When I opened my solo practice as a young lawyer, this is one area that I had not covered in law school. When you open your doors the one thing you have before clients is bills (expenses) so it was an important missing piece. My part time secretary worked at the local donut spot so she had no experience to help me. I remember coming home in the evening where Chris was studying for law school exams and I'd drop a bunch of checks from new clients onto the kitchen tableall in a random order that I shoved in my briefcase for safekeeping throughout the day. We would sit at the kitchen table and write out checks, fill out deposit slips for my trust account and budget when I would pay my bills (not lots of money in the business account at that time, I can assure you). Remember at that time, no internet, no accounting software. Yikes. Now we have an office manager, sophisticated accounting software, and a CPA on retainer. In today's world, technology exists but it isn't free and I can assure you that many new lawyers start at the kitchen table as we did 25 years ago. Why do I offer this to you in a Paralegal Program? Because some paralegals find themselves in newer firms/sole practices and face this lack of technology. They are asked to serve as part-time office managers. What would you do in such a situation? Turn down the job? Perhaps some would. Many of us do not have that luxury.

Instructions

Write minimum memo to me, the new lawyer in her solo practice with no accounting technology of any kind. Based upon the information you have reviewed this week include the following:

1. Identify the potential problems from not having some billing/bookkeeping technology in place for the new law practice.
2. Make some suggestions as to what to do first, second, and so on so that I can see how to prioritize (budget for) these recommendations. Explain why you prioritize your suggestions as you do.
3. Since you will not go beyond the scope of what you reviewed this week, you may have information missing in your memounanswered questions if you will. That's okay but you should identify where further research is needed. Always identify the shortcomings of your information and ask the attorney if she wants you to conduct further research. This way, you give her what she asks for in a limited time and don't perform all kinds of extra work (hours she's paying for) without asking. Make sense?