletter (it’s free)
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