Recent News

January 21, 2011

Columbus Bar Announces New Incubator Program

The Columbus Bar, next month, will roll out its pilot program for newly admitted attorneys entitled, Columbus Bar inc: A Professional Development Center. Columbus Bar inc is designed to offer new lawyers valuable experience and ongoing education to help build their professional career, develop sound business management skills, and engender high ethical standards. The “inc” in the name of the program is short for “incubator” – a program intended to accelerate the successful development of new lawyers in an environment that provides an array of business support resources.

During this one-year pilot of Columbus Bar inc, participation will be limited to eight individuals who have been admitted to practice law in Ohio within the last two years and have graduated from either Capital University Law School or Moritz College of Law. The Columbus Bar will provide an office facility that includes basic office fixtures such as desks, chairs, file storage, phones, internet access and a copier/scanner, in return for inexpensive rent. The program will be housed in the same building as the CBA, 175 South Third Street.

These new attorneys will receive extensive training on subjects such as client intake, billing practices, law office management, marketing, case management, discovery, and other practice-related topics. Another educational component that Columbus Bar inc will offer is providing mentors who commit to a certain amount of time per week on site. The search is on now for more mentors to add to the list that includes retired judges, practice-area specific attorneys, and general practitioners.

The participants will receive referrals from the Lawyer Referral Service and Lawyers for Justice Program. The new attorneys will be required to perform pro bono work and take cases within their skill set to help the underserved in the community. In the spirit of learning to build a successful solo practice, these attorneys will be given opportunities to network and become more involved in the community to generate their own clientele.

The Columbus Bar is hoping that this pilot program will be successful and become a permanent fixture in the legal community to assist those attorneys who want to build their own solo practice. However, the CBA cannot do it without support. Columbus Bar inc is currently seeking financial contributions, in-kind donations of needed services, and mentors.

Please contact Jill Snitcher McQuain at 614/340.2060 of jill@cbalaw.org for additional information about how you can be a part of Columbus Bar inc.