![]() There are many other aspects of business that need to be considered. All participants should also agree never to refer to the practice being a partnership or firm. After all, if you wake up too sick to appear at that arraignment, your officemates are likely among the first you would call. Review the contract’s other provisions about utilizing other attorneys to ensure consistency. If you wish to make this even more prominent, make that provision a single-sentence paragraph with a place for the client to initial. Primarily, every client for every lawyer should be required to sign an attorney-client agreement that states something to the effect that the client is only contracting with attorney Smith for this legal matter, and other lawyers at this address are not responsible for it. This is because there are items you need the other officemates to include in their attorney-client agreements to protect you. Your office-sharing arrangement, in most circumstances, requires a written agreement. But examine these exceptions to the “rule” with your plaintiff’s lawyer eyes, and you should be able to minimize any risk.Ĭlient billing should come only from the engaged attorney and not from a firm name. There could be a situation where an office complex might have a website listing the various lawyers who office there. Not only does that possibly relate to liability, but it makes things simpler when someone wants to move to another location. Normally each solo practitioner should have a separate website. “Their website said ‘Smith, Jones and Wilson.’ It seemed like a partnership to me.”.The attorneys who work here each have individual law practices.”) (Very cautious lawyers might even consider signage in the waiting room: “This is not a law firm partnership. While I have noted before that “Hello, law office” is not an inspiring way to answer incoming calls, it is common, and I suspect the practice is often inspired by office-sharing arrangements. Clients waiting for their appointment repeatedly hear the receptionist answer the phone “Smith, Jones and Wilson, Attorneys.”.This is not to say the sign is determinative in a court proceeding, but three separate signs with individual lawyers’ names are better. The sign on the front of the building says “Smith, Jones and Wilson, Attorneys at Law.”.If you were trying to sue three office-sharing lawyers on a theory of implied partnership or partnership by estoppel, what evidence could you muster? But while you may share overhead expenses, you don’t want to share any potential liability should a case go poorly. The solo practitioner will be the one representing their client, just like the other officemates are. Let’s begin with the formation of the attorney-client relationship. One must then invest the energy and time-building processes that address each significant area of concern. So even though office sharing has the potential for positive benefits, some thought and advance preparation is advised. Good lawyers will also be concerned about whether they may be opening themselves up to potential liability. But for the lawyers who want to comply with all ethical rules, protect themselves and have appropriate and effective business operations, there is a lot to consider.įoremost among lawyers’ minds will be complying with the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct regarding client confidences, conflicts of interest and the like. Office sharing may appear to be simple on its face. Sometimes your officemates may be a good source of referrals. Office sharing is also positive when a lawyer wants to slow down and practice less than full time but still needs a place to interview clients and someone to sign for deliveries and certified mail when the lawyer is out. And there can be many benefits, such as lawyers nearby to discuss issues with or someone filing a pleading for you when they do their own filings, saving you a courthouse trip. Office sharers can benefit from sharing overhead expenses, such as utility bills and equipment. Two or three lawyers might rent an office suite for their individual solo practices. Sometimes a law firm that is downsizing finds itself with more office space than it needs, and subletting makes sense. ![]() It is certainly not rare to see lawyers practicing in an office sharing arrangement. ![]()
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