Developing a Practice Professionally Seminar

This is NOT a class on how to open your own solo practice or “hang out your shingle”.  It is a discussion of professionalism issues that come up as a part of nearly every practice on a regular basis.  The class discussions will be centered on options available to a lawyer for dealing with these issues professionally with an eye toward resolving the client’s problem.

This seminar is intended to address the many issues a new lawyer faces in establishing her or his reputation as a lawyer who practices in a professional manner. Topics include your responsibilities as a lawyer to your clients, your firm (other lawyers and non-lawyers), the court, the profession and your family/significant others. The issues and typical difficulties encountered along the way will be examined in the context of handling a litigated case from the first meeting with a supervising attorney or a client through the successful completion of the case. Billable hours, timekeeping, deadlines, and other time management issues will be addressed.

Each student will be required to participate in leading a class discussion as part of a small group.

There will be a paper required on a topic related to the course and of interest to the student. It will be edited by the professor and revised following a meeting(s) to discuss the paper. The paper and the editing process will mimic what you can hope to receive from your supervising attorney in practice.  It is not intended to meet any writing requirement, however.

The final grade will be a composite of your paper, your class presentation, and your class participation.