The 26th Mecklenburg County Bar

MCB Director of Communications Greg Hicks sits down with MCB President Fred DeVore to discuss an update on the sale of the Bar & Foundation Center, upcoming judicial elections, CLEs and much more.

MCB President Fred DeVore and CLE Committee Chair Kevin Pratt drop by to give an update on bifurcation and upcoming CLE offerings from the MCB!

One of the most important things that a majority of law schools still don’t teach their students is the business of law. Acquiring clients and maintaining relationships with them are issues that new and even seasoned lawyers base. And while many have partners and mentors they can rely on, oftentimes, associates are clueless as to where to begin.

Besides learning to practice law, it is important for attorneys to also focus on building relationships. It doesn’t matter whether you belong to a big firm, or a smaller one that’s just starting out. The relationships that you’ve cultivated can determine whether your practice will continue to thrive in the industry.

Popular media has a habit of painting lawyers in a bad light. The stereotype with the most mileage is that of the greedy lawyer that only cares about the money. However, the opposite is frequently true in the real world, and there are unfortunately many attorneys who cut their rates and sell themselves short. Perhaps this has happened to you.

When you don’t get paid what you deserve, it isn’t just going to affect your personal finances, but the way that you run your practice too.

Many lawyers are pretty clueless when it comes to the business side of law, which is quite understandable given that law school doesn’t really include these topics in their curriculum. Even if many attorneys want to start their own practice and have more control in their day-to-day life, they take a while to do so. Most of the time, they end up employed by a law firm for the rest of their careers.