How to Start a Law Firm

A law firm represents members of the community including organizations, government agencies, corporations, and others in a court of law. This business is centered on analyzing legal challenges and providing sound advice in the quest for justice and fairness.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a law firm by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Law Firm
  2. Form your Law Firm into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Law Firm for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Law Firm
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Law Firm
  7. Get Law Firm Insurance
  8. Define your Law Firm Brand
  9. Create your Law Firm Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your law firm. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Law Firm Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a law firm?

A law firm requires an office building, computers, printers, office supplies, legal software, insurance, and personnel.

What are the ongoing expenses for a law firm?

The typical law firm spends several thousands of dollars per year for legal malpractice insurance. The rent for the office will likely run between $700 and several thousand dollars per month. Budget at least a couple hundred dollars per month for utilities and high-speed internet. In terms of labor costs, attorneys usually make between $35,000 and $250,000 per year. Paralegals and billing specialists make between $25,000 and $50,000 per year. An office manager will command a yearly salary in the range of $30,000 and $60,000. A receptionist will likely earn $10 to $15 per hour.

Who is the target market?

The preferred client type is an individual who needs extensive legal assistance in his quest for justice. Some law firm business owners take great pride in helping needy members of the community who can’t afford a high-priced attorney. Oftentimes, it is more rewarding to help those in need obtain a fair result than it is to tend to uber-complicated legal matters for corporations and other high-profile clients. However, some attorneys prefer to provide legal services to companies that are willing to pay a substantial hourly rate for the law firm’s legal services. Examples of such clients include multinational corporations and regional businesses with challenging legal matters that require substantial analysis and representation by a team of experienced attorneys.

How does a law firm make money?

A law firm makes money by providing legal services to a wide variety of individuals, businesses, and organizations. A law firm represents clients at hearings, trials, and other court events. In some instances, merely providing legal advice is enough to charge a substantial fee.

How much can you charge customers?

Some attorneys serve the neediest members of their community at no cost. This is referred to as pro bono work. However, most attorneys charge an hourly rate in the range of $100 to $500 or more per hour. The exact cost of your hourly rate depends on your experience, the legal niche you operate in and the wealth of your clients.

How much profit can a law firm make?

A law firm can make anywhere form $30,000 per year all the way up to millions of dollars per year. Aim to make a salary of $30,000 to $100,000 in your first year or two. Your profits have the potential to skyrocket as you add attorneys to handle new clients’ legal needs.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Consider teaching law at a local college or university. Offer legal counseling that is independent of courtroom representation. It is also possible to work as an appearance attorney. Appearance attorneys show up at court hearings in place of a client’s attorney due to travel complications, sickness and other matters.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your law firm is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your law firm were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a law firm. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

If you seek to practice law, you will be legally required to obtain a law degree. You may obtain your degree from any law school accredited by the American Bar Association. Information on ABA accredited law schools can be found here.

In addition, you will be required to pass your state’s Bar Exam in order to legally practice law in your state. Each state bar association has its own website giving detailed information on the requirements for eligibility to take the Bar Examination. Here you can find a list of each state’s bar association website

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Certificate of Occupancy

A law firm is generally run out of an office building. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a law firm.
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your law firm will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Law Firm needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Law Firm.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a law firm

Though it is possible to market your law firm business online and through traditional outbound marketing platforms, the best way to spread the word is through client referrals. Encourage current and former clients to recommend your law firm’s services to those in their family and social circles. It also helps to establish a rock-solid online presence. Encourage clients to post positive reviews of your law firm’s services to online directories. Build a website with an excellent user experience design that prospective clients can navigate with ease. Establish accounts on popular social media websites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and beyond. Make sure all of your online content is optimized for those who conduct searches on the web for legal services. This will make it much easier for prospective clients to connect with your law firm.

How to keep customers coming back

Maximize your law firm website’s SEO (search engine optimization) and clients will find you online. SEO involves using keywords and key phrases your clients are most likely to type into search engines. As noted above, attracting clients to a law firm is also much easier if you interact with those in the community. Get the word out about your services and persuade clients to recommend your legal services to their peers. In terms of retaining clients, the best way to maintain a steady stream of business is to obtain fair and just results for your existing client base. Most people have more than one legal matter in their lifetime. They will return to your law firm for assistance if you helped them in their quest for justice with a prior legal matter.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is ideal for an individual with a strong sense of justice. If you are looking for a way to serve your community and help people/organizations obtain fair results, you should consider starting a law firm. However, you will need a law degree or a considerable amount of money to fund the launch of a law firm headed by those who have obtained law degrees.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a law firm?

The average law firm business owner is an experienced attorney who tends to client concerns, seeks out new clients, meets with the law firm’s partners and provides legal analysis. Much of the day is spent applying case law to clients’ legal matters, conferencing with fellow attorneys, and developing effective legal strategies with the end goal of obtaining a just result.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful law firm?

A law degree will certainly help in your quest to build a successful law firm. You should have experience working as an attorney and handling challenging legal cases. It will also help to have a rolodex filled with client information. These clients will serve as the law firm’s “bread and butter” when it first starts out. Initial clients will also spread the word about your law firm’s services and merit to others who require legal assistance. It is essential that you interact with community members on a regular basis. The relationships you form will help you acquire new clients as time progresses.

What is the growth potential for a law firm?

Law firms have the potential to grow quite rapidly. This business might start out somewhat slow but it can quickly expand once clients are recruited. It is possible to start out running a law firm on your own and eventually grow to the point that additional partners are added. The law firm can easily transition from a specific legal niche to becoming a provider of legal services that spans a wide array of realms. The law firm might start out serving locals, eventually expanding to provide services across the region and even across the nation. The most successful law firms establish international offices across the globe.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a law firm?

Your reputation is of the utmost importance. Focus on providing community members with important legal services that help in their quest for justice. Obtain such results and your clients will speak highly of your law firm to their friends, colleagues, associates, family members, and others. The foundation of your law firm business is relationships. Meet as many people as possible, fight for justice and accept cases that portray your firm in a positive light. A high-profile case that puts your business in the spotlight can do wonders for your business. Alternatively, representing a company or individual perceived as a threat to the community has the potential to create a negative impression of your law firm. So choose your cases wisely!

How and when to build a team

It is possible to run a law firm as a solo practitioner for a year or two. However, as time progresses and your client base grows, you will eventually have to add staff. Employees will be necessary to answer the phones, interact with clients, work as paralegals and provide legal services as attorneys. Your first hire will likely be a receptionist. You can add paralegals, legal assistants, billing personnel, and an office manager as the business grows. If your law firm reaches the point where you can’t handle all of the cases on your own, it is time to add an attorney or two. This is also the ideal time to add a billing specialist to handle client billing along with accounts receivable/payable matters.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading