On May 9th, 2024, AABANY’s Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee held the second part of its "How to Start Your Own Solo and Small Firm" series. The topics covered included “setting up systems and SOP for your firm,” “firm management – day-to-day operation, firm infrastructure, and when to expand,” “how to obtain clients and build a book of business,” and “pro bono that works for small firms.” Kicking off this event, twelve attorneys gathered onsite, with seven attorneys joining via Zoom, to listen to the panelists share their practice areas, years in business, firm size, and years practicing. They proceeded to share helpful tips and experiences on creating systems to effectively scale your firm, branding strategies, the business side of the firm, and how to calculate your profit margin.
Back by popular demand and following the success of the first session in the series, the panel started with Ms. Deanna Clark, Managing Attorney and founder of the Clark-Esposito Law Firm, P.C., sharing guidance on how to write the SOP for solo or small firms, internal and external policies, as well as end-of-week checklists. Moderated by Ms. Joanne Urena of Anderson and Associates Law, P.C., the second panelist, Ms. Beatrice Leung, founder of the Office of Beatrice Leung, proceeded to enlighten the audience on how to build a book of business, gain clients, and keep your referral network growing. Her soundbite, "Your Network Is Your Net Worth," resonated with many in the audience. Ms. Pauline Yeung-Ha, a Partner at the Grimaldi Yeung Law Group LLP, dived into the day-to-day operation of the firm, including organizational structure, fee structure and budget, hiring practices and staff accountability, and how to keep up with changes in law and the legal landscape. Lastly, Ms. Yen-Yi Anderson, the managing principal of Anderson and Associates Law, P.C., shared how her firm started its pro bono arm by partnering with non-profits, including AABANY and Legal Aid Society. Details regarding the MOU, office guide, and how to keep staff motivated were provided.
Thank you to everyone for spending their Thursday night with AABANY's Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee. Special thanks to May Wong and Nandar Kerr of the Professional Development Committee, as well as Ms. Yen-Yi Anderson and Bianca Lin, Co-Chairs of the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee, for their hard work planning, approving the CLE, and organizing this successful event.
