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[Truean]

I AM NOT CURRENTLY A LAWYER; CANNOT OFFER LEGAL ADVICE.

Just wanted to see what people thought.
Would it be a good idea? I don't know.

[DJ]

I must be missing something here, why is it not feasible for the other lawyer and you to continue working after the master lawyer retires? I assume the other lawyer has sufficient experience under his belt, so he can continue teaching you. Keeping the same firm running should be good for getting customers. Of course, there's the matter of settling things financially with the old lawyer (I'm guessing he's the owner of the firm), but you should be able to figure that one since that's what you lawyers do (I think).

As a young lawyer on your own you should do fine with wills etc., but I doubt many people will trust you with criminal cases when your hair isn't grey enough.

[Truean]

I must be missing something here, why is it not feasible for the other lawyer and you to continue working after the master lawyer retires?

He wants hundreds of thousands of dollars cash, now. I can't afford that. Could you?

[lordnincompoop]

It sounds like you should be making your own business instead of buying his then. Good luck with the law firm. I can't offer you much advice, unfortunately, but you have my support as an internet stranger should you need it.

Some people find comfort in high prices I guess, because they believe they must be getting good value for money with a price that high. How are you planning on dealing with that?

[Truean]

I'm not sure.

[Graebeard]

You may want to consider adding the occasional consumer bankruptcy to the services you plan on offering.  I understand there's always a pretty big demand for that, and it could supplement your criminal practice when it's not bringing in the amount of work you want.

Regarding your questions; answering objections and attracting business is basic marketing.  You may want to look into getting some marketing expertise in addition to your legal training.  If you're able to market yourself aggressively, perform well, and compete on price, then there's no reason you couldn't build a good practice for yourself.

[Truean]

I dont' know.

[Astramancer]

I've seen virtuous cases of everyday middle class people turned away, because they couldn't shell out thousands of dollars in legal fees. They were right. They should've won, but they couldn't afford a lawyer. They made "too much money" to get a court appointed lawyer and made too little to actually afford one. Or the lawyer's fees would eat up the money they were fighting for so it wasn't worth it to fight....

I smell a niche.  If you could make referral arrangements with other firms, you might be able to get a steady stream of cases like this.

[Truean]

I smell a niche.  If you could make referral arrangements with other firms, you might be able to get a steady stream of cases like this.

Problem here is that you're too innocently generous.... I don't think that'd work well.

[Graebeard]

Something I learned in sales a long time ago: always give a reason for why you have the best prices.

If you tell someone you have the lowest price they may believe you.  If you tell someone they're saving money by going with you because they're not paying for the fancy offices and expensive name, then they'll think they're getting a deal.

[Zangi]

2.) "With Liberty and Justice for All," not just those who can pay an arm and a leg for it.
I've seen virtuous cases of everyday middle class people turned away, because they couldn't shell out thousands of dollars in legal fees. They were right. They should've won, but they couldn't afford a lawyer. They made "too much money" to get a court appointed lawyer and made too little to actually afford one. Or the lawyer's fees would eat up the money they were fighting for so it wasn't worth it to fight....

I guess I have that fatal flaw for lawyers: a conscience.
I'm also not greedy as hell.... That one'll end up getting me too....


Of course I could always raise my fees if it makes them feel better....

Hah.. I know one who is the same. 
Here is an idea: Set-up a 2nd company as a charity/not-for-profit...  Just charge enough for operating / filing costs or none at all if needed... 
You just gotta learn to take what you figure as clients in actual need and deserving of it.

[Truean]

Not sure what you're talking about.

[G-Flex]

I don't want to be TOO much of a curmudgeon here, but you're asking a forum about a video game about advice regarding starting a law firm. There is something seriously wrong if you cannot find a better forum (and not necessarily the internet type) for advice about this.

You are not going to find people here with the sort of experience or knowledge required to give particularly good advice about this. Some of us might have our heads screwed on straight, but this isn't the kind of thing you ask random people on the internet unless you have some reason to think the people you're asking are actually knowledgeable about the subject. I highly doubt we have many lawyers here, or people who own their own businesses, much less both.

This is kind of like going on GameFAQs and asking them how to perform an appendectomy.

[Truean]

I really don't know if this would work.

[G-Flex]

Actually, you're all a little too sophisticated to be my target client audience.

I do not intend to represent experts, but rather the everyday person. I have many vices. Blinding pride is not one of them.

I'm not talking about your target audience, or who you are representing. You do not ask your target demographic how to start a business. Even if I'm opening up a hot dog stand to sell them primarily to semi-homeless drifters, that doesn't mean I'm going to ask him how to properly set up or run the business.