Another Attorney Question-Going at it alone

At this point, I decided that I want to have my own practice. Things are working out in such a way that I can have this luxury. I am fortunate enough to be very specialized (family law) and I am waiting for a screening for two assigned attorney panels.

So my question is-what do I need to know, expect? Anything I definitely need to start with? Any pointers?

Thank you so much!

Re: Another Attorney Question-Going at it alone

I would look into the Ny state bar assoication - especially the women's group - i met a bunch of women at the NYC convention that were in family law and went out on their own - there may be some good mentors for you

I was thinking of going out of my own - i grabbed a couple books from the public library through inter libaray borrowing on practice management - they give some free resources that the bar have and free clases - also look at all the calenders of the local law schools and see if they have any classes on solo practice - you want to make sure you have the insurance and bank account stuff done properly

Re: Another Attorney Question-Going at it alone

Re: Another Attorney Question-Going at it alone

DH was a solo practitioner for 3yrs and also focused on family law. He Went to the law library and got a few books on being a solo attorney.

He registered with the local bar association both for the county and state. They have lists that you play a fee to be on and they will refer clients to you. After about 3-4 consultation fees it pretty much paid for its self.

He also got to know well established attorneys and worked out a deal with 2, where he would make court appearances for them or research up to a certain number of hours at a reduced rate. There was one attorney who paid him $2K a month and got up to 15 hours of DH's time. This pretty much paid for his office rent, insurance and other operating expenses. The money that he made from his own cases was almost always profit.

Like the person above mentioned make sure you get the right bank accounts set up. In Illinois, you have to have an iota account for retainers and then an operating account that you can have money transferred to once services have been rendered.

Good luck!

Re: Another Attorney Question-Going at it alone

Re: Another Attorney Question-Going at it alone

I have no advice but from one attorney to another, I wish you the best of luck! I have always worked for firms but I admire anyone who can go solo. Some of my favorite attorneys to deal with are solo practitioners. I wish I had the guts/ability to do it myself.

Re: Another Attorney Question-Going at it alone

Re: Another Attorney Question-Going at it alone

Where do I begin? Well, this month marks 9 years since I went out on my own. At first I kept the expenses very low and I think that was really key. So much has changed since then, though. I was one of the first attorneys I knew to even have a website! At the beginning, my biggest expenses were for Yellow Book and Yellow Pages ads that I still needed even though I had a website. I later used Google ad words for a while but I have been able to eliminate that expense because word of mouth business takes on a life of its own! The referral services are wonderful and if you get to know the people who work for them, they can really match up your skills with a caller's needs. I know some family law attorneys who are on the various panels and are law guardians. It seems that those things can fuel an entire practice! Now I am at the point where I have to decide between keeping my practice small and personal versus taking on bigger space and more staff and running more of a mill type of practice. I know several attorneys who do this but in the end they don't take home much more than I do so I am staying small. In Suffolk County, the Bar Association membership is something like 75% attorneys from small or solo firms. I would never have guessed that before I became more involved. I think that a lot of counties are like this. SO many attorneys begin to hang out their own shingles after working for others for a few years. I am here if you need anything.

Re: Another Attorney Question-Going at it alone

Re: Another Attorney Question-Going at it alone

Message edited 8/8/2011 12:34:48 AM.