Starting a law firm in Ontario is both daunting and exhilarating. There are a myriad of decisions, both large and small. More lawyers are starting their firms through a range of business arrangements such as the fully autonomous firms, acting as an agent for other firms, or joining rosters of freelance lawyers.
Establishing a practice requires a clear business plan, understanding start-up costs, and obtaining necessary resources such as practice management software and legal insurance. The Law Society of Ontario imposes many compliance obligations on solo practitioners including a mandatory course for new sole practitioners starting in 2025.
Building a client base through networking, referrals, and marketing are crucial skills not taught in law school. And while there is a wealth of material on starting a law firm, it can be overwhelming and challenging to navigate.
Fortunately, the lawyers on the solo and sole practitioner section of the Ontario Bar Association have put together these resources in a single easy-to-read document. We’ve updated a previous Law Society guide and provided additional links to mental health resources and financial management support for lawyers.
Key Insights
- Various business models exist for law firms, including autonomous practices and collaborative arrangements with other lawyers or firms.
- Start-up costs can be substantial, including practice management software, legal insurance, and office expenses.
- The Law Society mandates a practice essentials course for new sole practitioners starting in 2025, emphasizing the importance of foundational knowledge.
- The importance of networking and marketing for client acquisition and building a sustainable practice in a competitive environment.
- Mental health resources available to lawyers, underscoring the importance of well-being in the legal profession.
About the Author
Rajen Akalu is an associate professor in the Faculty of Business and IT at Ontario Technology University in Oshawa. He is also the founder of the Akalu Law Professional Corporation www.akalulaw.com, a law firm that provides legal services to individual and corporate clients on issues relating to information privacy law and cybersecurity. His research interests as well as law firm practice areas relate to information privacy law and artificial intelligence.
In 2014 he completed his Ph.D. at Delft Technical University (TU Delft), The Netherlands on the regulation of wireless technology. Rajen holds a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of East London.
Rajen was called to the Bar in New York State in 2002 and Ontario in 2019. He is a member of the Ontario Bar Association and an Executive member of Privacy and Access section
Rajen previously worked at the Center for Information Communication Technologies, Denmark Technical University and the Centre for Innovation Law and Policy, University of Toronto Faculty of Law. He has also worked in law firms in New York and Toronto as well as the Information Privacy Commissioner (Ontario) and the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), Ireland.
Rajen has performed stand-up comedy in Amsterdam, is an amateur boxer and an Iron Man (70.3) Triathlete.
He lives in Ajax with his wife and four children.
Any article or other information or content expressed or made available in this Section is that of the respective author(s) and not of the OBA.