Starting your own practice doesn’t have to be so hard thanks to the resources and advice given at this year’s APP 2015 Conference.
Technology has leveled the playing field, and allowed more attorneys to step out on their own and provide the same quality of service as their established counterparts. This year’s APP conference was catered to those lawyers. Here are some of the best tools in the market.
Practice Management: Cloud based software that helps attorneys centralize and streamline their practice by managing their firm’s calendars, keep time, manage documents and correspondence.
MyCase is an all-in-one, affordable and intuitive legal practice management software designed for the modern law firm. MyCase takes all of your critical practice challenges – contacts, calendars, client communication, cases, documents, and billing – and organizes them in a way that is incredibly straightforward and intuitive.
Offer: MyCase offers a no-cost, risk-free, 30-day free trial of the software.
Cost: $39 for attorneys per month after the trial period. $29 for paralegals/staff after the the trial period.
How to Purchase: Create a MyCase account to begin your free 30-day trial!
Smokeball’s leadership continually strives to develop a company, culture, and team that share a profound love for the law and are compelled to help small law firms find success. The Smokeball Brand Promises commits every employee to reduce the stress and increase the profitability of running a small law firm.
Cost: Enhance your practice for $99/month per person plus a one-time onboarding fee.
How to Purchase: Set up an account online today!
Clio:
Clio was launched in 2008 by lifelong friends Jack Newton and Rian Gauvreau with the goal of delivering cloud-based practice management technologies that improve the quality of practice for lawyers around the world. Today, they are joined by dozens more who share that vision. From headquarters in spectacular Vancouver, Canada, Clio employs over 130 employees and has offices in Toronto, Canada and Dublin, Ireland, serving the case management needs of tens of thousands of legal professionals.
Three packages:
- Starter: The basics you need. $39 per user/month when billed annually or $49 month-to-month.
- Boutique: Take your practice to the next level. $59 per user/month when billed annually or $69 month-to-month. Includes Accounting integrations, Custom fields, UTBMS coding, Zapier integration, API access, Data escrow, Sortable Custom Fields and Alternative Fee Billing.
- Elite: $99 per user/month when billed annually or $109 month-to-month. Includes Priority Support, Originating Attorney Revenue report, Court calendaring rules, Matter Budgets, Campaign Tracker and Payments.
How to Purchase: Free Trial by Clicking Here
Payment Processing: Increase your firm’s efficiency by subscribing to automated payroll software that offers convenient payment modules for your clients.
For over a decade, attorneys have trusted LawPay to handle their credit card transactions. Their knowledgeable and experienced team delivers unmatched service and support to your firm. They are the only complete end-to-end credit card processing program for attorneys. LawPay has built a proprietary payment system, and combined it with a team of expert bankcard professionals to fully manage all your payment needs.
Cost:
- Intro Plan: $5/Month – First Month Free. Deposit funds into only an operating account.
- Standard Plan: $15/Month – First Month Free. Deposit funds into either a trust or operating account.
- Trust Plan: $20/Month – First Month Free. Deposit Funds into both a trust and operating account.
How to Purchase: Sign up on LawPay to open an account or connect through LinkedIn.
Education: Widen your legal expertise and gain professional insights that will give you the ability to branch out into private practice.
A community dedicated to helping you build your very own solo law practice. Gain full access to all practice courses in our library when you enroll. Most are pre-recorded and can be watched or listened to on your own schedule. New lessons are posted regularly.
Cost: Subscriptions provide unlimited access to all courses, community participation and their blogs and websites, and discounts on SPU’s products and services, free unlimited CLE credits and LPM consultation.
- Monthly: $245 for first month, then $65 per month.
- Semi-Annual: $445 per six months.
- Annual: $795 per year.
How to Purchase: Processed via PayPal and will auto-renew.
Marino Legal was founded in 1946, by Joseph Marino, Sr. Since then, Marino Legal has been run by three generations of Marino law professors and legal educators. We are family owned and operated and take pride in caring for our customers and affiliates.
Cost:
- Marino Legal Academy offers a list of comprehensive CLE courses at varying levels of accreditation.
- Sign up for their 24 credit compliance package and satisfy your mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement FOR ONLY $149!
- Featured in this CLE package is a variety of subject areas ranging from Real Estate Closings to Business Immigration and Criminal Law to Estate Administration, all taught by well-respected attorneys in these fields. This package will satisfy your entire, veteran biennial New York CLE requirement, but also counts for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and other states!
How To Purchase: Purchase online for instant access or purchase the CD version sent via UPS Ground.
Legal Talk Network is an online media network for legal professionals. Highlighting important issues and information in a talk show format, the podcasts featured on Legal Talk Network are hosted by leading professionals in the legal industry and feature high profile guests who share their experience and expertise. The podcasts are free to download through various channels, including on the Legal Talk Network website, iTunes and iHeartRadio. Check out the ATL podcasts from APP 2015 including a special report from Thinking Like a Lawyer and What is Above the Law’s Academy for Private Practice?
Human Resources: Outsource your HR and payroll portfolio to leading industry experts that can ease your workload while you focus on getting your firm off the ground.
TriNet provides HR solutions to small and midsize businesses so you can focus on what your company does best. Their bundled HR products, TriNet Cloud applications and strategic services simplify your HR. Tailored by industry, TriNet’s bundled HR products cover the core services of payroll, benefits, risk & compliance, an HR team, and a cloud platform. TriNet partners with more than 11,000 clients in a variety of industries.
Cost:
TriNet Ambrose payroll and tax administration services are designed for the highly sensitive payroll needs of our client firms. TriNet Ambrose facilitates and administers all payroll requirements, including direct deposit, payroll and employment tax, W–2 preparation and delivery, and provides access to comprehensive reporting capabilities.
TriNet Ambrose provides access to some of the richest employee benefits and health plans, otherwise not available to small businesses.
How to Purchase: Contact a Trinet Sales Consultant either through their online form or by calling 888.874.6388
eDiscovery: In the digital age, the only way for a private practice to stay competitive and manage its case load is through e-discovery.
Cicayda treats their customers like a five-star hotel concierge treats guests. In fact, their services people are in the customer care business. While many of their clients and channel partners simply use their software in a DIY fashion, other customers want a more services-laden relationship with Cicayda.
They also have a Dream Team of litigators and legal professionals to provide the very best litigation consulting. Their attorneys on staff, professional discovery managers, and tech mavens have handled thousands of eDiscovery matters, efficiently and successfully.
Marketing: Spread your firm’s brand and attract new clients by advertising your staff on legal directory sites.
Avvo:
Avvo was founded in Seattle, Washington, by tech-savvy lawyer Mark Britton to make legal easier and help people find a lawyer. Avvo provides detailed information on lawyers and legal issues so that you can make the choices that are right for you.
Cost: Avvo Websites are proven to convert more visitors into prospective clients. Subscription starts from $99/month.
- Avvo Pro offers a suite of tools that gives you the opportunity to customize your profile and maximize your reach to prospective clients. Subscription starts from $49/month.
- Avvo advertising gets you greater exposure among the millions of Avvo visitors each month. Subscription starts from $100/month.
- Avvo Ignite Suite gives busy attorneys like you the platform to run your firm like a successful business. Subscription starts from $199/month.
How to Purchase: Contact the Avvo sales team to find out more about these amazing offers
Research: Organize your case load and start building a client base by investing in legal research and finance software that will keep you ahead of your competitors.
Manzama’s success at delivering valued content to organizations and professionals across the globe has been driven by our employees from day one. From innovative solutions to new, time saving features, their international staff continues to improve and expand our listening platform. Their innovation changes playbook strategy for businesses, fueling a tribe of those who will consider themselves innovators in their industry. They empower their clients with the means to change their clients’ worlds.
Cost:
- Monthly Plan: $59.99 per month
- Annual Plan: 49.99 per month (billed annually and save 15%)
How to Purchase: Find the plan that’s right for you. Regardless, the first 30 days are free. See firsthand how Zama can find the information to grow and drive your business.
Litigation Finance: Cut capital costs by managing financial recovery from your firm’s lawsuits.
Lake Whillans is a litigation finance and distressed venture capital firm providing funding for companies in litigation or arbitration and for emerging or venture private equity backed companies in distressed situations. Lake Whillans helps companies more efficiently finance both their legal claims and their operations so that they can grow and succeed while they resolve any legal disputes.
Community Networks: Join other attorneys and legal professions who can offer networking opportunities and advice on establishing your new firm.
100 Lawyers Strong is a legal networking and referral exchange. They offer an exclusive network of vetted attorneys and other professionals serving the legal community in New York and beyond.
Create an account today!
The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York:
LeGaL was one of the nation’s first bar associations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) legal community and remains one of the largest and most active organizations of its kind in the country.
Cost: For a limited time, first-time members can join for 50% off the regular dues rate!
- Income up to $30,000 = $40.00
- Income up to $50,000 = $55.00
- Income up to $75,000 = $80.00
- Income up to $100,000 = $120.00
- Income up to $150,000 = $150.00
- Income over $150,000 = $175.00
- One Year Sustaining Member = $200.00
- Two-Year Sustaining Member = $300.00
Law Graduates Not Yet Admitted = Dues Based on Income Scale Above
How to Purchase: First time attorneys can join here.
The ATL APP 2016 National Conference will be held on October 27-28, 2016, in Philadelphia. Click here to register at the Super-Early Bird Rate of $49.