Add a new practice area to an existing law firm?

April 16, 2008 12:16 PM

What's the best way to go about adding a new practice area to an existing law firm?

I currently work at a law firm with practice devoted to public benefits law (medicare/medicaid, SSDI, VA benefits, etc.). I'm the youngest attorney by at least 15 years and feel like we should diversify a bit just in case legislation seriously limits our ability to practice and collect fees in any of our administrative law fields. We're a small firm with 7 attorneys.

The partners in charge basically told me that if I can generate business in a new practice area, we could go ahead and consider it. We're considering opening up practice tangentially related to our current fields. We've looked into ERISA disability appeals, ADA litigation, disability employment discrimination, and others.

What's the best way to go about establishing a new practice area at a firm?

posted by Dignan to law & government (5 comments total)

Take in an experienced partner with an existing book of business.
posted by caddis at 1:38 PM on April 16, 2008

Learn as much as you can about the field in which you plan to practice, cold-call potential clients, and try to sell them your services

Read the "Early Years" section of this article about Quinn Emanuel, the hotshot California litigation firm. The article describes how they cold-called potential clients, promising to do the job better and cheaper than their current lawyers. Apparently, it worked.

But you can't sell yourself to potential clients unless you know the area you want to practice in, so it seems like you'd have to learn the area of law first.
posted by jayder at 3:44 PM on April 16, 2008

Here in Florida Rule 4-7.4 d prohibits cold calling. Check your local rules of professional regulation before doing this.
posted by Jezebella at 6:01 PM on April 16, 2008

Caddis has it. You'll do best by getting someone who knows what they are doing and has a book of business.
posted by Ironmouth at 9:34 AM on April 17, 2008

Also, where are you located? Makes a difference re: Which practice area to look into.
posted by Ironmouth at 9:38 AM on April 17, 2008