S

BUILDING A NICHE LEGAL

PRACTICE Chris Wendelbo

BW Law Group, LLC 6320 Brookside Plaza, Ste.

182Kansas City, MO 64331

(913) 904-6207chris@bwlawgroup.com

BUILDING A NICHE LEGAL PRACTICE

STEP RIGHT UP!

Learn how attorneys are carving out specialty practices that go where they

have never gone before or just complement their primary area of

practice!

BUILDING A NICHE LEGAL PRACTICE

See

Death defying strategies to become the subject matter

expert in any group of lawyers!

BUILDING A NICHE LEGAL PRACTICE

EXPERIENCE

The thrill of learning new skills in a period clearly outside the hangover window, but before

the cocktail parties!

BUILDING A NICHE LEGAL PRACTICE

BECOME

Integrated in your client’s business as inside /outside counsel without violating

the Rules of Professional Conduct!  

TO NICHE OR NOT TO NICHE – THAT IS THE QUESTION

 ADOPTION OF GENERAL BUSINESS PRACTICES / PRINCIPLES

 The “Business of Law” is a very good thing.

  Profession v. Business – Does it really matter?

  If Profession v. Business does matter to you – think long and hard!

TO NICHE OR NOT TO NICHE – THAT IS THE QUESTION

YOU MEAN A LAWYER CAN LEARN SOMETHING FROM OTHER BUSINESSES? I MEAN, OTHER THAN HOW TO MAKE A GOOD LIVING, HAVE SOME FREE TIME AND ENJOY WHAT THEY ARE DOING, OF COURSE.

 YOU KNOW, JUST YOUR RUN-OF-THE-MILL NICHE BUSINESSES –- EXAMPLES OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL NICHE BUSINESSES

 IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?

STARTING A SPECIALTY / NICHE PRACTICE

EVERYBODY DOES IT. ADMIT IT – YOU DO IT TOO!

You’re already a niche player – you’re a Solo or Small Firm lawyer! This is about refinement and business opportunities.

Are you a closet niche player?

 Deciding what your niche should be 

Business Criteria Legal Criteria

Geographic Criteria

STARTING A SPECIALTY / NICHE

PRACTICE

REFINEMENT  Selection criteria 

Personality; Skill-set; Prior experience/expertise; Life demands; Quality of life; “Over the horizon” analysis / trends; Virtual v. traditional; and/or Other factors too stupendous and numerous to name

here.

STARTING A SPECIALTY / NICHE

PRACTICE Organizational considerations Oh, I forgot about the money part! How much does it cost?

Business evaluation metrics and adjustment

Business skills (or kill unprofitable business practices 

GO MAKE IT WORK!

You have your niche – now what?

Client Selection;

Structure;

Become the subject matter expert in a group;

Evaluation of effectiveness / adjust fire;

Relationships with referring attorneys;

Marketing /Networking;

GO MAKE IT WORK!

Evaluation of effectiveness / adjust fire;

Think outside the “box”;

Adjust your marketing to lawyers (give them a financial reason / client service reason to refer to you);

Evaluation of effectiveness / adjust fire;

Get a Good Website – no I mean a Gooood website;

Get in the right “air space” and stop hanging out with just lawyers or just clients. Identify people who might need your services and join that group;

GO MAKE IT WORK!

Actually use Linked-in, Avvo or other social media to reach those who might not know a specialist;

Don’t violate ethical rules with your website or social media;

Track the Money. If you can’t show yourself the money -- you need to evaluate your marketing effectiveness and adjust fire!

Write Articles / Present.

GO MAKE IT WORK!

Remember the Golden Rule of Niche Lawyers --- Don’t steal clients! Represent them in your specialty and send them skipping happily home to the referring attorney if applicable. This practice -- and the use of opposable thumbs -- are what separate Solo & Small Firm lawyers from the large law firms! You will only do it once.

All together now -- any other suggestions?

While I didn’t technically use the entire portion of another well-known phrase, I might need the help of a specialist to make sure – maybe a lawyer with a niche practice perhaps?

INSIDE / OUTSIDE COUNSEL

?