This presentation was given to 100 students at Loyola University College of Law New Orleans about how to go "Solo from Scratch." The presentation discusses the administrative tasks required to open a business, marketing concepts like "positioning," the use of web 2.0 tools to make business easier and cheaper, and a practice's short and long term goals. View the written materials at http://bit.ly/gkkGLa

1. Going Solo
From Scratch
Starting up, Marketing & Finding Success

2. Starting-Up
Separating Myth from Reality

3. Things Not
Needed
• Money
• Experience
• Partners
• Staff
• Client Base
• Office Location
• Accountants
• Phone Systems
• Fax Machines

12. Have A Plan
From Your Concept to your Operations

13. Essentials
• Incorporate
• Insurance
• Licenses
• Taxes
• Filing System
• Accounting System
• Business Plan
• Name / Logo
• Focus

18. Marketing
Understand Marketing, Stay Focused and Deliver

19. Positioning

20. The Battle
For Your
Mind

22. New York Times Sunday Edition
500,000 Words
28 Hours

23. Television, at average 30 frames per second
7 Hours Per Day
750,000 Pictures

26. The Lords Prayer: 56 words
Gettysburg Address: 266 words
Ten Commandments: 297 words
Declaration of Independence: 300 words
U.S. Government Order Setting Cabbage Price: 26,911 words

27. Getting Into
The Mind

28. 1
st
versus
2
nd

36. Niche Law

43. http://bit.ly/dilm0C

44. http://bit.ly/clect2

45. http://bit.ly/9fI7Ul

47. Advertising 101
Fall in Love With the Web

48. What is...
Advertising?

55. Position
Yourself
As An
Expert

56. • Consistent Message
• Focused Message
• Watch the ROI
• Don’t Stick with One
Medium
• Don’t Feel Compelled

57. Ethics & Advertising
Intersection of the www & ethics
• Confidentiality
• Duties to Clients and Others
• Advertising & Marketing

58. Rule 1.6:
Confidentiality of Information
(a) A lawyer shall not reveal
information relating to the
representation of a client
unless the client gives
informed consent.

59. Lawyer Faces Discipline Over Blog Post
http://bit.ly/1xFzIH
“ A former Illinois assistant public defender
faces disciplinary charges over postings to
her blog that may have exposed client
confidences and revealed her complicity
in a client’s fraud on a court.

61. Rule 3.3
Candor Toward The Tribunal
(a) A lawyer shall not
knowingly:
(1) make a false
statement of fact or
law to a tribunal...

62. Lawyers Beware: Judges May Be
Watching You on Social Media
http://bit.ly/iuEru
“ Judge Criss (Galveston, TX) recalled a
lawyer telling her she needed a
continuance because of a death in the
family....but found out on her
facebook account that she had been
partying that same week. The judge
denied the request.

63. http://bit.ly/31GDi
State bar authorities
in Florida have fined
trial lawyer $1,200
for criticizing judge
on a blog...Among
other remarks...called
the judge an "evil,
unfair witch."

64. A Legal Battle:
Online Attitudes v. Rules of the Bar
http://bit.ly/3A1lMz

65. Bates v. State Bar of Arizona
(US 1977)
Lawyer advertising is
constitutionally protected speech.
It cannot be completely banned,
but may be subject to restrictions
regarding “time, place and manner.”

66. Summary of Constitutional Principles
Constitutional Protection for Communication
Ad on TV or Radio In-Person Solicitation
Shapero Letter
Invasiveness of Speech

67. Outline of Traditional Rules
Rule 7.1 - Prohibits false or misleading communications
Rule 7.2 - time, place, manner restrictions on lawyer
advertising
Rule 7.3 - further limits in-person and targeted
solicitations
Rule 7.4 - restricts advertising fields of practice and
specialities
Rule 7.5 - firm names and letterhead

68. Rules for Internet
Communications

69. Rules for Internet
“
Communications
7.6(a)
‘computer accessed communications’ are
defined as information regarding a
lawyer’s or law firm’s services that is
read, viewed, or heard directly through
the use of a computer.

70. Rules for Internet
“
Communications
7.6(a)
‘computer accessed communications’ are
defined as information regarding a
lawyer’s or law firm’s services that is
read, viewed, or heard directly through
the use of a computer.
“
7.6(d)
‘All computer accessed
communications...other than those
subject to subdivisions (b) and (c) of
this Rule, are subject to the
requirements of Rule 7.2

71. What is...
Advertising?

73. Post a Comment On: Home Contractor vs. Homeowner
"The Strength of a Mechanic's Lien"
4 Comments - Show Original Post
Collapse comments Leave your comment
Wolfe Law Group said...
Andrea - I'm a subscriber to your blog and a
blogger myself, and wanted to comment about
this recent post. I think you really strike a chord
with contractors of all sizes with your posts about
the strengths of a construction lien - especially by
You can use some HTML tags, such as <b>, <i>, <a>
referencing something that is frequently not
discussed: even improper liens can be effective. Choose an identity
Google/Blogger
While it's certainly not an excuse to file a
USERNAME
improper lien for an improper person, the point
remains that liens cause problems - and precisely PASSWORD
the problems that get contractors paid.
No Google Account? Sign up here
You can also use your Blogger account.
I made reference to your post on my two blogs:
OpenID
http://blog.wolfelaw.com Name/URL
http://blog.expresslien.com
Anonymous
12:19 PM

77. You be the judge. Write a lawyer review Sign in
Legal Guides Answers & Advice Lawyer Search
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Home > Legal Guides > Disputing a Construction Lien in Washington State
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Disputing a Construction Lien in Washington State
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Scott G Wolfe JR
Posted in Construction / Development. Jurisdiction: Washington Add to list
To file a construction lien against your property, a contractor must meet certain legal prequalifications. County
recorders, however, are required to file construction lien instruments presented to them, regardless of a contractor's
Other Legal Guides on Construction
legal ability. The result? A construction lien may be placed against your property improperly. In Washington, like in
most states, there is a defined manner of disputing the validity of a construction lien. Construction/Development Overview
Construction Accidents in Washington
Is the lien frivolous?
State
Liens subject to forced removal are termed "frivolous liens" by Washington law. According to a Washington statute, a
lien is frivolous "if it is made without reasonable cause or clearly excessive." Filing a Construction Lien in Washington
Practically speaking, this breaks down invalid liens into two categories: State
1) Circumstances when the lien was filed without following technical substantive or procedure rules of lien
Construction Liens in Washington State
2) Circumstances when the lien is clearly devoid of any merit whatsoever
Subcontractor: how to file a construction
Regarding the first category of frivolous liens, the following are some common mistakes: lien on a single-family residential project
Failure to adequately describe the property in the lien (i.e., filing without a legal property description). in Wisconsin
Failure to provide the proper required notices. Notice is required from the claimant in some circumstances, but not See more related Legal Guides
all.
Failure to meet all of the statutory content requirements. The law is specific as to what must be identified in a

79. Good Client Service
An Obvious Edge for New & Small Practices

80. http://www.patrickjlamb.com/

85. Practicing Law
Figuring It All Out

87. Performed in Hamburg, Germany 1,200 Times Before Breaking in 1964

88. Spent 10,000 Hours on High School Computer At Age 13

89. Practice

90. Read

91. • Google It
• Join List-Serves & E-Mail Groups and Ask
Questions.
• Use JDSupra and Other Form Sharing
Sites
• Don’t Be Shy, Contract Work to Other
Attys

92. Finding Success

93. “
It’s not enough to build a
business worth a fortune; you
have to make sure you have
an exit strategy, a way to get
the money back out.

94. What’s Going To Happen Later?

95. • Pay Yourself A Salary and
Take All Company
Money Out
• Liquidate
• Sell Your Practice

96. Balance