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Opening Your Practice: The 47-Point Checklist

Everything to set up before you take your first client — entity, bar, insurance, trust accounting, office, and your first ten clients. Work through it at your own pace.

How to use this checklist

Tap an item to check it off as you go — your progress shows at the top. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere; it is a working tool for you. When you want a hard copy, use Print / Save as PDF at the bottom. Rules marked “check your bar” vary by state — the details are jurisdiction-specific, so confirm them with your own bar.

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Decide & plan

Business structure & registration

Licensing & bar compliance

Insurance & risk

Banking & money

Office & systems

Online presence & first clients

Launch admin & go-live

Check your state bar rules (ABA directory)

Keep going

Each step on the checklist has a deeper guide in our Starting a Practice series.

How to Start Your Own Law FirmThe full guide that sits behind this checklist.Read the guideShould I Start My Own Law Firm?Work through the decision before the logistics.Read the guideChoosing Your Business StructurePLLC, PC, sole prop — what each means for you.Read the guideHow to Set Your Legal FeesPick a fee model and rates you can defend.Read the guideGetting Your First ClientsWhere the first ten matters actually come from.Read the guideHow to Name Your Law FirmName it once, name it right, keep the bar happy.Read the guide

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