1. Law Practice Management Class #2 -The Law Office and Technology 1 (Office Space, Location, Facilities Planning, Equipment)

2. Locating your law office Geographic considerations

3. Growth Areas Sunbelt v Rustbelt?

4. Probably not a growth area

5. Ratio of population to lawyers 300 to 1 (.36% of total U.S. population) “Lawyers are the only profession where the more there are, the more are needed!” -- Robert Lucky

6. Access to court house 40% of legal fees generated by litigation

7. Demographic data Private firms (pay)Private firms (pay) –Demographics Now Demographics NowDemographics Now Reports 1, 2, and 3123

8. State, County and City Quick Facts State, County and City Quick Facts Fact Sheet for a Community Fact Sheet for a Community Gulfport, FL Data

9. Beyond $$$

10. Juggling three balls One goes up, other two come down MoneyMoney Quality of professional lifeQuality of professional life Quality of personal lifeQuality of personal life

11. Choosing a Neighborhood and Building

12. Look for deferred maintenance problems

13. How to find space

14. How much space?

15. Office design is important

16. Acceptable Furniture Also Important

17. Getting most for money Without Settling for a (Very Fancy) Cardboard Box

18. Lease negotiation considerations

19. What type of office setting

20. Law or Executive Suite May be best choice for new lawyer Like This One in South Tampa (Hyde Park)

21. Advantages of law suite

22. Disadvantages of law suite Incompatible practice mix with other lawyers in suiteIncompatible practice mix with other lawyers in suite Risk of malpractice liability for acts of others in suiteRisk of malpractice liability for acts of others in suite –Clients don’t always understand that lawyers in same suite are not same firm –Need clause in fee agreement making this clear Lack of personal attention to clients by receptionistLack of personal attention to clients by receptionist Limited storage for closed filesLimited storage for closed files

23. Local Suite Examples New Urban Suites – Ybor CityNew Urban Suites – Ybor CityNew Urban Suites – Ybor CityNew Urban Suites – Ybor City The Centers of WestshoreThe Centers of WestshoreThe Centers of WestshoreThe Centers of Westshore

24. Practicing from home Most lawyers have an “office” at home for night/weekend workMost lawyers have an “office” at home for night/weekend work Few lawyers practice primarily from home, but number is growingFew lawyers practice primarily from home, but number is growingbut number is growingbut number is growing Cheap but reliable technology makes home- based practice viableCheap but reliable technology makes home- based practice viable Success depends on type of practiceSuccess depends on type of practice –May not work with practice that requires extensive client contact –May be ideal for more solitary types of practice, such as appellate work

25. Suggestions for home-based lawyers Rent a Virtual Office, Example 1 and 2, RatesRent a Virtual Office, Example 1 and 2, Rates12Rates12Rates Meet clients at their offices or borrow a conference room from another lawyerMeet clients at their offices or borrow a conference room from another lawyer Offer to pay small monthly amount to nearby firm for conference room accessOffer to pay small monthly amount to nearby firm for conference room access Have separate business and personal telephone lines, email addresses, etc.Have separate business and personal telephone lines, email addresses, etc. Use an answering service or virtual assistant when you are not available or forward calls to cell phoneUse an answering service or virtual assistant when you are not available or forward calls to cell phoneanswering servicevirtual assistantanswering servicevirtual assistant

26. What About Mail???? Use mail drop or P.O. Box address if home address is obviously residential.Use mail drop or P.O. Box address if home address is obviously residential. Use a receive and scan (aka digital) mail serviceUse a receive and scan (aka digital) mail service –Earth Class Mail Earth Class MailEarth Class Mail DemoDemoDemo –Zumbox Zumbox –Traveling Mailbox Traveling MailboxTraveling Mailbox –Outbox Outbox

27. If you meet with clients at home Sound proof home officeSound proof home office Add law books (even if out of date) to give more serious professional appearanceAdd law books (even if out of date) to give more serious professional appearance Separate entrance for clientsSeparate entrance for clients Separate restroom for clientsSeparate restroom for clients

28. This probably isn’t appropriate

29. Problem What location and type of office will you select for your new law practice? Why?