Midtown Manhattan's shared workplace and virtual office space provided by the New York City Bar provides a vital source of support for independent legal practitioners.
In the heart of New York City, the New York City Bar Association (NYCBA) is making waves in the legal community by offering a range of services and benefits tailored to solo and small law practices. Located on "Club Row" on West 44th Street, the historical building provides a desirable amenity for law school graduates looking to start their own practice.
One of the key services offered by the NYCBA is their coworking space and virtual law office. The coworking space, situated within the association's Midtown Manhattan headquarters, offers a professional environment for working and networking. Members can use this space at a half-day rate of $120 for members and $180 for non-members. The virtual law office, available for an additional cost of $75 above regular membership dues, provides mail services and access to the law library for research.
The NYCBA's legal referral service is another valuable resource for solo practitioners. Anne Donnelly Bush, the president of the NYCBA, states that the majority of clients prefer phone or video meetings, and she herself has met most of her clients and obtained most of her cases through this referral program. The service connects lawyers with clients, with an initial consultation costing clients $35.
The NYCBA's offerings, including the virtual office program and legal referral service, aim to serve the needs of a new generation of lawyers. These services are designed to support solo lawyers and small practices, providing a hybrid work lifestyle that is adaptive to post-COVID needs. The virtual office program can help reduce the administrative work for solo practices, allowing them to focus on litigation, rather than mostly discovery at a big law firm.
In addition to the coworking space, virtual law office, and legal referral service, the NYCBA offers over 130 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs annually, covering many practice areas. These programs provide opportunities for networking and professional development, with sponsorships offering company representation at events, signage, verbal recognition, logo display, and recognition in course materials.
The NYCBA also offers a supportive environment for solo practitioners. Members have access to the law library for research purposes, conference and office rooms at a reduced rate, and the small law firm center's conference and office rooms. The NYCBA library offers access to Lexis Nexis and Westlaw, photocopying, and rooms for phone or video meetings with clients without reserving a full office.
A study by Thomson Reuters found that solo practitioners only dedicate 58% of their day to practicing law. The NYCBA's services are designed to help alleviate some of the administrative burden, allowing lawyers to focus more on their practice. Anne Donnelly Bush, an employment discrimination attorney, stated that the NYCBA has been helpful for her to work from home, especially since she has a 14-year-old.
The NYCBA's offerings fit into the expectations of the post-Covid workforce for a hybrid work life that is largely based out of the home. The association has been offering virtual office services for several years and opened the coworking space about a year ago. The NYCBA is committed to supporting the next generation of lawyers and helping them navigate the challenges of practicing law in the modern world.
- Recognizing the shift towards health and wellness, home-and-garden, lifestyle, and education-and-self-development in the post-COVID era, the NYCBA also provides over 130 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs annually, fostering networking and personal development for its members.
- To cater to the growing demands of science and career-development, the NYCBA's virtual law office service, available for an additional cost, offers mail services and access to the law library for necessary research, freeing up time for solo practitioners and small practices to focus on litigation and their education.
- In line with the trend of workplace-wellness, the NYCBA's coworking space and reduced-rate conference rooms offer a professional environment that supports a hybrid work lifestyle for solo lawyers and small practices, enabling a better balance between home life and work duties.
