Tom Wallerstein
Posts by Tom Wallerstein
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Biglaw, Billable Hours, Boutique Law Firms, Quote of the Day, Small Law Firms
From Biglaw to Boutique: Where Does the Time Go?
For attorneys who bill by the hour, one of the less enjoyable aspects of the job is recording time. Associates know that all too often their worth might be measured by their billable hours. Of course, big and small firms alike tolerate the timesheets because they are the firms’ lifeblood. Recording time enables firms to generate their invoices. The inherent purpose of entering time is to generate this request for payment. But an invoice can and should do much more, especially for a small firm or solo practice.... -
Biglaw, Boutique Law Firms, California, Deaths, Litigators, Small Law Firms
From Biglaw to Boutique: 'There’s a Practice Guide for That'
Tom Wallerstein's firm, like most firms in California, has a series of Rutter guides on its shelves. And even though he runs a virtually paperless office, he still loves his printed Rutter guides. Wallerstein even has a joke about Rutter. Whenever a colleague questions his ability to solve a particular issue, he jokes, “I’m sure there’s a Rutter Guide for that.” The joke has a serious point, namely, that the basics of most practice areas can always be learned. And if it’s easy enough to learn a practice area, why shouldn’t a lawyer forming a small firm become a true generalist; handling everything from family law, wills and trusts, civil, criminal, and essentially whatever walks in the door? - Sponsored
The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
ChatGPT ushers in the age of generative AI – even for law firms. -
Biglaw, Boutique Law Firms, Small Law Firms
From Biglaw to Boutique: Which is Better for Clients?
A general counsel recently asked Tom Wallerstein, “Why should my company risk hiring a lesser-known, small firm?” Tom told him that it shouldn’t. Tom doesn’t think any company should unnecessarily “risk” its business without good reason. Tom will be the first to admit that there are some matters that simply demand big firm attention. But Tom also told the GC that there were many matters that he thought his smaller firm could handle just as well as could a big firm....
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Biglaw, Boutique Law Firms, Lawyer Advertising, Small Law Firms
From Biglaw to Boutique: A Marketing Matrix
When Above the Law first covered Tom Wallerstein's "adventure in shingle hanging," he remembers someone quipping that his only business came from attorney referrals and that he didn’t have his “own” clients. The comment wasn’t true, but he still found it interesting. Is a client who pays you money somehow not “your” client, or not a “real” client, just because the client was referred to you by another attorney? That doesn’t make a lot of sense to him.... -
Biglaw, Boutique Law Firms, California, Copyright, Intellectual Property, Small Law Firms, Trademarks
From Biglaw to Boutique: Beyond the 'Small Law Firm' Stereotype
For some, the phrase “small law firm” implies certain stereotyped practice areas, clients, and attorneys. At its worst, the stereotype invokes unsophisticated clients and matters that are routine and uninteresting. To break the stereotype, Tom Wallerstein remarks on some great practice opportunities for smaller law firms which exist in Silicon Valley.... -
Biglaw, Boutique Law Firms, Small Law Firms
From Biglaw to Boutique: Why Wait?
Tom Wallerstein thinks that if you are in law school and you have the choice between working for an established firm -- big or small -- or working for yourself/starting your own firm, it’s a no-brainer that you should go with the established firm first. You can always leave the firm to pursue your own practice at any time, but the converse isn’t true.... -
Billable Hours, Boutique Law Firms, Money, Small Law Firms
From Biglaw to Boutique: Working for Free
When Tom Wallerstein started his firm, several mentors gave him the same advice: Don’t work for free. It’s easy to see the problem with working for free. Giving away what you’re trying to sell isn’t exactly in the business plan. Unfortunately, this sage advice can only really be learned the hard way, through experience. Even if your gut tells you that taking on that client is a bad idea, this can be surprisingly tempting to a new firm or solo practice.... -
Biglaw, Money, Partner Issues, Small Law Firms
From Biglaw to Boutique: Top Ten Differences
This is the time of year when everyone pulls out a Top Ten list of one thing or another. Tom Wallerstein don’t mind; a Top Ten list is a convenient format for reflection and New Year’s Eve has always been a time of reflection for him, whether that involves setting goals or just thinking about the ups and downs of the past year. He thought he would use the opportunity to offer my perspective of the Top Ten Differences Between Biglaw and Boutique. So without further ado, let’s push in the button and let the top ten play... - Sponsored
Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
The rise of remote work has dramatically reshaped the relationship between Lawyers and Law Firms, see how Scale LLP has taken the steps to get… -
Biglaw, Billable Hours, Holidays and Seasons, Small Law Firms
From Biglaw to Boutique: It's a Dead Week
Recently, someone remarked to me that the week after Christmas is a “dead week.” He meant that many people take the week off, many companies are short staffed, and business generally is light. When I was in Biglaw, I always worked the week after Christmas. Even though most partners wouldn’t be around, I figured that […] -
Small Law Firms, Solo Practitioners
From Biglaw to Boutique: Come On Along, or Go Alone
Tom Wallerstein was talking to a friend who is a junior partner in a large firm, and who is thinking of starting her own firm. She knew what practice area she would focus on, and she had at least one client who she felt sure would go with her. But she still had two critical questions to resolve. Open a solo practice, or form a partnership? Form a “virtual” office, or start a traditional “brick and mortar” shop? -
Associate Advice, Biglaw, Money, Small Law Firms
From Biglaw to Boutique: Looks Like Rain
The traditional method of building a book of business no longer works for most associates. Firms now sometimes go so far as to actively discourage associates from forming too-strong relationships with clients, lest the associate leave and take the client with them. With these challenges, how can an associate ever hope to make the rain they will need if they want to open their own firm? -
Biglaw, Small Law Firms
From Biglaw to Boutique: Going Through the Motions
Often, associates who know that they will not become a partner seem content to just put in their time, try to keep their head down, and collect a paycheck while waiting for their firm to announce their intended bonuses. They rationalize that they know they will leave anyway, so why bend over backwards for the firm? Tom Wallerstein proposes the answer to this question.... -
Biglaw, Boutique Law Firms, California, Litigators, Silicon Valley, Small Law Firms
From Biglaw to Boutique: Trading Places
Some people thought he might be nuts for leaving litigation powerhouse Quinn Emanuel. But the prospects of starting his own firm and building a practice from the ground up were too compelling to ignore. Please welcome our new small-firm columnist, Tom Wallerstein!
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Navigating Financial Success by Avoiding Common Pitfalls and Maximizing Firm Performance
In this CLE-eligible webinar, we’ll explore the most common accounting pitfalls and how to avoid them for your firm.
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The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
ChatGPT ushers in the age of generative AI – even for law firms.
Sponsored
Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
The rise of remote work has dramatically reshaped the relationship between Lawyers and Law Firms, see how Scale LLP has taken the steps to get…
Sponsored
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Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
If 2023 introduced legal professionals to generative AI, then 2024 will be when law firms start adapting to utilize it. Things are moving fast, so…
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Generative AI In Legal Work — What’s Fact And What’s Fiction?
Zach Warren from the Thomson Reuters Institute discusses the potential and the pitfalls.