The fulfilled lawyer : create the practice you desire

Attorney Kathleen Paukert describes her personal journey to finding career fulfillment, and shares her best advice for how lawyers can do the same, covering topics ranging from large (how to choose a practice setting, and recognizing your lawyer personality) to small (how to furnish your office, when to lease a copier, and what bank accounts are essential). You'll find a wealth of practical step-by-step advice on starting and building your law practice.

• Foreword p. xiii
• Chapter 1 The Practice of Law Is Not the Problem p. 1
• What Is Going on with Lawyers? p. 5
• Have Family Dynamics Changed? p. 6
• Do Lawyers Have to Work Too Hard? p. 7
• Is Practicing Law Stressful? p. 8
• Should Lawyers Practice in Only One Area of Law? p. 8
• Is Being a Lawyer No Longer Respectable? p. 9
• Do Lawyers Make Enough Money? p. 10
• Is Prestige Overrated? p. 11
• Is the Practice of Law Adversarial? p. 11
• Are Lawyers Nothing More Than Paper Pushers? p. 12
• Are There Too Many Lawyers and Not Enough Clients? p. 12
• Are There Enough Jobs? p. 13
• Did You Go to Law School Because You Didn't Know What Else to Do? p. 13
• Did You Go to Law School Because Others Expected It of You? p. 14
• How Do You Deal with the Good 01' Boys Network? p. 14
• What Are Your Issues? p. 16
• Chapter 2 Create the Practice of Law You Desire and Stay in Your Current Practice p. 17
• Large and Medium-Sized Private Firms p. 18
• Small Firms p. 25
• Government p. 26
• Nonprofits p. 29
• In-House p. 31
• Chapter 3 Create the Practice You Desire! Start Your Own Practice! p. 35
• Partners p. 37
• Office Space p. 38
• Staff p. 39
• Furniture p. 47
• Equipment p. 47
• Office Supplies p. 49
• Bank Accounts p. 49
• Accounting, Billing, and Taxes p. 51
• Retirement Planning p. 51
• Marketing p. 52
• Chapter 4 Practice in the Areas That Fulfill You p. 53
• Chapter 5 Create the Balance and Environment You Want to Work In p. 63
• Chapter 6 Be the Kind of Lawyer You Want to Be p. 69
• Honest Lawyer p. 72
• Tough Lawyer p. 73
• Abusive Lawyer p. 75
• Peaceful Lawyer p. 76
• Greedy Lawyer p. 77
• Workaholic Lawyer p. 79
• Pushover Lawyer p. 79
• Egotistical Lawyer p. 80
• Bottom Line p. 82
• Chapter 7 Get Your Personal and Business Finances In Order p. 85
• Personal Finances p. 85
• Firm Finances p. 91
• Bookkeeping and Your Accounts p. 91
• Savings Account p. 92
• Lines of Credit p. 92
• Credit Cards p. 93
• Billing p. 93
• Chapter 8 Create the Client Base You Desire p. 97
• Marketing p. 98
• Networking p. 101
• The Internet p. 105
• The Phone Book p. 108
• Television p. 109
• Radio p. 110
• Bench Advertising and Bus Advertising p. 110
• Billboard Advertising p. 110
• Sponsorships p. 111
• Speaking Engagements p. 111
• Free Publicity p. 112
• Magazine/Newspaper Advertising p. 112
• The Hustle p. 113
• Support for Other Lawyers p. 113
• Chapter 9 Mastering the Art of Getting Back Up Again! p. 117
• Chapter 10 Use Technology to Create the Practice You Desire p. 123
• The Basics p. 123
• Supplements to the Basics p. 125
• Chapter 11 Are You Standing in the Way of Creating the Practice You Desire? p. 127
• Chapter 12 Are You Burned Out? You Can Recover and Have the Practice You Desire! p. 135
• Chapter 13 The Laws of Attraction and/or the Power of Positive Thinking in Creating the Practice You Desire p. 141
• Chapter 14 Making It Happen! p. 153
• Chapter 15 Advice for Law Students and New Lawyers p. 157
• Chapter 16 It Is Your Life, Career, and Choice p. 163
• Index p. 165