Articles 2020

Today
Today

Growing As a Sole Practitioner – When to Hire Employees

  • January 22, 2021
  • Dan Fridmar, principal lawyer

In this article, the author shares the wisdom and experiences he has received from his mentors about five key factors to consider before hiring your first clerk, assistant, or associate.

Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Student Forum

Value of Employment Contracts for Solo and Small Firm Lawyers

  • January 22, 2021
  • Stuart Rudner, principal lawyer

Perhaps you are looking to hire your first associate or staff member, or perhaps you already have a team. Either way, contracts and policies are your best opportunity to improve your legal position, and the simple reality is that the vast majority of employment contracts are ineffective. As a fellow OBA member, we will gladly review your current employment agreement template, at no cost, and let you know if it needs to be updated.

Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Student Forum

Starting Out Solo

  • January 22, 2021
  • Erin O’Rourke, principal lawyer

The author talks about the challenges she faced in opening her practice straight out of articling and into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Student Forum

2020 - What a Year to Start a Practice

  • January 22, 2021
  • Ben Fulton, principal lawyer

This article takes a look at some of the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes being made, through the lens of a first year call grappling with issues of access to justice. What changes are being made? How can we make sure that these changes are promoting access to justice? What are the challenges involved in ensuring accommodation of disabilities at this time and in the future? Finally, how do we ensure that the changes we make now are both sustainable and accessible?

Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Student Forum

Just Started or Thinking About Starting Your Own Practice? Be prepared to weather the second wave of COVID without much government support

  • September 30, 2020
  • Anna Malazhavaya, Advotax Law

Recently created small businesses seem to be largely ignored by the current government grant rules as not worthy of the government’s support, either due to their perceived value to the economy, or due to potential for abuse, or other reasons. This policy needs to be carefully reviewed by the government, especially since the pandemic and the related economic turbulence is far from over.

Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Student Forum

Starting Your Own Practice: The ups and downs and everything in between

  • September 30, 2020
  • Annamaria Perruccio

While there is no handbook or a single best way to start your own practice, experience has taught Annamaria Perruccio a few things that law school and case law did not. Read on to learn how various points in her extra-law experiences have shaped her to be a great solo practitioner, and how these points may apply to you too.

Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Student Forum

The Struggle to Switch Practice Areas in Law and How Solo and Small Firm Lawyers Can Help

  • September 30, 2020
  • Erin C. Cowling

Erin Cowling provides her perspective on the unique opportunity for solo and small firm lawyers to assist newly called lawyers looking to switch practice areas. Read on to find out her experience and her take on how solo and small firm lawyers can give these lawyers a chance.

Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Student Forum

Hanging your Shingle as a Newly Minted Attorney: Five Lessons Learned in my First Year of Sole Practice

  • September 30, 2020
  • Rocco G. Scocco

Rocco G. Scocco offers readers his personal “Top Five Lessons” learned in his first year of sole practice as a freshly minted lawyer. If you are seeking advice about whether sole practice is right for you, the only ones who can give that advice are other lawyers who have done it themselves. Most importantly, the only person who can know if it is the right choice is you.

Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Student Forum

The Importance of Cyber Insurance for Law Firms

  • May 22, 2020
  • Christopher Masaki, MBA, development underwriter at Boxx Insurance Inc.

It’s not a matter of if, but when. Technology continues to develop in ways that are both amazing and alarming and allow us to connect in ways we would have previously considered unimaginable. With increased technological advancement and reliance, however, comes increased opportunities for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities and access hoards of sensitive personal and corporate data, which means increased cyber risks for more and more organizations.

Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Insurance Law, Student Forum

Running Your Law Practice Like a Well-Oiled Machine

  • March 03, 2020
  • Karl Kremer, business coach at The Peak Potential

A law practice is a business and needs to be treated like one. The great lawyers that are running them need to learn to be great business owners. Here are five steps to help you get your practice running like a well-oiled and profitable business.

Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Student Forum