Sololawyer

Solos Never Have To Change The Firm Name

Link: Law.com - Another Old-Line Firm Joins One-Name Bandwagon. What's In a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Shakespeare had it right; but, then, he wasn't a modern day marketing guy. Georges. My firm name already has only one name, so I don't have to have a whole lot of meetings to discuss it,as many big law firms are doing now. Dechert, Price & Rhoads is now just Dechert. Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan is now just Sutherland. I can't remember if I had a meeting to discuss a name change; however, I have been feeling a little schizo lately. Maybe I just forgot.

How To Get Something Done

Link: Quote Details: Robert Copeland: To get something done,... - The Quotations Page. This quote from Robert Copeland says a lot about why I am a solo. If you are a cog in the biglaw machine, you are familiar with large firm committees, and decisions made by that many headed monster. Copeland's wisdom is something to live by:
"To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than 3 men, 2 of whom are absent".

Webinar with Carolyn Elefant: From BigLaw to YourLaw: The Secrets of Starting and Growing a Successful Solo Law Practice

Link: Webinar with Carolyn Elefant: From BigLaw to YourLaw: The Secrets of Starting and Growing a Successful Solo Law Practice.So you want to go solo? You can't do better than to spend time with Carolyn Elefant in a webinar on June 3d. Or, buy her book. Going solo is worth the risk. You don't have to go it alone, however. There are solo bloggers out here who want to help.

Ex-Big Law Attorneys Overcome Obstacles and Start Successful Small Firms

Link: Ex-Big Law Attorneys Overcome Obstacles and Start Successful Small Firms.This is a great post by fellow solo, Steve Imparl about the risks and rewards of a move to solo practice from biglaw. I never had the security of a biglaw practice, so I probably don't have a clue what you biglaw types are worrying about. I can, however recommend this post asa starting point for your research if you are contemplating a change.

If This Sounds Like Your Law Firm...

Link: Execupundit.com: Why They Leave. If this sounds like your law firm, you are a candidate for becoming a solo. In fact, if there is a disconnect between the managers of the firm and the grunts, why is anyone surprised when the grunts leave?

Home Office Lawyer: A mobile lawyer is a paperless lawyer - Connected Lawyer

Link: Home Office Lawyer: A mobile lawyer is a paperless lawyer - Connected Lawyer. His love for Apple computers aside, occasionally Grant Griffiths says something interesting, and that I can agree with. This post is one of them. While I don't, as a solo, and a mobile lawyer, particularly need the site mentioned in the post, which scans paper mail and sends it electronically for a fee, I do use Efax extensively, which allows my secretary to scan mail and send it to me wherever I am. So I am a mobile, solo lawyer. How about you?

Also Works For Solo Practice!

Next They Will Be Telling You When To Go To The Bathroom

Link: N.Y. Law Firm Bans BlackBerrys at Major Meetings | ABA Journal - Law News Now. I don't know about you; but, for me this would be the last straw. A law firm banning cell phones and electronic devices from firm meetings, so they won't be a distraction? When my law firm has a meeting, I am usually driving in my car on my 10 minute commute to the former house that now serves as my office. If there are any dissenting votes, I am just feeling schizophrenic that morning. Please. If you really want somebody telling you whether you can carry a Blackberry or a Centro, and then telling you where you can use it, you and the firm deserve each other.

Fire The Bad Client

Link: South Carolina Trial Law Blog: A Good Case with a Bad Client is a Bad Case. This post contains some great advice for lawyers. David Swanner hits the nail on the head with this one. Bad clients are bad for your mood, bad for your digestion, and bad for your employees. My favorites are the ones that don't seem to hear what you say, and call back over and over to hear it again. The only thing I would add to this post is the Foonberg advice that I carry with me every day. Fire the bad client. Or, as David advises, don't hire them in the first place. Don't ever let economic stresses cause you to ignore the flashing lights and honking horns that your brain makes during that first conference. You know who they are. You know they will be a problem. Just don't.

Build A Solo Practice, LLC: Productivity Tips for Life - Adaptable to the Solo Lawyer

Link: Build A Solo Practice, LLC: Productivity Tips for Life - Adaptable to the Solo Lawyer. Susan Cartier-Liebel passes along this list of tips for solos that will really increase your happiness and productivity. The Internet has really been a boon for solos; we aren't isolated anymore, are we?