Gotta hand it to Foonberg! This book is required, simply cannot be done without. Highly recommended...

I am an attorney specializing in family law and criminal defense. My partner has 35 years of experience, so I wasn't exactly starting or building a law practice, but this book has been invaluable to me. An older attorney let me borrow his first edition copy of the book after I had been practicing for a couple months. What an eye-opener! There were so many suggestions for ways to be more efficient and practical that I quickly applied them and started saving a lot of time and making more money. I bought this edition of the book and use it on a daily basis, from using form letters to deciding whether or not to take certain cases. I would recommend this book for any new attorney, regardless of where he or she works.

This "how to" book is a practical guide to starting a law practice. Mr. Foonberg's book contains a wealth of practical suggestions organized in short chapters. While one could sit down and read the book front to back, as I did, it also is a an excellent refrence book, that I can see refering to as questions come along.
Probably the most important thing I got out of the book is the feeling that I COULD start my own law practice. This book helped me to feel that starting a practice was a reasonable option.

I found the book to be outstanding. I have bookmarked pages for review and constant use.
Randy Harvey, Ph.D., J.D.
Attorney At Law
Sacramento California

Great buy! Worth every penny. Anyone considering opening up their own law practice MUST purchase this book. It is a playbook, which leads you through a step-by-step analysis of how to prepare, open and successfully manage a law firm.

No one can deny this is a great book for lawyers. It has many tips and

good ideas for the lawyers. But some documents are a little bit old.

That's why I rated 4-star.

My partner and I are using this book (as well as advice from seasoned lawyers) to start our firm and find it to be exceedingly helpful. We both have our own copy. Worth its weight in...uh...legal briefs.

Hands down, this book should be THE ONE you buy if you are starting your own practice. Having worked for small and medium-sized firms for years, I thought I had a good handle on all I needed to know. But this book had the most useful, practical information to really prepare me for the intracacies of hanging out my shingle. Good luck to all you who find yourselves in this same position. How liberating it is finally to be in charge of our own destiny!

I found the information in the book to be helpful but a bit more general than I had hoped. Still, it is an excellent reference source and enjoyable to read. I would recommend this book to someone starting out in a law practice, particularly a less experienced attorney, along with other books on the subject that delve into more detail concerning the nuts and bolts of solo practice.

I have read about 90% of this book and have found it very helpful. There are lots of helpful form letters throughout and it seems to cover the majority of issues a new attorney in solo practice would have to consider with some exceptions. Also, when I emailed Mr. Foonberg, he responded immediately, so 5 stars plus for being a dedicated author! If I were to give the book or author any criticism at all, it would be that Mr. Foonberg may not be the most technology-oriented lawyer out there and might benefit the book by adding more info regarding incorporating scanners, Blackberries, adobe, efax or myfax solutions, offsite backup of computer datea, etc into a law practice. In my humble opinion, nowadays, a lawyer who doesn't use at least some of these things in his/her practice looks "cheap," or worse, behind-the-times (not as efficient). Mr. Foonberg asserts that having a paperless office isn't practical or possible, but there are many successful and savvy attorneys out there that would disagree. At the very least, I agree with a majority of techno savvy attorneys out there (search Yahoo or Google for articles and blogs) that having instant access to all client files and documents from a computer anywhere in the world is a HUGE benefit that cannot be overrated.

I have read about 90% of this book and have found it very helpful. There are lots of helpful form letters throughout and it seems to cover the majority of issues a new attorney in solo practice would have to consider with some exceptions. Also, when I emailed Mr. Foonberg, he responded immediately, so 5 stars plus for being a dedicated author! If I were to give the book or author any criticism at all, it would be that Mr. Foonberg may not be the most technology-oriented lawyer out there and might benefit the book by adding more info regarding incorporating scanners, Blackberries, adobe, efax or myfax solutions, offsite backup of computer datea, etc into a law practice. In my humble opinion, nowadays, a lawyer who doesn't use at least some of these things in his/her practice looks "cheap," or worse, behind-the-times (not as efficient). Mr. Foonberg asserts that having a paperless office isn't practical or possible, but there are many successful and savvy attorneys out there that would disagree. At the very least, I agree with a majority of techno savvy attorneys out there (search Yahoo or Google for articles and blogs) that having instant access to all client files and documents from a computer anywhere in the world is a HUGE benefit that cannot be overrated.

I have read this book after having worked for 15 years for the government just to find out more about the challenges that private attorneys enconter when starting a law office. This book is a must read! Mr. Foonberg has covered every aspect of starting (and building) a law practice. Having read this book, every attorney will be well prepared to start his or her own law practice successfully.

If you are going into private practice, you *must* have this book. It won't answer every question -- the technology chapters are a little limited, but really, there are more specialized resources for tech issues that are more useful. For all of the other questions you've got, Foonberg's got answers -- not to mention answers to a lot of questions you haven't asked yet but need to.

One other reviewer complained that parts of the book were written for big-firms with unlimited budgets; I honestly don't think he read the same book I did. I haven't come across any hint or suggestion anywhere in the book that isn't practical for a solo practioner.

I have been using this book as my guide to starting my own law practice straight out of law school and it has been a great starting place. It gives you a great checklist of things to make sure you don't forget, and some starter information for a long long list of topics. I would agree with an earlier reviewer that the format is not entirely cohesive (the chapters are meant to stand alone and Foonberg repeats certain information in more than one place), but I'm not sure that it hurts the usefulness of the book much-- it's great to be able to look up the topic you're interested in and go to that section without wondering what other sections might also have tangentially related information.
It goes without saying that such a broad book cannot also be completely comprehensive, so it does take additional research to get you to where you should be, but Foonberg recommends where to go for additional information and lists a lot of really great resources.
I think my biggest complaint (as someone in my late 20s) is that the sections relating to technology are extremely basic and don't really even attempt to make suggestions about programs, etc. I understand the limits of time and going to press, but it would be nice to have some more guidance in this area for the great number of us new lawyers who have grown up with laptops and such. For older attorneys it might be really great in this area because it goes through certain technological basics in an extremely basic way (and warns other readers of before doing so).
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone starting their own practice, either out of school OR after working for someone else.

I'm a lawyer in the middle of my career who wants to go out on his own. I have a good deal of experience with clients, running a business, and practicing law. Even so, Mr Foonberg's book exceeded my expectations for the amount of useful information and organization I gained from his book.

This is a straight-forward, brass tacks & solid advice book. Intelligently organized into stand-alone sections, I had no problem plowing through 650+ pages in less than 7 days. I'm sure I'll be returning to it again and again to check his sage advice and concise checklists for all aspects of beginning a law practice.

It has motivated me enought to order his book about creating bills that clients rush to pay!

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.

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.

The book arrived on time, infact a day earlier than I anticipated. It was in excellent shape, cover crisp and shiny and didn't seem like it had been used at all. Surprisingly, it was delivered right outside my apartment door. I have purchased other books through amazon before, but none were personally delivered to me. Out of all the purchases through amazon, this exceeds all in quality for my money and efficiency in delivery.

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.

Very helpful book. The author is obviously very knowledgeable and very experienced. I will refer back to this book over and over again as I develop my practice. This book is a must for any attorney thinking about building a practice. Foonberg is the best!

I bought this for a discounted rate from the ABA when I was a Law Student. After reading it, I would have been willing to pay 5 times the actual price (albeit, I would not have ever bought to find out it was worth that much). Far too many times I have bought one of these "How to" books and found it too much BS and not enough substance. Foonberg minimzes the BS and maximizes the substance. My only critique is I would like to get a littl emore information about marketing and getting clients in my doors from day 1. He addresses the issue but a methodology would have been nice. All in all, the book is a tremendous resource. If you are starting a practice/firm, I HIGHLY recommend this book.

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.

Good book for the solo, but the book has some repetitions in it. The book appears as if Foonberg wrote a series of short articles and the bound them to make a book. Regardless, the book has lots of good information in it.

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 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...

Mr. Foonberg writes well, but most of what he says does not make sense. Worse still, I found alot of his advice was old and outdated, even if you wanted to follow it. The problem is,if you want to start your own practice, where can you go for advice? Since there aren't many books in this field, Mr. Foonberg seems to have corned the market himself. As such, many attorneys seem to buy this book, because there isn't any other choice. There is.

The truth is, as a sole practioner or partner, you have the same problems in law, as you would in other businesses. You need to find and keep clients. The better bet, and the stronger advice, can be found in business books. There are alot of books on how to succeed in business. My advice is to read those. You will get more mileage, and better business tips, then found here.

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!