6.5
Determining Your Equipment, Supplies and Technology Requirements

Lightbulb iconLearning Activity 

You can now start thinking about what equipment, supplies and technology you will need when you start your law firm. To help you with this exercise you can:

  1. Create a list of the equipment, supplies and technology you will need. As a starting point, you can review examples below of the things you may need when starting your law firm. 
  2. Once you've identified your needs, estimate the cost of equipment, supplies and technologies. You can browse the web to locate the things you will need and to compare costs. 
  3. You will then use this information in the expense calculation you will create in the module on Budgeting and Financial Issues. 

Equipment, Supplies and Technology


Office Furniture & Fixtures

  • Desk(s), chairs (ergonomic office chair or client chairs), filing cabinets, bookshelves, conference table (if applicable) and proper lighting fixtures.
  • Furniture/décor extras (consider if required, at least initially): coat rack, decor, plants, artwork, coffee machine for client waiting area – any additional items to make the office functional and presentable.

Stationery & General Supplies

  • Pens, pencils, highlighters, legal pads, notebooks, printer paper, staples and stapler, staple remover, paper clips, binder clips, folders and files (manila files, binders), envelopes, sticky notes/flags, tape and dispenser, trash bins.

Technology Hardware

  • Computers or laptops (for each lawyer and staff), computer monitors, a multi-function printer/scanner/copier, telephones or VOIP phone, headset for VOIP phone, a router/modem for internet, backup hard drives or servers and possibly tablets for client intake or remote work.

Software and IT Services

  • Productivity software (for word processing, spreadsheets, email), practice management software (for calendaring, client files, billing), accounting or trust accounting software, document management system, PDF editor, cloud storage/backup service, antivirus and cybersecurity tools, time-tracking or billing software, and any specialty legal research databases or tools needed for your practice.

  • Basic services such as an internet service plan, telephone line or VOIP service, business email hosting, alarm/security system for the office, shredding service for confidential waste, and perhaps a fax service (or e-fax).

Last modified: Tuesday, 10 February 2026, 8:24 AM