On the afternoon of February 14, 2025, the first online seminar with the topic “Starting a Business and Small Law Offices,” part of the event series “Online Law Firm Management 2025 - Professional Law Firm Management – Real and Fictional Stories,” was successfully held, attracting nearly 400 registrations. The highest number of participants recorded at its peak was approximately 220 people.
With a focus on entrepreneurship and small law offices, this seminar was designed for managing lawyers, lawyers, legal assistants, corporate legal advisors, and other interested parties, especially those planning to start a business or currently managing small law firms.
The seminar was organized with the participation of the coordinator and speakers:
- - Lawyer Nguyễn Mạnh Dũng, Director, ADR Vietnam Chambers (Coordinator);
- - Lawyer Trương Hữu Ngữ, Executive Lawyer, VILASIA Law Firm (Speaker);
- - Lawyer Dương Quốc Thành, Director | Executive Lawyer, ALV LAWYERS (Speaker);
- - Lawyer Nguyễn Quang Vũ, Executive Lawyer, Venture North - Law (Speaker);
- - Lawyer Trần Thắng Như Hoàng, Founder, Astute Dispute Resolution (Switzerland) (Special Guest).
The main topics of the seminar included:
- - Entrepreneurship Experience: Speakers shared their personal startup journeys, including both successes and failures, valuable lessons, and useful advice for those planning to start a business.
- - Challenges and Opportunities: Speakers discussed the challenges and opportunities faced by small law firms, such as competition with large law firms, attracting and retaining talent, and reaching clients. Specifically, speakers shared (i) experiences in recruiting, training, and managing staff; (ii) strategies and methods for client acquisition during the early stages of starting a law firm, including brand building, developing networks, and utilizing online marketing channels; (iii) financial management issues when starting a business.
- - In addition to the main topics, the seminar included Q&A sessions, where speakers answered audience questions about issues such as: (i) Promotion criteria for lawyers; (ii) Rights and obligations of member lawyers; (iii) Strategies to maintain and develop a lawyer team; (iv) Essential factors for a successful startup.
- - The seminar concluded with a sharing session by Lawyer Trần Thắng Như Hoàng (representing the younger generation of entrepreneurs) about the internationalization of legal services and personal brand building in the international market.
Moreover, the seminar revealed some interesting survey results as follows:
1. First Survey (113 participants) on Key Aspects:
- - Time needed to earn the first revenue: Most participants (49%) predicted that it would take 6 months to earn the first income from clients. 24% believed it would take 3 months, and 27% predicted 12 months.
- - Funding sources: 70% of participants said they would use their own savings to start the business. 20% would rely on family and relatives, 9% would borrow from banks, and 1% would seek other funding sources.
- - Office location: 44% of participants chose Co-space Offices as the ideal place to rent an office. 42% would work from home, 33% would rent offices in office buildings, and 7% would work in coffee shops.
- - Personnel requirements: 57% of participants said they needed a legal assistant to support their work. 39% needed an accountant, 16% needed a secretary, and 25% needed all of the above.
- - Client target and outreach channels: 71% of participants would introduce their legal services to businesses. 58% would approach individual business owners, 54% would attend seminars, conferences, and business forums, and 54% would reach individual clients. 56% would use media channels, social networks, and referrals from friends or acquaintances.
- - Use of technology and social networks: 41% of participants saw the necessity of utilizing technology (such as Windows 10, Zoom) and social networks (such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Zalo) to support their work.
- - Collaboration with colleagues: 79% of participants would collaborate with colleagues on specific cases. 48% would form joint ventures, partnerships, or alliances, 22% would work as freelancers outside office hours, and 9% would choose other forms of collaboration.
2. Second Survey (96 participants) on What Entrepreneurs Need to Have/Prepare:
- - A clear business plan: Your unique selling point (USP); Understand startup costs, recurring costs, and expected revenue; Ensure funding through personal savings, loans, or credit lines – 31%
- - Legal factors: Choose the legal structure for your company (sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation) – 2%
- - Investment in technology and infrastructure: Use project management software, accounting software, document management systems, and secure communication tools – 1%
- - Focus on marketing and brand building – 4%
- - Client management and developing a systematic approach to client acquisition – 7%
- - Prioritize time management and self-care: Allocate time for administrative work, client work, and business management – 1%
- - All of the above factors – 54%
To register for Topic 2: Office Management and Technology Applications at 15:00 on February 21, 2025, visit: https://bitly.cx/RI7V
For more details about other topics in the “Online Law Firm Management 2025” event series with the theme “Professional Law Firm Management – Real and Fictional Stories,” visit here: https://adr.com.vn/vi/tin-tuc/gioi-thieu-chuoi-su-kien-quan-tri-hang-luat-truc-tuyen-2025-voi-chu-de-quan-tri-cong-ty-luat-chuyen-nghiep-nhung-cau-chuyen-that-va-hu-cau?fbclid=IwY2xjawINPdlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZavJkDrnzjXMLLpJ7Jenb9MLrQJSLyUT7GRAx4oRez10oA1Hova0S4-WA_aem_o35voOX_PultAk02sMW4Qg_]()
