Sololawyer

Why Tech Geeks Should Be Solo Practitioners

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

It is difficult to maintain a successful, solo law practice. A mirror helps.

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.

Also Works For Solo Practice!

District attorney on trial for building monster gaming rig with state money - Engadget

Link: District attorney on trial for building monster gaming rig with state money - Engadget. Just in case you needed another reason to be a solo, instead of a public servant or biglaw cog, consider the case of this District Attorney in Texas. He allegedly built a gaming rig under the guise of a backup server; his problem is that it was paid for with Government money. If you are a solo, any money you make is your own, and nobody will prosecute you for building a gaming rig. You can probably even call it a gaming rig.

Ad That A Solo Lawyer Will Never Have To Run

My favorite document assembly and forms vendor, Alan Schoolcraft, at ProDoc , forwards this real ad from a Texas Law Firm in a 1989 Texas Bar Magazine:

"Small, highly disorganized... law firm, having characteristically waited past the last minute, frantically seeks associate with two to four years experience in general business representation and business litigation. Successful applicant must to be able to function with little or no guidance in extremely chaotic environment, and be able to stand long periods of indecision punctuated by short bursts of frantic activity... Toleration of tobacco smoke required. Affinity for hard liquor is recommended... Free parking ... Only the stouthearted need apply."

      

See? Being a Solo has its advantages.

Ahhh, Solo Practice - The Solitude!

Casual Every Day

One of the nice things about solo practice is that no Committee can tell you what to wear. Of course, you have to wear a coat and tie to Court or official functions; however, for every day, depending on your client contact, you can wear what you want. Most clients are more concerned about what you do than what you wear, anyway. If they aren't, you need to examine their priorities. I can remember wearing a suit and tie to a meeting in Toronto some years ago, and the company was filled with people in casual attire. I felt like a Zebra in a room full of Gazelles.

Cell Phone GPS Tattles on Office Slacker : Christopher Null : Yahoo! Tech

Link: Cell Phone GPS Tattles on Office Slacker : Christopher Null : Yahoo! Tech. And the number one reason for becoming a solo? Nobody will track you on your cell phone GPS, and then fire you for being lazy at home. This Government employee learned the real meaning of Big Brother, when he lost his Government job by lazing around at the house, when he should have been out and about harassing innocent citizens building contruction projects. I think he should be given a promotion for staying out of the lives of ordinary citizens. Our taxes are paying for the salaries of the people who spent their work day looking at GPS scanners to find out where he was. If anybody wants to find me, as a solo practiioner, just ask me. I will probably be chilling out at home, in my den, in front of the computer, with a cup of coffee and the T.V. going.

Scribble-in-Law

Link: Scribble-in-Law. I am a big fan of Charlie Fincher, who publishes the LawComix website cartoons. This one exemplifies the good reasons to be a solo.

Execupundit.com: One Too Many Interview Questions

Link: Execupundit.com: One Too Many Interview Questions. In case you are experiencing doubts about your decision to go solo, think about what you would face if you had to hire employees. Then, think about the employer interviewer who faced THESE people across the table. My favorite Interviewee question? "Do You Press Charges?"

Company Hierarchy - Ship of Fools?

Link: Execupundit.com: Hierarchy. And, today, we have one of the reasons I became a solo practitioner!

Survival hacks in crowded subways | psychology | Hack the Day

Link: Survival hacks in crowded subways | psychology | Hack the Day. This article provides survival tips for those of you who have to take a crowded subway to work every day. If you work in big law, and you work in an big office tower in a big city, and have to navigate big crowds on the way to work and to and from the courthouse, you need these tips. My favorite: "Be the Alpha Male - Look Powerful". Of course, you can avoid the subway altogether by having a small or solo office in your home, or 10 minutes away from your home by car. Survival then depends solely on whether She Who Must Be Obeyed is having a good day or a bad day.

Elevator Rides at Law Firms Call for Delicacy, Tact

Link: Elevator Rides at Law Firms Call for Delicacy, Tact. Okay, riding the elevator in a fancy office building in order to get to a fancy office in a fancy big law firm may sound like fun, and the social gaffe possibilities are endless; but, may I make a modest proposal? Get a solo law practice, and ride a car to your small office, which is a converted house on a busy street 10 minutes from your home; or, even better, put your office in a room in your house, and avoid the commute. Then, you won't have to worry about running over little old ladies on your way to an appointment; that is, unless she lives with you.

LIES EMPLOYEES TELL THEIR EMPLOYERS

Okay, it had to happen. As soon as I put up the link to the Lies Big Companies tell their employees, the comments started listing the opposite: lies employees tell their employers. For example:

"I am working on it".

"I care".

"I was home sick yesterday".

"I am working hard".

My personal favorite: "Of course I need more money! I have a spouse and kids at home to support!"

Uh, guys, before we get to fisticuffs here, may I humbly point out that solo lawyers don't have ANY of these work problems? Or, if we do, did we get out of bed feeling really schizo today?

10 Lies Your Boss Tells You : Christopher Null : Yahoo! Tech

Link: 10 Lies Your Boss Tells You : Christopher Null : Yahoo! Tech. If you work for a big law firm, or company, and are contemplating solo practice, you need to read about the Ten Big Lies. Don't deceive yourself: if you work for big law, they have "procedures" , and everyone must follow them. They require BlackBerrys, and the reason is NOT to give you more personal freedom. They have... well you read the rest, and make up your own mind. I am going back to bed and have a firm meeting.

Why Am I A Solo Lawyer?

While I was in the hospital this past week, I was ruminating about solo practice, and the difficulties in maintaining it while incapacitated. The computer in the hospital room helped a lot, after I got to feeling better, and I was able to postpone most things until I get back next week sometime. However, I actually was thinking about the advantages of a big law career, and support and other lawyers picking up the slack when you can't has to be one of them. At least, I was thinking that until this cartoon came across my desk. Enjoy:

The "Blogosaurus"

As my brother-in-law reads my three year old books before bedtime about the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brontosaurus, and Stegosaurus my husband walks in with his videocamera and starts taping me at the computer offering his narrative, "and here we have the Blogosaurus in her native habitat."

I guess I have become a Blogosaurus.  I just hope I don't become extinct.

Posted by: Susan Cartier Liebel

Humorous Lawyer Gifts and Greeting Cards - The Billable Hour Co.

Link: Humorous Lawyer Gifts and Greeting Cards - The Billable Hour Co. I received an email today from Lisa Solomon, whose Billable Hour website has fun products for lawyers. She referred me to a new service that combines all the phone numbers you have into one, and then rings all your phones simultaneously. Genius. I am going to get this service when they are ready to do office number porting. The beta site is at GrandCentral . Check it out.