Requirements To Open A Law Firm In Kenya. A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients (individuals or corporations) about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other matters in which legal advice and other assistance are sought.
Some of the areas of practice include;
- Family law.
- Criminal law.
- Labour law.
- Intellectual property law.
- Constitution law.
- Business law.
Law firms are organized in a variety of ways, depending on the jurisdiction in which the firm practices. Common arrangements include:
- Sole proprietorship, in which the attorney is the law firm and is responsible for all profit, loss and liability;
- General partnership, in which all the attorneys who are members of the firm share ownership, profits and liabilities;
- Professional corporations, which issue stock to the attorneys in a fashion similar to that of a business corporation;
- Limited liability company, in which the attorney-owners are called “members” but are not directly liable to third party creditors of the law firm (prohibited as against public policy in many jurisdictions but allowed in others in the form of a “Professional Limited Liability Company” or “PLLC”);
- Professional association, which operates similarly to a professional corporation or a limited liability company;
- Limited liability partnership (LLP), in which the attorney-owners are partners with one another, but no partner is liable to any creditor of the law firm nor is any partner liable for any negligence on the part of any other partner. The LLP is taxed as a partnership while enjoying the liability protection of a corporation.
How To Start A Law Firm In Kenya Easily & Legally Now
Step 1: Select your preferred area of specialization which you are qualified for example criminal law, business law among others.
Step 2: Draft an effective solo law firm business plan that will act aa your direction in the beginning and management of your law firm business.
Step 3: Register your law firm business name in the eCitizen portal so as to make it a legal entity in the country.
Step 4: Get an approval letter from the law society of Kenya that has no any objections.
Step 5: Registration of your Law Firm business with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for taxation purposes.
Step 6: Locate a strategic place where you will set up your law firm business and acquire lots of clients at your doorstep.
Step 7: Launching your business immediately after everything is set.
Requirements to Open a Law Firm in Kenya
1. Letter of no objection/ approval letter from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). LSK is Kenya’s premier bar association with membership of all practising advocates.
You have to be a member of LSK for you to practice as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
2. Have a Degree in law from a university recognised in Kenya.
3. Have a Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law.
4. Have a law practising certificate.
