Oak Brook College of Law Alumni Association - January 2023

Every law firm wants more and better cases — that’s why the competition in marketing is so fierce and cutthroat. Your prospective clients have many options regarding which firm to handle their case. So, how do you make sure they find you and use your services? Here are three strategies you can use to gain more clients. 1. Use SEO. According to a 2017 Legal Trends Report, 37% of clients use online search engines to find law firms in their area. Therefore, it’s vital that your firm has a strong online presence. Create a website that’s easy to navigate, has informative infographics, and pages and blog posts that highlight your services. Ensure you’re writing about content that pertains to your services and what your clients and prospective clients are searching and asking for. Use specific headlines and tags to ensure your website and blog posts will be the first to pop up on a search engine. 2. Encourage and embrace referrals. The best form of marketing is through word-of-mouth. Research shows that 62% of clients get a referral from someone they know and trust when hiring an attorney. If your clientele enjoys the services you and your firm provide, they are more likely to refer others to you. To

encourage recommendations, offer a gift or discount when clients recommend you to their friends and family. You can even add a page to your firm’s website that explains the referral process and makes it easier for them to connect with you. Word-of-mouth marketing is free advertising, so take advantage of it when you can. 3. Consider using directories. Directories help potential clients find your firm easily, build brand awareness, enhance your reach, and more. Consider adding your law firm to multiple directories to increase your chance of reaching more clients. Avvo, Justia, Lawyers.com, FindLaw, and HireMeLegal.org are some of the top directories for lawyers. The best way to understand which option is best for you is to outline your firm’s business goals, figure out what makes your services unique, and ask your current clients what attracted them to your firm and what they were looking for during their initial search. These are only a few ways to get new clients for your firm. With patience and trial and error, you will find the best method for you, your team, and the firm. Paralegal Certificate “I absolutely recommend the paralegal course to any high schooler or young person interested in law. It gives you practical insight into various disciplines and aspects of the law, which is foundational knowledge for wherever your life may take you. Frankly, I recommend OBCL’s Paralegal Program for every person because it makes you a better citizen, and it empowers you regardless of where God calls you in the future.” – Gabe W. Do you know a student nearing the end of high school and considering what to pursue next? Tell them about OBCL’s paralegal program! It provides flexibility to learn about law (and its everyday application) while simultaneously exploring career opportunities. The paralegal program is an excellent foundation if you choose the legal arena, business field, or full-time ministry. Learn how this one-year training will prepare you to enter the workforce successfully. Paralegal Program Admissions • Online Admissions Process: Very similar to the JD but has fewer academic requirements. All that is needed is the English Composition CLEP test or six credits of English from a college. • NALA Exam: All students who meet OBCL’s graduation requirements qualify for the Certified Paralegal Exam through the National Association of Legal Assistants to become nationally certified paralegals.

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Juris Doctor Degree For individuals who wish to practice law, enter politics, or advance their business career, the Juris Doctor Degree program provides an excellent education. OBCL’s Juris Doctor program is open to all qualifying students who have completed high school and meet the pre-legal requirements outlined by the California Bar. An undergraduate degree is not required. Those who successfully complete OBCL’s JD program are eligible to sit for the California Bar exam. After passing the CA Bar, graduates can pursue licensing options in other state and federal jurisdictions. “When I was in law school …” stories are captivating and inspiring. And sharing them might be the gentle nudge someone needs to enroll in law school. But what are the enrollment requirements? Below are the major updates in the past few years. Juris Doctor Admissions • Online Admissions Process: Create a JD Applicant Account at OBCL.edu. (Now an applicant can keep all the “paperwork “ in one place!) • LSAT Requirement: This provides some standard evaluation between applicants with varying undergraduate/pre-legal education. You will want to create an account on LSAC.org and select an LSAT test date. (Offered once a month. Must register six weeks in advance.) How to prepare? Check out Khan Academy for free study resources!

• Tuition: $4,500 per year. There are a few extra fees, bringing the total cost to about $5,000 — considering the income potential as a paralegal, this is a great return on your investment.

• Tuition: $10,000 per year. This is an all-inclusive bundle — no additional fees for registration, online legal research, electives, etc.

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