Customer Reviews

How to Start & Build a Law Practice (Career Series / American Bar Association)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this book before starting up my new law practice because it's one of really only two good books on opening a law office, and this one seemed to have the most praise.

On the positive side: (1) It appears that Foonberg really cares about the legal profession, and he would like to help future lawyers become better advocates and counselors for their clients. This is obvious in his writing style, and in his constant reminders that attorneys are in a service profession. (2) Foonberg really makes an effort to try and keep the book updated and relevant by offering new editions. Many authors would have just let it ride on a book written 20 years ago. (3) There aren't many attorney-authors that have really attempted to put together such a comprehensive and focused book specifically on opening a law practice.

On the negative side: (1) With all due respect to Mr. Foonberg, the current edition is very much a work of Dr. Frankenstein. It has been pieced and stitched together, with parts being swapped in and out. The book does not flow with a theme, and it appears the author has made so many revisions over time that the chapters have been inserted and removed simply as needed. My opinion is that the book needs to be completely rewritten from the ground up. (2) Despite his best efforts to stay current, many of Foonberg's ideas are terribly outdated. For example, his chapter on Personal Data Assistants (PDAs) consists of essentially a paragraph. My PDA is not only my complete calendaring and docketing system, but it is also a significant part of my client conflict checking system, and it contains all of my "to do" or task lists. Foonberg also makes numerous references to some office equipment and stationary production techniques that I don't think are even in existence anymore. (3) The book needs to stay more current on discussing the internet and how it's changed the legal profession. I've talked to some small practitioners in larger cities who get 90% of their new clients from the internet. I also know that many attorneys have replaced the traditional law library (a very expensive entire wall of books) with free access to legal reference materials and case law on the internet.

Overall, I still think my purchase and reading of this book was one of the best investments I've made into my practice. I also applaud Foonberg for continuing to work on the subject. With a major revision, this book could be a huge service not only to all future lawyers, but to all of the people in this country looking for a dedicated attorney to help them with their legal needs.

I'd heard of this book from time to time during law school. It was kept in the "Career Services" office and could only be checked out for a weekend, like anyone had time to read it during lawschool, or over a weekend. I found myself tracking down an old copy of this book within my first few months of solo practice. When I learned that there was a more recent edition I bought it, even though I couldn't spare the $$. The book is dated (although the latest edition has been revised to some degree) and inapplicable in many respects to lots of new attorneys (Mr. Foonberg cut his legal teeth in Hollywood, CA.) HOWEVER, I would consider this book the Bible for any new, mentor-less, solo practitioner. If you're thinking about buying it, BUY it, even though it's too expensive. You'll probably be glad that you did. It could be all that comes between your neophyte-lawyer-hiny and the Disciplinary Committee. I have the new edition in my office and I consult it frequently. I have copied and used many of its example letters, forms and strategies. Mr. Foonberg's advice has saved me time, heartache and the ravages of clients who have no intention of paying me, or worse, clients who are just plain nuts. I take Mr. Foonberg's sage advice frequently and I must say that, in my limited experience, he has proven to be SO RIGHT about many aspects of the practice of law. If you cannot afford this book, check your local public library or the law school library to see if it has a copy. At least read the chapters on how to choose clients, how and when to bill and especially what clients NOT to take. Mr. Foonberg is about the only Mentor that I've found.

Grandmaster Foonberg is at the top of the law practice "how to" food chain with How to Start and Build a Law Practice. Frankly, I own not the millenium model but the Third Edition (it was a little weak on the technology side), but the lessons taught by the mythical Foonberg are invaluable - foremost among them: "it's better not to do the work and not get paid than to do the work and not get paid." Just too much here to miss, all put together in small vignette-style chapters. Lots of substance. A MUST have for lawyers. Get it!

I am a trial attorney in a city of about 220,000 people, and for more than 2 years I considered breaking away from firm life and starting my own shop. I read Foonberg's 3rd edition of the same title, then purchased this one. I read, dreamed, re-read, and then started planning. I used this book as my primary guide, while also gleaning some "nuggets" from other publications. I will say, however, that this book BY FAR provided the most guidance and the most detail.

Just over a month ago, I took the plunge and started my own solo practice. I had re-financed my house and took some cash out to ensure I could survive for about 6 months just on that money. ... And I am happy to say that it wasn't necessary. I am "in the black" after only the first month! In fact, I am SO busy, that I either need to limit my practice or rent a larger place to hire a paralegal. It's not like I'm taking everything that walks in either. On the contrary, I am refusing quite a bit of work, but it seems like the more bad cases I turn away, the more good cases come in.

My success is unusual, but can be duplicated with the same methodical planning using this book as a "bible" of sorts. It was on my nightstand for more than a year, and now it sits in my credenza in my new office. I cannot recommend this book enough to the attorney that is considering going on his/her own. It is truly a great resource. I actually plan on purchasing the new (5th) edition when it comes out, even though I'm already on my own. It is simply that useful. ... And don't be surprised if you can't find it in the local law library! It is usually either checked out or stolen.

I had my own practice in Delaware for 11 years. This book was the absolutely indispensible A-Z guide and saved me hundreds of thousands of dollars. I have never known Foonberg to be wrong and this book is crammed with useful tips. All the stuff they don't teach you in law school. Buy it at once if you're even thinking of starting your own practice. Buy it as a graduation gift if you know someone graduating from law school (they will thank you profusely). Even if you're a lawyer who laughs at the idea of ever starting your own practice, did you ever wonder how other lawyers do it? Buy and read this and you'll find out all the secrets. And you might just get tempted yourself...

I have been in private practice for a while, but thought I should "sharpen the saw" when I found this book on line.

I was immediately drawn into this volume of simple, clear and time proven practical techniques for starting and managing my practice. I know the techniques are effective because I had learned some of them through the years.

It is easy to read with concise chapters addressing every essential aspect of private practice. While a newly admitted attorney may find some of the suggestions difficult to implement because of a lack of cash flow, a more seasoned attorney will see the benefits and make the sacrifices willingly.

Easily, the best "How To" book I have ever read, and the best investment I have made.

I have read the new edition of Jay Foonberg's book, as well as reading the previous edition. The new edition is definitely much better and useful than the previous edition and should be bought by anyone who has the intention of setting up their own law practice.

Did you notice that there is only *one* used copy of this book for sale? There's a reason for that.

This book is an indispensable reference for sole practitioners. Yes, the material on technology is slightly dated (show me something in print that isn't). Yes, there is no in-depth treatment of any one topic. This book provides a cogent summary of the essentials of virtually any business management you may encounter as you launch a sole practice. The reader who discovers a need for more detailed information on any topic can then seek more specialized books, confident that s/he has made a good start steered by Foonberg.

For heaven's sake, get yourself a copy if you're starting a practice. It's worth the money.

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.

Okay, at one time (in earlier editions) this was a great book, but it has become outdated. It is still good, but it is not the best. I gave it 4 stars, but I would really have given it a 3.5 if that had been an option.

The addition of multiple short "chapters" - many of which are no more than half a page long - does not really constitute making it into a revised and updated "platinum" edition. Foonberg has been practicing law for somewhere over 40 years, so while he has a lot of experience, it has also been quite a while since he was the one starting a law firm. This is not said to diminish his accomplishments, but simply to point out that the world is very different now than when he started out.

In addition to being outdated in many areas, this book simply contains many things that are just not useful to the average lawyer starting a new firm. Even though it is marketed to solo attorneys, it often sounds like he is talking to a member of a large firm with unlimited resources. The new attorney on a limited budget may not be able to fully relate to the Foonberg experience.

This is certainly the longest book on the market on this subject, but it is also by far the most expensive. Much of that extra length really just looks like padding that has been stuck into the book. There are some chapters that seem carefully thought out and are written very well. Then, there are other short, choppy chapters that are plugged in with barely relevant and mostly useless information.

On the good side of the book, it does contain great advice on a number of topics on matters such as billing and client communciations. These are these sections that really generate the higher rating for the book, and are why it has lasted so long on the market. However, these are not new additions to the book. If you have an older edition of this text, you have seen this information before.

While this sounds like a bad review, I don't really mean it to be. This book is still better than most (but not all) of the other books available on this subject. I think my complaint stems from that I read an earlier edition of this book, and then thought I was going to get something new from the "revised and updated platinum edition." Instead, it was the same book recycled with the addition of some assorted snippets of information.

I also think the book is significantly overpriced, but that seems to be the case with all of the books printed by the ABA. This book would probably be priced at half this amount if it was put out by a different publisher. And if it was half of its current price, it would be much closer to a 5 star book.