It appears that American lawyers will have to do more and more to distinguish themselves from the competition. The internet seems to be taking a lot of business from smaller law firms (legalzoom.com) and the weakness of the economy is causing many people to hold off engaging in expansion and hiring. They are cutting back on investments and engaging of legal services. Thus, what is a solo or small law firm lawyer to do? Is an LLM in or certificate in Business Law from USC a possible way out of the situation?
USC offers an online Business Law Certificate to domestic JDs at this time. It may someday offer an LLM in Business Law online to domestic JDs. One wonders if obtaining an online LLM in Business Law from a top rated school like USC would help a solo or small firm lawyer find a position with a large business law firm or help attract business to one's solo or small law firm practice. In all likelihood, although a USC LLM in Business Law would look impressive on the wall and in a resume (at least to the one who earned it), the probable professional benefit is going to be only the additional knowledge the lawyer gets and the increased feeling of esteem, perhaps, and expertise, it is hoped. But in reality, the USC LLM or Business Law Certificate will still likely only allow one to continue on as a solo or small firm lawyer. It is probably not a likely outcome that a large law firm would give an LLM earned by a domestic JD holder, even from USC, any or much weight in deciding whether to hire the lawyer in question. Perhaps, this is a mistaken conclusion. It remains to be seen.
Now, if the solo or small firm lawyer has a large client base to bring with them, then a lateral move, combined or not with a USC LLM would seem to be a distinct possibility. The USC LLM would probably be a factor only if all else is equal among lateral candidates. Truly, if the lateral seeking lawyer has a substantial client base (billings), the large firm probably could not care less that the proposed lateral had a USC LLM unless the lateral's JD was from a lower tier JD program.
The same analysis probably applies to the question of whether or not the USC LLM will allow the solo or small firm lawyer to attract more clients. Will potential clients be attracted to the lawyer who has the USC LLM, who would not have been attracted to that lawyer to begin with? Will small or medium sized business owners flock to a lawyer who now has a USC LLM in Business, just because the lawyer now has that degree (and a JD, let's say from another law school)? Let's be real. Probably not, unless the lawyer were in say, southern California where the USC degree means a great deal, and alumni seem to flock to one another for services or hire one another. Now, if the lawyer effectively marketed the new degree to businesses, then maybe it would make a difference.
Think about it: if the solo or small firm lawyer with a law degree, let's say, from McGeorge Law School in Sacramento, obtains the USC LLM in Business, and then prepares and implements an effective marketing program to market business law services to businesses in the lawyer's city, the USC LLM may well pay dividends. Without the marketing, one wonders how, if at all, the USC LLM will do much, except increase self esteem (at a substantial tuition cost and time investment) and one expects, one's expertise. Plus the effective marketing to businesses of the USC LLM in Business Law would likely also spill over into obtaining the estate planning and other legal work of the new business clients that are obtained.
Looking for comments.
<p>It appears that American lawyers will have to do more and more to distinguish themselves from the competition. The internet seems to be taking a lot of business from smaller law firms (legalzoom.com) and the weakness of the economy is causing many people to hold off engaging in expansion and hiring. They are cutting back on investments and engaging of legal services. Thus, what is a solo or small law firm lawyer to do? Is an LLM in or certificate in Business Law from USC a possible way out of the situation?</p><p>USC offers an online Business Law Certificate to domestic JDs at this time. It may someday offer an LLM in Business Law online to domestic JDs. One wonders if obtaining an online LLM in Business Law from a top rated school like USC would help a solo or small firm lawyer find a position with a large business law firm or help attract business to one's solo or small law firm practice. In all likelihood, although a USC LLM in Business Law would look impressive on the wall and in a resume (at least to the one who earned it), the probable professional benefit is going to be only the additional knowledge the lawyer gets and the increased feeling of esteem, perhaps, and expertise, it is hoped. But in reality, the USC LLM or Business Law Certificate will still likely only allow one to continue on as a solo or small firm lawyer. It is probably not a likely outcome that a large law firm would give an LLM earned by a domestic JD holder, even from USC, any or much weight in deciding whether to hire the lawyer in question. Perhaps, this is a mistaken conclusion. It remains to be seen. </p><p> </p><p>Now, if the solo or small firm lawyer has a large client base to bring with them, then a lateral move, combined or not with a USC LLM would seem to be a distinct possibility. The USC LLM would probably be a factor only if all else is equal among lateral candidates. Truly, if the lateral seeking lawyer has a substantial client base (billings), the large firm probably could not care less that the proposed lateral had a USC LLM unless the lateral's JD was from a lower tier JD program. </p><p>The same analysis probably applies to the question of whether or not the USC LLM will allow the solo or small firm lawyer to attract more clients. Will potential clients be attracted to the lawyer who has the USC LLM, who would not have been attracted to that lawyer to begin with? Will small or medium sized business owners flock to a lawyer who now has a USC LLM in Business, just because the lawyer now has that degree (and a JD, let's say from another law school)? Let's be real. Probably not, unless the lawyer were in say, southern California where the USC degree means a great deal, and alumni seem to flock to one another for services or hire one another. Now, if the lawyer effectively marketed the new degree to businesses, then maybe it would make a difference. </p><p> Think about it: if the solo or small firm lawyer with a law degree, let's say, from McGeorge Law School in Sacramento, obtains the USC LLM in Business, and then prepares and implements an effective marketing program to market business law services to businesses in the lawyer's city, the USC LLM may well pay dividends. Without the marketing, one wonders how, if at all, the USC LLM will do much, except increase self esteem (at a substantial tuition cost and time investment) and one expects, one's expertise. Plus the effective marketing to businesses of the USC LLM in Business Law would likely also spill over into obtaining the estate planning and other legal work of the new business clients that are obtained. </p><p> Looking for comments. </p>
