My readers have spoken.  The winner of the Solo Practice University Birthday Scholarship (with more than two thirds of the overall vote) is:

JO

1. JO

I went to law school to become a plaintiff’s trial lawyer based on a desire to help injured people obtain justice.

The exposures I had as a child growing up in a large working class family right outside of Boston surely shaped this mindset. At a young age I remember hearing stories about kids my age dying of cancer from factories poisoning the water in Woburn, MA (the true story for which the book A Civil Action was based upon) and grew up in a town where my grandfather spent all his life working with asbestos at the industrial plant that caused the mesothelioma he later died from.

These and other plaintiff personal injury stories shaped my growing up years. Deep down in my heart and soul, I knew that I wanted to do plaintiff’s work even before I knew it by name.

Due to a very personal family tragedy, I had to defer my dream of moving back east to start law school because I had to continue working full time for the first year. As a result, I started at a part time evening law program. I was fortunate to do exceedingly well and transferred to a top tier school at the start of my second year.

While there, I delved in every single trial course experience that I could. I was a team captain in mock trial competitions, became a trial advocacy scholar, and received the International Trial Lawyers Award amongst others. I graduated with honors and received an offer at a big law firm this past summer at a time where the legal market imploded and many friends were losing their jobs.

Trust me, the money was incredibly tempting. Like so many of us, I sacrificed a lot to get through law school, including acquiring high six figures debt. Yet as tempting as the high salary was especially in this type of economy, I knew in my heart that I couldn’t sell out on my dream, that I had to stay true to myself and my goal.

Thus, upon graduating and passing the bar this July, I chose to strike out on my own. My goal is to help the consumer, help the small business, and help the injured obtain justice. So I am striking out on my own as a solo by choice. I have a plan set in place, am ready to go and should be ready to start fresh out of law school.

While I am not able to afford to attend SPU while I try and keep my overhead expenses very low, I would be thrilled to have the chance. If you vote for me, I can promise I will do my very best to utilize this opportunity in the best possible way to help others.

Thank you very much for your vote, thank you Susan for the opportunity, and Happy Birthday.

JO

I thank everyone for their entries and those who voted.

However, for the next two most popular entries I do have a wonderful consolation prize.  They will be receiving a copy of Mark Merenda’s ‘Smart Marketing for Smart Lawyers’

And those lucky recipients are:

Second prize:  CJ

4. CJ

Wow! I would love to be able to take advantage of everything SPU has to offer! I graduated from law school in May, and passed the Oregon bar in July. I started my own practice in October.

A little about me:
I started law school as a single mom, with a two year-old son. I had just gotten divorced, had no job, and no idea what to do next. So I went to law school. I loved it! While in school I met my amazing and wonderful partner, and last December had my second child. Yes, in the middle of law school. I brought my newborn to every class with me the last semester of school, and managed to study for and pass the bar with a 6 month old (and a really helpful five year old!).

So of course, starting my practice with my children at my side seems pretty natural to me. I share an office two days a week right now with another solo, and work from home the rest of the week. I’m able to bring my son with me to the office any time I want, and I’m there to pick my older son up from kindergarten every afternoon.

My “niche” is going to be helping women, mainly in family law, but also with employment, and some business and estate planning. After spending the last year of law school going through a custody dispute with my ex husband, I really gained an appreciation for family law.

A little about my inspiration:
I picked up Jay Foonberg’s book somewhere between my first and second years of law school. I read it and knew deep down, this was the right choice for me. His reasons for starting right away and not getting a few years experience at a firm helped me to dispel some of my fears, but the idea of starting out on my own still just seemed like a fun, but not very practical, plan. But I couldn’t get the idea out of my head, and in the current economic climate, it seemed like there was really no downside.

And then I stumbled onto Carolyn Elefant’s blog after taking the bar, and read this:

“. . .there’s no competition for a job which hasn’t yet been announced at a firm that doesn’t yet exist. That position is yours for the taking, provided of course, that you create it.”

I decided that she was right, and I had to go for it. Since then, I’ve been devouring any resource I can find on the web to help me with marketing and getting myself out there, as well as networking with some great lawyers, both online and locally. I’m beyond excited about this “job” I’ve created for myself. I have the drive and determination to succeed as a solo, and I would get so much out of a scholarship to SPU. Vote for me because I am seriously passionate about my new career as a solo attorney!

Third prize:     Scott L.

8. Scott L

Here’s my story. I graduated near the top of my class in law school and was offered employment at a top law firm in the area (after working there during the summer between my 2nd and 3rd years of law school). About 2 weeks before I was scheduled to start I got ‘the call’. My employment was deferred, indefinitely. In other words, unless the economy changes, I will not work there.

Prior to law school I was an engineer for 6 years with a successful career, but was unhappy. I loved law school and chose to change careers. About 6 months ago my first son was born, so now I have a family to support and no job to pay the bills.

Therefore, necessity has led me to attempt to establish myself as a solo practitioner. I know it won’t be easy, but I am hardworking and have an entrepreneurial spirit, so I am excited. In fact, I don’t think I’ll be going back to biglaw, even if they do come calling. Working for myself, as long as I can pay the bills is actually a dream come true. I’ll actually have time to watch my son grow up.

I hope that you choose me for the Solo Practice University. Thanks!

Congratulations to everyone!