Solo Practice University® » Savvy Solos

If You Can’t Find a Job, Why Do You Fight So Hard Against Opening Your Own Firm?

Suzanne Meehle — Wed, 23 May 2018 12:00:09 +0000

I had lunch recently with a young lawyer who has been out of work for a while. She had worked for a BigLaw firm for a couple of years before getting caught up in a layoff. Several months later, she was still searching for a law firm that wanted to hire her. She was, quite […]

Written by Suzanne Meehle

Ditching the Disclaimer

Suzanne Meehle — Tue, 08 May 2018 11:06:01 +0000

What goes in your professional email? What if your email server occasionally marks something as "read" which in fact has not been read? How do you respond to that? Should you include your email signature every single time or only the first time you respond? What belongs and does not belong in an email signature? What about typos? When does an email become too long and you'd be better off just writing a proper letter? What about graphics in email signatures? Or funny quotations? And what about that long list of disclaimers many of us lawyers append to every single email signature?

Written by Suzanne Meehle

Shouting Into the Wind – How Not to Market Your Solo/Small Firm

Suzanne Meehle — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 12:00:16 +0000

Marketing is job #1 for small firm attorneys and solos. It's a simple equation: no marketing = no clients, and no clients = no firm. But, quite frankly, marketing can really suck. There's a cacophony of BigLaw websites, advertising, and social media drowning out small firm voices. And then there are about a million new small firm sites every single day. Not to mention that referrals from other lawyers and professionals can be tough to come by when everyone knows an attorney or ten who do what you do. And don't forget the do-it-yourself options like LegalZoom and Findlaw. How do you make yourself heard amongst all that noise? There's no point shouting into the wind. You can't make yourself louder than everyone else, so don't bother trying.

Written by Suzanne Meehle

Do You Suffer From Imposter Syndrome?

Suzanne Meehle — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 11:14:44 +0000

Do you ever feel like an imposter? As successful as you are do you believe you are just fooling people because deep down you are incompetent, taking money for work you are ill-prepared to do? Do you think one day you will be found out for the fraud that you are? Well, so do most lawyers. Suzanne Meehle shares her story.

Written by Suzanne Meehle

Software for Fighting Email Overload

Debra Bruce — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 11:00:45 +0000

I started to call this post “Software for Conquering Email Overload.” Then I decided that was a unicorn. There is no such thing as “conquering” our email. Perhaps all we can do is attack it and hope to live to fight another day. To that end, I’ll describe what I do to tame my inbox. I’m providing some links for your convenience, but they are not affiliate links and I do not receive any compensation or benefits for mentioning the products I use.

Written by Debra Bruce

Do You Use The “N” Word

Suzanne Meehle — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 12:00:40 +0000

Do you find yourself saying the 'N' word? If you don't, you need to start and Suzanne Meehle explains why. It could save your practice and your law license.

Written by Suzanne Meehle

Show Me the Money

Suzanne Meehle — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 12:23:44 +0000

You've had your initial consultation. You've counseled your new client on the services they need, and they are ready to sign the engagement letter. But then you ask for their retainer, and they look at you like you've got three heads. "You want HOW MUCH?!?!" What do you do now?

Written by Suzanne Meehle

Getting More Clients (Ethically) Through Reputation Management

Suzanne Meehle — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 12:16:50 +0000

Think of online reputation management in terms of building a referral network. You can use social media to make connections and build your referral network faster than you can in person and without violating the Rules. There's lots more so read on...

Written by Suzanne Meehle

Should You Charge for Consultations?

Suzanne Meehle — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 12:34:41 +0000

It seems like a yes or no question, but there may be as many answers to that question as there are law firms. If you do charge for the consultation, you may have to deal with a client who expects the consultation for free. But if you don't charge for a consultation, aren't you giving away the milk and hoping they'll buy the cow?

Written by Suzanne Meehle

Nailing the Job or Running the Firm: Some Interviewing Nuts and Bolts

George Gold — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 11:00:29 +0000

Whether interviewing for your first job or interviewing potential employees for your solo/small firm practice, there are some 'golden rules' to follow to achieve success.

Written by George Gold