Adjunct Faculty Contact Information:
Damon Duncan’s Contact Information
Miscellaneous Documents:
Mastering the Informational Interview
Blank Template for Business Expenses (for Profit and Loss)
Kimbro – Reinventing the Practice of Law
Kimbro – Virtual Law Practice and the Online Delivery of Legal Services
Business Owner’s Checklist to Choosing the Right Business Entity (Wood)
Trust Accounting Rules (Bolac – 2012)
Interesting Articles:
10 Commandments for Hanging A Shingle
20 Tips to Improve the Finances of Your Practice
How Lawyers Will Modernize Their Firms in 2015
Definitive Guide to WordPress Search Engine Optimization (SEO) by Yoast
How Age and Gender Affect Self-Improvement
26 Factors of Effective Lawyering
Intro to Pay Per Click Marketing
Examples of Final Projects:
The Particulars
Law Firm Management – Law 830A
Adjunct Professor Damon Duncan
Room 105 – 1 Credit Hour
Mon – Thurs 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
| Class Description: | This course will acquaint students with the data and skills necessary to understand the business of delivering legal services today and in the future. Topics and skills addressed include management theory and techniques, employment, client-management, interviewing, counseling, negotiations, systems analysis and design, business development, technology and professional responsibility. Lecture, demonstration and clinical stimulations will be utilized. |
| Textbook Information: |
Name: North Carolina Small Law Office Resource Manual (Digital Copy) Author: North Carolina Bar Association Edition: 5th Edition (2011) Publisher: North Carolina Bar Association ISBN #: N/A Price: $60.00 Other selected readings. (Provided) |
| Attendance: | Attendance for this class is important. With only four class periods, missing one class is the same as missing 25% of another course’s classes. An absence is only acceptable with the prior consent of the class’s professor. Poor attendance will result in a poor final grade. |
| Grading Criteria: | This is a pass / fail class. To pass this class we expect attendance, regular participation and a professional final presentation. I hope the desire to be a great lawyer will be your motivation in this class, not a “P” on a final transcript. |
| Office Hours: | In addition to being an adjunct professor I am a full time practicing attorney. Although I do not keep regular office hours at the law school if you need to speak with me please contact me and we will set up an appropriate time to discuss any questions, comments or concerns you may have. |
Class Schedule & Reading Assignments
Day #1 – Monday, December 12, 2016
Reading Assignment:
Complete Personal Budget (Fill Out Provided Forms)
Chapter 9, Financial Peace for Business: Bulletproof Principles for Money, Debt, and Funding Your Future; EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey
Skim Chapter 3 of the North Carolina Small Law Office Resource Manual (Finances)
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 5:30 – 5:45 PM | Introductions / Expectations | Damon Duncan, Duncan Law, LLP |
| 5:45 – 6:45 PM | Succeeding in Your First Year | Erik Mazzone, NCBA Center for Practice Management |
| 6:45 – 7:45 PM | Financial Planning for Young Professionals | Linus Whitlock, Carolina WIN Team |
| 7:45 – 8:00 PM | Break | N/A |
| 8:00 – 8:30 PM | Financial Planning for Running a Law Practice | Damon Duncan, Duncan Law, LLP |
Day #2 – Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Reading Assignment:
Chapter 2, The 10,000-Hour Rule; Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell
Skim Chapters 9 of the North Carolina Small Law Office Resource Manual (Client Development)
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 5:30 – 6:30 PM
|
How to Get Hired (and Fired) by Law Firms & Legal Organizations | Kenneth R. Keller and Mark York (L’12), Carruthers & Roth, P.A. |
| 6:30 – 7:30 PM | Practical Marketing for a New Attorney | Damon Duncan, Duncan Law, LLP |
| 7:30 – 7:45 PM | Break | N/A |
| 7:45 – 8:30 PM | Location! Location! Location!: Where to Build Your Practice | Damon Duncan, Duncan Law, LLP |
Day #3 – Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Reading Assignment:
Skim Chapters 1 and 8 of the North Carolina Small Law Office Resource Manual (Law Firm Organization & Risk Management)
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 5:30 – 6:30 PM | Lessons from Those Who Have Reached the Mountain Top | Afi Johnson-Parris, Ward Black Law; Alan Duncan, Turning Point Litigation; Locke Clifford, Clifford, Clendenin, O’Hale, LLP |
| 6:30 – 7:30 PM | 60 Tech Tips in 60 Minutes: How to Increase Efficiency and Decrease Costs As A New Attorney | Damon Duncan, Duncan Law, LLP |
| 7:30 – 7:40 PM | Break | N/A |
| 7:40 – 8:30 PM | TBD | TBD |
Day #4 – Thursday, December 15, 2016
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 5:30 -8:30 PM | Class Presentations | Judge’s Panel |
Everyone is required to attend the final class period. Each presentation should last for about 10 minutes. You will present in front of a panel of professionals who will provide you approximately five minutes of feedback.
You may choose to work alone or you may work with one other student for your final presentation. Each presentation will have six basic elements:
- Résumé
- Business Plan (and from a Lendor’s Perspective)
- First Year Budget (and another perspective and another)
- Marketing Plan (Easy Law Practice Marketing Plan from Lee Rosen)
- Business Development (Networking & Referral) Plan
- One Page Informational Interview Summary
One Page Informational Interview Summary – Each student must interview an attorney practicing in a firm or practice area similar to where they want to practice. The goal of this interview is to get a first hand perspective of what it takes to be a successful attorney. Each student should write a one page, singe spaced, summary of his or her interview. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the information gained from this informational interview. You will present on this informational interview during your final presentation.
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