Unfortunately, the global recession has not passed the legal community. As The American Lawyer reported, thousands of jobs have been shed at firms and corporate legal departments across the country, roughly 2.78 percent of the 111,377 lawyer positions that existed at Am Law 200 law firms a year ago. While less than 3% might not sound like a lot, it is if you’re part of the statistic. Several firms that weathered a century of practice have unfortunately shuttered their doors and vanished. While the light at the end of the tunnel may seem dim, the recent economic news and results have allowed many legal practitioners to do what they’ve always dreamed of – hang their own shingle, be their own boss and operate their very own firm.

For the newly minted firm equity partner, one of the most complicated areas can be the creation of an adequate and functional IT environment. This struggle has impacted many legal practitioners within the industry, and on a personal note, several of my friends. To help those who are now on their own and lack a dedicated IT department, I have created a step-by-step purchasing and strategy guide to help a small firm of partners get off the ground with a budget of under $10,000. Read the rest of this entry »