The tools you need for staying current as an independent lawyer

One of the most important ways you can support your growing law business is to keep your knowledge and skills fresh. Staying current as an independent lawyer shows clients your commitment to your practice and the expertise that will help them most.

Professional Development

In Colorado, all attorneys must complete 45 continuing legal education (CLE) credits every three years; however, you should think about professional development in broader terms. Seek out opportunities to learn more about running a business, in addition to improving your knowledge of the law.

You can always learn more, and new information could change how you run your practice or how you manage cases.

Most lawyers begin their CLE search with a local bar association, and the Colorado Bar offers a number of excellent seminars on a variety of topics.

Other resources to try include:

MyShingle – The go-to blog and resource for independent lawyers; includes programs and webinars. Learn more.
RocketMatter – Selection of both free and fee-based webinars for lawyers. Learn more.
Lawlytics – Webinars and podcast for lawyers. Learn more.
Small Business Development Center – A source for all small businesses with seminars on a variety of business and marketing topics. Learn more.
SCORE – Small business resource with access to mentors, workshops and additional resources. Learn more.

News

In addition to working on business and law skills, it pays to know what’s changing in the legal landscape. Pay attention to law news as well as experts in the field offering deeper insights into the changes.

Some great news sources and podcasts to follow include:

Above the Law – News outlet with a focus on small law firms and independent attorneys. Learn more.
Reuters legal news – National coverage of legal news. Learn more.
ABA Journal – General law and legal industry news. Learn more.
Law.com – Offering a variety of law-focused publications. Registration required. Learn more.
Lawyerist podcast – Covering a variety of law practice and legal topics. Learn more.
The Law Entrepreneur podcast – A podcast geared specifically to independent lawyers. Learn more.

Do you have any great news or professional development resources to share? We’d love to hear about them.

To learn more about building an independent law practice in Denver, contact us. We have the right office or coworking space for your law practice. 

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