Includes index.

Who and what is a law firm -- Virtual law firms -- Office-sharing arrangements -- Referral arrangements outside law firms -- The form of a law firm -- Law firm governance -- The career lattice for larger firm lawyers -- Non-partner lawyers -- Partnership -- Temporary or contract attorneys -- Nonlawyers at law firms -- Administrative organizational structures -- Interactions with nonlawyer staff -- Partnership at XYZ law partnership, LLP: exercise #1 -- The market for legal services -- Types of law practices -- How fees are assessed -- Other sources of firm revenue -- Law firm profitability -- Client and matter profitability -- Problems with over-focus on profitability -- Introduction to law firm practice: exercise #2 -- Law firm compensation -- Compensation and culture: exercise #3 -- Intake of a client matter -- Time-billing entries -- Managing client work -- Pro bono -- Business development -- Developing business from new clients -- Retaining work from existing clients -- Client relationship management -- Lending clients money -- Sample business development checklist for associates -- Marketing : exercise #4 -- Firm culture and demands on time -- Basics of lawyers' professional liability insurance -- Dealing with mistakes -- Diversity in law firms -- Mentoring -- Supervision and risk management.

For both the law student and young lawyer, this guide provides an introduction to the basics of working in a law firm. It discusses how a lawyer can get around within the firm to succeed in law firm practice.