How to Start & Build a Law Practice, 5th Edition (Career Series / American Bar Association),   ISBN:9781590312476

Customer Rating: 

Im a lawyer , the problem is if you want to start a solo practice and dont have the connections, the author talks about, basically starting on your own after 15 years in personal injury, making millions for other people- this book doesnt address that.

In other words starting out with few clients, starting a store front, starting with very little axcept your knowledge of trials and litigation

Im looking for that book.

Customer Rating: 

This is hands down the most helpful and informative book on starting your own law firm. It is useful to novice and master alike. Read it before you gear up your practice. Then keep it on hand for encouragement and advice as the firm grows. My husband started his own firm and found this an invaluable resource. Now, almost a year later, he still finds pearls of wisdom that are applicable. Mr. Foonberg is incredibly generous in sharing the tools and attitudes that will benefit your practice. Take advantage of this good advice. Even if your resources are limited, this is the book to buy.

Customer Rating: 

I'm a consultant, not a lawyer, but Mr. Foonberg's book is one of the best I've read about managing and building a successful a solo practice. Consultants will find much of what Mr. Foonberg writes about maintaining client relationships, billing, and building up a practice both relevant and practical. I also liked the short chapters, which make it easy to pick up the book over and over again, getting a few nuggets of knowledge each time. The author's humanistic, ethics driven approach is also much appreciated. I would have given this book five stars, but I agree with what the reviewer Michael G. Romano and others have written (below) that the sections on the internet and especially the use of email are remarkably out of date for such an otherwise useful book. Despite that shortcoming, Mr. Foonberg's many insights and practical methods for lawyers have direct relevance for consultants as well. This is a book to be put on the shelf next to Alan Weiss's many excellent books on building a consulting practice.

Customer Rating: 

Couldn't get it at the library, so took a chance and bought it. I've been in business a while and just wanted supplement existing knowledge. There are some REALLY bad books in this category- I think its worth about $30. I would refer back to it.

Customer Rating: 

I actually reviewed this book about 3 years ago but it looks like Mr. Foonberg is pretty plugged in with the folks at Amazon because my review has magically disappeared. Let's see how long this one stays up. Plain and simple; this book sucks. It is antiquated and filled with useless junk. I started my practice in 2007 and it is now successful. However, this book had absolutely nothing to do with my success. If you want to pay for things like a drawing of how to arrange your family pictures and dictaphone (as if anyone uses those anymore) on your desk, then buy this book. I kid you not, that diagram is actually in the edition I bought. More importantly, Foonberg's sample letters (something that should be very useful) are atrocious and bear no resemblance to any correspondence I would ever send with my signature. The book is completely devoid of useful advice on forming your business entity, professional liability insurance, bookkeeping, billing and collection. Not to mention the fact that there is nothing about the most useful technologies that exist for solo attorneys and small law firms. Foonberg apparently wrote this book decades ago and, as of my purchase in 2007, had not meaningfully updated any of the information presented. I am extremely disappointed that the ABA has continued to publish and endorse this pile of drivel. Do yourself a favor, ask a friend who has started and run a firm to give you a little free advice. It will take you miles further than spending $40 so Foonberg can stay wealthy.