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How Did You Get Started as a Solo?
My former firm imploded back in 1990, and it just seemed to be the
right thing to do at the time. Haven't regretted a minute.
One of My Most Stand-out Cases:
One of the most "stand-out" cases in terms of its long-term impact
involved a woman who was a Holocaust survivor.
I was approached by a local legal aid society to assist the woman
with a reparations claim. She was deaf, and spoke through an interpreter
(who turned out to be a friend from my youth who I hadn't seen in
20 years, but that's another story...).
As we were gathering information to process her claim, she was showing
me her scrap books and pictures, letters she'd written, and the
yellow Star of David, which all Jews were required to wear. She
had spent two years hiding in barns in rural France while the Nazis
combed the countryside looking for her, her family and others from
their town.
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"There
are some days when this job is really, really good."
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I stopped her in mid-sentence, and asked
if she would mind telling her story to my staff, all born after
the War, for whom these stories were "ancient history" at best.
She beamed. We closed the office for the next hour and a half, and
watched and listened as she shared with us (in sign language) the
story of her life under the Nazis. By the time she was through,
we were all in tears.
As I started to thank her, she stopped me and said "It is I who
should thank you for allowing to share my history with another generation."
There are some days when this job is really, really good.
Got Any Start-up Tips for New Solos?
There is nothing better than being your own boss. Get your systems and
standards in place early and keep them up to date.
What's Your "Networking Secret" (how do you get
business)?
I don't know (honestly). Providing a high quality product in a reasonable time at reasonable cost. Returning phone calls promptly. Being honest and caring with clients. Many referrals come from other attorneys who don't do elder law.
Your Hardware/Software of Choice:
Amicus, WordPerfect, HotDocs®, Quickbooks, Timeslips.
Most Useful Legal Books:
- Tax Estate & Financial Planning for the Elderly, Regan, Morgan,
Gilfix
(Matthew Bender™);
- California Elder Law - An Advocate's Guide (CEB);
- Authority from Matthew Bender™ CD-ROM.
Favorite Legal Research Tools:
Authority from Matthew Bender™, and www.lexisONE.com
Family Profile:
Married, four children three cats.
Would You "Go Solo" Again? Why?
Even sooner than I did this time. Why? There's no substitute for self-determination.
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