How Did You Get Started as a Solo?
Started my own practice after I
left the Cook County States Attorneys Office as a Prosecutor - decided that
I would like working for myself and making my own schedule a priority!
Got Any Start-up Tips for New Solos?
If you are really serious about
being a sole practitioner then you must set your mind to the fact that you
will be working longer and harder than others in firms. You will be your own
boss but you will be the hardest task master you have ever encountered! You
will also have to form a good network of other solos with which you can
bounce off ideas amongst yourselves - you need this to survive since you
wont be able to discuss your matters with other attorneys in an office! The
network should also be comprised of lawyers who practice in other areas than
yourself - this will become your main stream and source for business by and
between your fellow attorneys in the network!
What's Your "Networking Secret" (how do you get business)?
As stated
in the tips: Network Network and Network. Never miss an opportunity to go to
a meeting, join an organization, or just meet new people. Always try to give
them your card, even if its just to have them give you a call sometimes! Your
best source of referrals will be word of mouth from a satisfied client! And
remember your cards do you absolutely no good IN YOUR POCKET!
Your Hardware/Software of Choice:
HP computers - Lexmark Printers
(C750) - RIM Blackberry for on the go e-mail - Microsoft XP Professional
(extremely stable!) CardScan 600c for all the cards you collect! - Seiko
Smart Label Printer, when you just need one label at a time! Iomega zip,
jaz and peerless drives for storage and portability. Amicus Attorney Case
Management - QuickBooks Pro and Timeslips for time, billing and accounting.
HotDocs® for Document Assembly (wouldn't be without it!)
Most Useful Legal Books:
Illinois Domestic Relations and Related Laws
Annotated;
Illinois Domestic Relations Forms and Gitlin on Divorce
all of which are published by Lexis.
Favorite Legal Research Tools:
LexisNexis™ On-Line - Google for searches.
Most Rewarding Case:
Any of the Family Law matters wherein I see that
I have not only represented the client well but more importantly that I know
that I have made sure that the children of the marriage will be well taken
care of and provided for in a wholesome and well balanced way. It is a very
satisfying feeling to be able to leave a case and know that the children are
not going to suffer the hardships left by the dissolution.
Would You "Go Solo" Again? Why?
I would go solo again, because I think
that having the ability to run my own practice gives me a very satisfying
feeling - my firm lives or dies by my decisions and I have only myself to
blame, this is a real character builder for an attorney, however, I think before
I would venture out on my own I would try to spend time in a firm learning a
little more regarding firm practices. Going from a government office to your
own practice leaves a lot of learning that one must do on their own, so try to
get some firm practice under your belt before you venture out on your own!
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