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What Type of Enterprise Is a Law Office Founded by a Single Lawyer?

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Short answer: A law office founded by a single lawyer is a law-practicing organization operating as a private enterprise — the founding lawyer is concurrently the Head of the office and bears liability with all of his or her assets for the office’s operations. This is the core difference from a law firm (limited liability company or partnership form).

Legal basis

  • Law on Lawyers 2006 (as amended and supplemented), Articles 33–35 — law-practicing organizations.

Forms of law-practicing organizations

  • Law office: established by a single lawyer, operating as a private enterprise;
  • Single-member limited liability law company: established by a lawyer or an organization;
  • Multi-member limited liability law company: established by at least two lawyers;
  • Law partnership: established by at least two lawyers, operating as a partnership.

Characteristics of a law office

  • The Head of the office must be the founding lawyer, who bears liability with all of his or her assets;
  • May employ lawyers under labor contracts; may take on trainee lawyers;
  • Has its own seal and bank account; operates under the Operation Registration Certificate issued by the Department of Justice;
  • To convert into a law company: follow the conversion procedures under the Law on Lawyers.

Quick comparison: law office vs. single-member LLC law company

  • Liability regime: law office — unlimited liability of the Head of the office; LLC law company — limited liability within the charter capital;
  • Owner: law office — one individual lawyer; single-member LLC law company — one lawyer or one organization;
  • Name: must contain the phrase “law office” or “law company” respectively.

If you need to determine the option best suited to your specific situation, you should discuss it with a lawyer in advance for dossier review and advice on the handling plan.

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Related articles

  • Conditions for establishing a law office
  • What are the characteristics of a law partnership?
  • May a lawyer establish an enterprise?

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