Sololawyer

Euphemisms And Irony And Lions And Tigers And Bears,Oh My!

Recession Reporter Laid Off... Denied Chance To Publish Final Piece About Getting Laid Off | Techdirt. Now is the winter of our discontent, the poet said. Of course, the irony of being "laid off" for writing a final story about being "laid off" is not lost on me. I prefer to focus on the rise of euphemisms in our culture; stemming from a desire not to "offend" or speak words that will cause pain. When did we decide that calling a job termination something else would ease the blow? Of course, firing a reporter for doing a series about firings raises more questions about the employer than it does about the employee. When you are deciding what kind of law you practice, consider one of the advantages of going solo. If a client fires you, you aren't out of a job. You just need to find another client. Let's go down the yellow brick road, and see what we can find.

SoloSez.net - ABA's Solo Center

SoloSez.net - ABA's Solo Center. If you are a solo practitioner, or want to be, you need to check the resources at the ABA's Solosez page. Substantive law discussions, resources, all free for the clicking. I used to read the printed materials, pre Internet, and find that this valuable resource is underutilized by most lawyers. You need to spend some time at this wonderful site, and you can subscribe to the ListServ for regular updates.

These Are The Times That Try Men's Souls

Law Firms Will Likely ‘Take a Hard Look’ at Nonequity Partners | ABA Journal - Law News Now. Many new solos are coming from the ranks of Associates and Non-Equity partners at BigLaw firms. The economy is causing many of the big firms to take a hard look at lawyers and staff who are down at the bottom of the totem pole. If you are one of these unfortunate souls, take heart. God never closes a door without opening another. Many solo practitioners will tell you that escaping the politics, workload, and other problems of BigLaw practice is the best thing that ever happened to them. For those of us who have been solo for a long time, the freedom is worth every dime of lost income. Some solos make a lot of money; most of us do okay, but aren't driving expensive vehicles, and vacationing in the islands. However, if you want a life, and you want the freedom to choose what you do, don't wait to be laid off or fired. Come join us in solo practice.

BITTER LAWYER - Do Grades Matter?

BITTER LAWYER. Apparently, some Big Law denizens are unhappy about the trend to Pass Fail systems in the elite law schools. Given the inherently subjective nature of a Grading system, and given that the Bar Exam is Pass Fail, I don't see the problem. Of course, I have never been in Big Law, and have never applied. I like solo practice. Don't the Big Law hiring lawyers know how to vet a new hire? Oh, well. If your law school's Pass Fail system prevents you from getting a job in Big Law, you can always go solo. If you have to ask "Am I Elite?", you aren't.

Lowering the Bar: Firm Fires Managing Partner Via Note on Chair

Link: Lowering the Bar: Firm Fires Managing Partner Via Note on Chair. Here is another reason to practice solo. You won't get fired by your partners by finding a post it note on your chair. Ugh. This was a name partner, in a big firm, and he was treated like crap. Now, the partners are going to be in litigation over the break up for who knows how long. As Mulder said: "Trust No One".

Ross Ipsa Loquitur Blog � My new Technolawyer column: SmallLaw

Link: Ross Ipsa Loquitur Blog � My new Technolawyer column: SmallLaw. Ross Kodner's new column, SmallLaw, is tailor made for the readers of this blog. I rail against Biglaw enough that is should be a no brainer that I would gravitate to a sage like Ross talking about solo and small firm practice. He brings a wealth of experience to the task, and I look forward to reading the columns. You should also.

Economy of Scale - Is Toilet Paper Cheaper in BigLaw?

Link: Legal Blog Watch. It is nice that BigLaw has, until the recession, been able to buy pricey toilet paper for biglaw bathrooms. I have long known the pain of paying my own bar dues, and travel to Bar events. If I went somewhere on firm business, the money came out of the senior partner's pocket, not some corporate account that seemed divorced from the reality of fee billing and collection. However, how will biglaw denizens react when the firm no longer pays for the nice things? Will they defect to solo practice? Inquiring minds want to know.

Do You Need A Posse, Pardner?

Posse? This post raises the question of whether every lawyer needs a group of friends and confidantes, to discuss the day to day questions and stresses of law practice. No man is an island; or so the author tells us. In fact, solo practice in an Internet age makes connection with a "posse" easier than ever. Solos use email, LinkedIn, blog posts,and other methods to stay connected. No man is an island, but you don't have to leave the island if you have Internet access.

Layoffs In Big Law - Down Economy Strikes

Big Law Layoffs When  the clients start having trouble, they stop hiring big law lawyers for deals that don't happen. When big law partners see reduced income, they seek to reduce expenses. The staff and attorneys who don't have power and equity get laid off. In a solo practice, you may not be getting the work you used to; but, with low overhead, you can survive. And, nobody is going to lay you off.

Lawyers Want More Time, Less Stress, Not More Money | ABA Journal - Law News Now

Link: Lawyers Want More Time, Less Stress, Not More Money | ABA Journal - Law News Now. Let's face it. Lawyering is stressful. If you don't have anxiety, stress, or some sleepless nights, you aren't a lawyer. We face deadline pressure every day, and have to deal with people at the worst times of their lives. Modern law practice is a jumble of regulation, deadlines, and complex issues. So, it is not surprising that this survey found that a majority of lawyers would rather have more life balance and less stress, and that money was only a concern with 2% of them. Solo practice will certainly result in less money. But, will it create less stress? Maybe, maybe not. However, you will certainly have more control over your life, and you can create a work-life balance that suits you.