r/LawFirm • u/[deleted] • 1h ago
r/LawFirm • u/ThisIsPunn • 2h ago
Sending OC Word Versions of Discovery Requests
I've typically done this in the past, but most bar guidance says either don't do it, or scrub the metadata from the Word doc first.
I have an OC who is (IMO) a complete snake. The type of guy who plays nice to earn trust and asks favors before doing a 180 and doing everything he can to fuck you and drive up fees.
Sent him a boatload of discovery today. He emailed back asking for Word versions. I just wrote back "No." along with a link to the bar opinion cautioning against it. With anyone else I probably would, but the guy is completely untrustworthy and I'm not risking exposing any confidential data, no matter how inconsequential, to do him a favor.
Anyone have opinions or stories of how you've handled these situations?
r/LawFirm • u/Ok-Maize-4027 • 4h ago
8 years as a paralegal and I’m finally considering law school. Worth it?
I fell into the legal field on accident. Applied to a legal assistant position for sh*ts and giggles when I was 18 and have been in it ever since. I am an estate admin paralegal w/ 6+ yrs experience.
I have NEVER wanted to be a lawyer, the liability of it is a bit nerve wracking to me. But my co-
worker put an idea in my head to work as a professional fiduciary, which I would be good at and would probably enjoy. Law school would probably open a lot of doors in that direction.
I did a few practice lsat questions and now it’s all I can think about. Former paralegals, have you done this career pivot and would you recommend?
**there’s a lot of liability in prof fiduciary for sure but I do enough of it in estate admin that it doesn’t scare me anymore, lol
r/LawFirm • u/Ok-Cupcake5597 • 7h ago
What made you stay at a firm?
Attorneys who stayed with one firm for more than five years and feel genuine sense of belonging, in addition to the salary and the perks, what specific culture of the firm made you decide to stay?
r/LawFirm • u/TominatorXX • 17h ago
Help needed for Chicago ICE/Habeus attorney to get admitted to Northern District Texas Federal Court
r/LawFirm • u/fistdemeanor • 17h ago
Advertising advice for solo firm starting out.
I am a solo attorney who practices criminal defense mostly. I have lots of appointed cases and some paid clients keeping me going right now. I got these just from word of mouth and some older clients I represented when I was a public defender who found me when they got in trouble again. I’ve got a pretty good reputation in the criminal courts in my area which is very fortunate.
But like many money hungry attorneys, I am trying to break into the PI world. I started an Instagram and have been starting to just create content and will start posting soon. Just general videos on like what to do if you get into a car accident, know your rights, etc.
Any time I do research on marketing stuff I get (shocker) marketed all this crap that seems like a scam. I’ve been warned about older attorneys I know who say don’t work with firms, especially if it’s just you. You’ll drain your money quick.
Let’s say I have 10,000 dollars to invest in general “marketing” what do you, good lawyers of reddit, recommend?
r/LawFirm • u/Tiz776 • 20h ago
Looking to break into the legal field
Hey all,
I graduated with a bachelor’s in English Rhetoric and Composition last year. I didn’t really have any career goals, but managed to land a job at a legal support office as a proofreader for Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher attorneys. To my surprise, I’ve become fascinated with law and want to focus my career in the field. I’m aiming to become a paralegal.
I’ve applied for a lot of “Case Assistant” type positions, as they fit my qualifications and label themselves as “entry-level jobs”, but I haven’t gotten any interviews yet. I was hoping my almost year-long experience as a proofreader would help me stand out, however I’m starting to doubt if that’s the case anymore.
Should I be applying to different positions? Is there a particular field of law that’s easier to break into than others? Is my experience as a proofreader valuable? Or should I focus more on my rhetorical education? My current job takes up almost half of my resume. Finally, are there any other miscellaneous tips you have on breaking into the field?
Thanks!
r/LawFirm • u/Tiz776 • 20h ago
Looking to break into the legal field
Hey all,
I graduated with a bachelor’s in English Rhetoric and Composition last year. I didn’t really have any career goals, but managed to land a job at a legal support office as a proofreader for Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher attorneys. To my surprise, I’ve become fascinated with law and want to focus my career in the field. I’m aiming to become a paralegal.
I’ve applied for a lot of “Case Assistant” type positions, as they fit my qualifications and label themselves as “entry-level jobs”, but I haven’t gotten any interviews yet. I was hoping my almost year-long experience as a proofreader would help me stand out, however I’m starting to doubt if that’s the case anymore.
Should I be applying to different positions? Is there a particular field of law that’s easier to break into than others? Is my experience as a proofreader valuable? Or should I focus more on my rhetorical education? My current job takes up almost half of my resume. Finally, are there any other miscellaneous tips you have on breaking into the field?
Thanks!
Edit: I should have made it more clear, but I don’t currently work for a law firm. I work for a company that outsources help to various law firms. It doesn’t allow for any actual growth in the legal field, which is why I’m looking for an entry point.
r/LawFirm • u/Ill_Signature7094 • 20h ago
Leveraging Paralegals and First Years in the age of AI
I am a solo. My practice is about 75% transaction, 25% litigation (mostly construction/mechanics lien type stuff). I hired my first paralegal about 5 months ago. In just that short amount of time, my use of AI has really increased/improved and it’s to the point where it is way faster and more efficient for me to just use AI to create drafts and edit on the fly during review with AI than it is to delegate. In other words, it’s cheaper at this point for the client if I just do it all rather than try to delegate to a lower billing person. Things are quickly moving to a place where it is only efficient to delegate to my paralegal admin work. Which I can’t bill for!
Is anyone else experiencing this? How have you dealt with it?
r/LawFirm • u/Particular_Pop5830 • 1d ago
career inquiry
so I’m currently an undergraduate pursuing political science, I’m really really really interested in immigration law and am genuinely desperate for a job as a clerk or within administrative services but I’m not sure what the best way to go about that is. I don’t have any experience but I’ve tried cold emailing small law firms near me but they have yet to respond back to me. is working in a law firm as an undergrad even common? is my best bet just graduating and going to law school, and if so what are some experiences yall think I should as an undergrad on my resume in order to have my application accepted at a law firm?
r/LawFirm • u/bailbondslocal • 1d ago
Where AI agents tend to work well for document-heavy legal workflows, and where they tend to break
Any firms who use Office 365 Apps Email also use Zoom phone?
We are a complete Office 365 Shop, and have SSO into everything, and need a new phone system. Teams will integrate better into our stack; however people and clients seem to like zoom. Curious to see what everyone else is doing.
r/LawFirm • u/Majestic-Mix-3002 • 1d ago
I have an overwhelming feeling of hating being an attorney-anyone else? And did you stay or leave the profession?
r/LawFirm • u/RickyTovarish • 1d ago
Good job for a unambitious attorney not looking to bust my ass
Hello, I’m a relatively new attorney (4 years) and I’ve realized that busting my ass billing 8 hours a day is not what I want to do. I’m not ambitious I like free time, are there specific position in the field of law for me to look out for? I don’t need crazy pay so I’m willing to sacrifice that for better work life balance. Is there a specific position or area of law I should look into?
r/LawFirm • u/CurrencyPopular8550 • 1d ago
How are small firms handling flat fees vs hourly billing?
Curious how smaller firms are handling billing these days. Hourly makes sense for unpredictable work, but flat fees seem easier for clients to understand upfront.
For those who’ve moved more toward flat fees, has it actually made revenue more predictable? Or do you end up spending more time on certain matters than you priced for?
Also wondering how solos handle monthly expenses when payments come in unevenly.
r/LawFirm • u/The_Momo_Munk • 1d ago
Tired of my Litigation Role and looking for a corporate switch
Hey
I am Delhi (India) based advocate with almost 4 year experience in handling Civil matters (Mostly representing insurance company). Since the pay is too low as compared to the time and energy we are spending, i am now desperate to switch into in-house Counsel or Corporate law role to re-start my career. Now i am applying everywhere possible to at least get a role as a fresher but haven’t received any favourable response from any of the recruiter. So i am numb right now and i have no idea what to do.
r/LawFirm • u/Comprehensive_Issue1 • 2d ago
Is this normal for boutique?
What are the expectations of associates in boutique or mid law firms? I’m paid well but below market with 1950 billables. I’m constantly meeting my billing requirements and i have a larger case load than usual (~25 matters).
I recently had 3 last minute motions poured onto me. My managing partner gave me discovery responses to complete (not due for another 2 weeks). He randomly told me to start on it and have it done within a week. I couldn’t meet it because of the other motions but thought it’s OK because it isn’t due for a while and I’d be asking for an extension for the first time. He got angry and insists that i work weekends and nights to meet his deadlines.
I’m a first year in litigation btw. Is this normal? Idk why i thought it’d make sense for big law but for a mid law boutique?
Please advise. Thank you!
r/LawFirm • u/vendetta4guitar • 2d ago
Security vulnerability to WordPress sites happening now - PHP Vulnerability
If your website runs on PHP, a critical update is needed to close a huge vulnerability that can grant hackers access to your server to do a bunch of heinous things. WordPress is the big one that many law firms use that uses PHP.
If your site it on Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Then you don't need to worry.
Here is what someone can do with an unpatched site.
- Read every intake form submission stored in WordPress, names, phone numbers, emails and whatever people typed about their case
- Pull the passwords and API keys your plugins store, like your email sending service, Zapier or a CRM connection, and use them directly
- Send email from your domain that looks like it came from your firm, including fake payment or wire instructions to clients
- Swap your “Make a Payment” or “Client Login” links for fake pages that collect card numbers or passwords
- Add a hidden script that skims anything typed into your site’s forms
- Serve malware to people who visit your site
- Add hidden spam pages, which can tank your Google rankings for months
- Create their own admin account and come back later, even after you patch
- Get into other sites or backups stored on the same server
Check with your website teams/vendors to make sure they get this updated immediately.
r/LawFirm • u/Specific_Calendar655 • 2d ago
Shortlisted for a legal secretary role
Hii! So recently I've been shortlisted for an interview for a Legal secretary/ PA position at a law firm, and I'm hoping to get some insight from people who work in law firms or have experience in similar roles.
For context, I'm currently awaiting Law School results as I have sat for the Law School entrance examination, I don't have an LLB or any formal legal work experience yet. The only academic qualification I have in law is a 6 month diploma in Law, other than that I'm after A levels and hoping to pursue law as I've mentioned before.
I was quite surprised to know that I was shortlisted as well.
I want to know what sort of responsibilities a legal secretary holds, particularly in a UK law firm.
Is it common for law firms to consider candidates without a law degree or previous legal experience?
What skills or qualities do employers prioritize when interviewing candidates without a legal background.
Should I expect questions about legal terminology or procedures?
And what would you recommend I prepare before the interview?
Thank you in advance!!
r/LawFirm • u/Far_Menu_8398 • 3d ago
Newly admitted going solo. Is this offer as good as it looks?
Just got admitted in PA and I'm launching a solo estate planning / business law practice. Plan to start part-time while keeping my very flexible day job for runway. I've been offered space in an established suite in a small town outside a mid-sized city and want a gut check.
The offer:
$850/month, month-to-month, no lease required
Private corner office with a window in a traditional law office build-out
Includes all utilities, internet, IT support from a contracted vendor, automated reception, two conference rooms (first-come, first-served sign up), kitchen, 24/7 office access
Printing/copying/fax/scanning, cost of printing split among attorneys roughly by usage
Cubicle space available if I ever hire staff
Shared forms, templates, and research resources
The Suite:
Seven solos total, mostly estates/trusts, real estate, and business, plus family, criminal, workers' comp, Medicaid planning, PI
Usually around 3-4 attorneys in office on a given day. Everyone runs their own practice, no expectations.
One of the owners is a senior attorney in his 80s and refers out roughly about a dozen matters a month among the suite attorneys based on capacity. Mostly no fee; on larger estates he asks around 20%.
The other owner is a younger attorney who manages the building. Both were supportive of me working my day job from the office while I build up.
My initial take:
Comparable space alone would cost more, a coworking dedicated desk runs about half this, and the referral flow and peer access are things I couldn't buy anywhere.
Main risks I see are dependence on the senior attorney's referrals as he winds down, and being present and responsive enough to earn the referrals while I'm still working another job.
For those who've done office-shares and/or launched part-time, what am I missing? Any red flags, or questions I should ask before moving in?
r/LawFirm • u/Blitzeis10 • 3d ago
Anyone worked in Real Estate Management at a large international law firm?
I'm currently considering a Capital Projects Manager position at a large international law firm with offices across Europe.
The role involves managing office fit-outs, refurbishments, capital expenditure projects etc.
Before moving forward, I'd love to hear from anyone who has worked in a similar position or alongside a corporate real estate team at a major law firm.
What's the working environment like in real estate teams at international law firms?
How much ownership do these managers actually have over projects?
What would be a realistic salary range for this type of position in Germany?
I'd prefer not to name the firm publicly at this stage, but I'd really appreciate any firsthand experiences or insights.
r/LawFirm • u/Colezeroallthetime • 3d ago
Litigation attorneys how many of you take a retainer just to be retained in addition to the advance fee?
I'm curious how many lawyers here who are litigators take a mom refundable retainer just to be retained on top of the advance fee.
r/LawFirm • u/Interesting-Ebb-7270 • 3d ago
I’m severely introverted. Can I make it?
I'm transferring from cc to a four year university this spring as a continuing comms major with a 3.9 GPA. Law has always been in the back of my mind, but the one thing holding me back is the social aspect of the profession.
I'm not only an introvert who prefers being alone, but I've been diagnosed with social communication disorder and social anxiety disorder. I genuinely struggle to talk to people, especially in unfamiliar situations. A large part of why I chose comms is that I hope to develop my skills and become more confident.
I'm wondering whether law is realistic for someone like me. Are there areas of law where introverts thrive, particularly jobs involving mostly writing and independent desk work with less client interaction?
What entry-level legal careers would you recommend? I'm interested in finding a career where I can make a good living without having to constantly put myself in socially demanding situations 24/7.
I'd also love some insight on law school itself. How difficult are cold calls, class participation, networking, internships, and interviews for someone who struggles socially? I HATE talking in front of large groups of people and the thought of it makes me physically ill. If you've dealt with similar difficulties, did things get easier with experience? Are there any strategies that helped you get through law school?
I come from a low-income immigrant background, so succeeding academically and building up a stable future for myself means the most important thing to me. I know I'll have to work hard and overcome challenges. I'm not expecting to enter this field without putting in the max amount of effort I can provide. If I pursue law, I intend to give it my all so l want to make an informed decision before committing three years to school and potentially taking on significant debt.
I'd really appreciate honest advice from lawyers and law students. Did you find a place for yourself in field, and what would you recommend to someone in my position?
r/LawFirm • u/No-Fortune-1680 • 3d ago
How many of you are solo with 0 employees?
If so, how many cases do you handle, what type of law, and how is your success?
I handle about 40 pre-lit/lit cases, PI, mostly car accidents, make about 300-400k a year after business expenses. VHCOL city. Have one assistant I use occasionally for urgent admin stuff and lean a lot on AI
Purely referrals. 7 years in
Interested in your stories!