Whitepapers
- The Basic Steps to Ethically Closing a Law Practice (an ARDC Publication)
- Succession Planning at the Smaller Law Firm-A Bigger Challenge (National Law Review)
- Succession Planning 101 (National Law Review)
Free On-Demand CLE
Eligible ISBA members receive 15 hours of Free On-Demand CLE as a member benefit. Non-members may purchase these programs.
Additional Resources
- Succession Attorney Guide and Resources For Successfully Transitioning
Into a New Practice - ISBA’s Proposed Succession Rule
- Planning for the Sale and Transitions of a Law Practice Under Rule 1.17 of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct in the Event of the Retirement, Death or Disability of a Sole Practitioner, by John T. Phipps
Sample Documents
- Sample Succession Plan
- Sample Rule 1.3 Succession Planning Checklist
- Sample Attorney Will Provision for Disposition of Law Practice
- Preemptive Client Consent in Fee Agreements
- Sample Powers of Attorney Provision
- Sample Emergency Checklist for Deceased or Disabled Attorney's Executor of Representative
- Sample Sole Shareholder Corporate Resolution Contingency Plan
- Sample Sole Director Corporate Resolution Contingency Plan
- Sample Confidentiality Agreement re: Practice Information
- Sample Certificate of President and Secretary-Treasurer for Contingency Plan Resolution
- Sample Petition for Letters Testamentary (involving the disposition of a law practice)
Ethics
ISBA Advisory Opinions on Professional Conduct
Articles
Retirement
- September 2018
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August 2018Throwing Your Firm a Lifejacket
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December 2017From the Newsletters - Confronting the inevitable: Succession planning for lawyers.
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December 2017What’s your succession plan?
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October 2017Technology at end-of-life: Estate planning for Millennials
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September 2017Chair’s column: Be prepared—Succession and transition planning
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September 2017ISBA takes on lawyer succession and transition planning
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September 2017Technology at end-of-life: Estate planning for Millennials
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July 2017Technology at end-of-life: Estate planning for Millennials
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October 2015Everything a (senior) lawyer could ever want to know about the Extended Reporting Period (ERP) a/k/a “Tail” coverage
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June 2015Retirement from the law practice
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June 2014Will we let our attorneys … go gentle into that good night …?
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October 2012Planning for Retirement: A Life Guide for Attorneys
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June 2012Boo hoo! Nothing to do!
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February 2012Lawyers and retirement/Oil and water
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June 2011Law firm succession/Exit strategies: Practice continuation arrangements
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June 2011Protecting the assets of a retiring attorney
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June 2010Law firm succession/exit strategies: Ideas for getting started
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January 2009Taking Down Your Shingle
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July 2008Retired, inactive, in-house lawyers can now represent clients pro bono
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May 2008Editor’s Column: Illinois Supreme Court allows retired lawyer to do pro bono work during retirement without requiring annual registration fee
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June 2005What happens when aging lawyers don’t know when to quit?
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February 2005Avoiding the Cliff-Hanger Ending
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August 2004Phased retirement: A retention strategy whose time has come
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June 2003Practical suggestions on transition or retirment from a law firm
Selling a Practice
- January 2019
- September 2018
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December 2017From the Newsletters - Confronting the inevitable: Succession planning for lawyers.
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September 2017Chair’s column: Be prepared—Succession and transition planning
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September 2017ISBA takes on lawyer succession and transition planning
- September 2016
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September 2015Don’t forget yourself
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October 2012For Sale by Owner: Getting the Most for Your Law Practice
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September 2012Turning out the lights
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June 2011Seniors, don’t sell your law practice. Have fun!
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January 2011Selling Out
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December 2010Law firm succession/exit strategies: Valuation of the firm
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January 2003Editor’s column: Sale of a solo practice update
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January 2002Practice transition problems of solos
Leaving a Practice
- September 2018
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September 2017Chair’s column: Be prepared—Succession and transition planning
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September 2017ISBA takes on lawyer succession and transition planning
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May 2017Law Firm Succession/Exit Strategies: Small Firm Merger: A Case Study of a Solo Attorney that After Two Unsuccessful Attempts Took a Phased Approach to a Merger with a Small Sole Owner Practice
- October 2016
- February 2016
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April 2015Trend: Leaving the law
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April 2011Transitions in the law
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January 2011Succession Planning and the Duty of Diligence
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June 2003Leaving with clients in tow
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June 2001Fifty Ways to Leave Your Law Firm