Setting up a practice – practical introduction
Law Society Skillnet will shortly host a practical workshop for solicitors considering setting up in practice.
Solicitors considering establishing their own firm, joining an existing practice, or taking over a business will have an opportunity to explore the practicalities of running a legal practice at the upcoming workshop.
‘A Practical Introduction to Setting Up in Practice’ will take place at the Law Society on Tuesday 10 November, from 10am to 2.30pm.
The course will provide practical guidance on the opportunities, challenges, and regulatory requirements involved in becoming a principal or moving into practice ownership.
Legal deserts
The workshop will examine the changing legal landscape in Ireland, including international developments and the issue of legal deserts in urban and rural communities.
Participants will also consider the personal, professional, and financial implications of running a firm, helping them assess whether practice ownership is the right step for them.
Key topics will include starting a practice from scratch, joining or acquiring an existing firm, choosing between general and specialist practice, and planning a successful transition.
The programme will also cover essential regulatory requirements, including practising certificates, professional indemnity insurance and run-off cover, reporting accountant requirements, partnership structures, and the steps involved in starting business.
The workshop will feature three panel sessions.
The first, Is Running Your Own Firm Right for You?, will feature Deirdre Fox, pictured, (Deirdre Fox & Associates), chair of Law Society Skillnet Steering Committee, and Richard Hammond SC of Hammond Good LLP.
The second session, A Guide to Regulatory Essentials, will be led by Sorcha Hayes, head of practice regulation at the Law Society.
The final panel, How the Law Society Can Help, will bring together:
- Sorcha Hayes,
- Bronagh Neill (head of Psychological Services),
- Katherine Kane (head of Law Society Professional Training), and
- Karen Dowdall, Solicitor Services executive, career and practice development.
Designed for solicitors and other members of the legal profession considering a move into practice ownership, the course will offer practical insights into the decisions, obligations, and support structures involved in establishing or transitioning into a legal practice.
The course costs €145 and carries 3.5 CPD hours, comprising 2.5 hours in professional development and solicitor wellbeing and one hour in client care and professional standards, by group study.