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Teaching Lawyers How to Create and Grow Their Solo Legal Practice

  • If you’ve decided to make the commitment to building your own solo legal practice;
  • If you’ve decided practicing law on your own terms is the only way for you to practice law;
  • If you’ve decided your personal goals can only be achieved by being in charge of your professional future;
  • If you are absolutely committed to being successful and want to shorten your learning curve to profitability;
  • If you want to learn the nuts and bolts of actually practicing law in the 21st century taught by successful attorneys who are doing exactly what you hope to achieve and be surrounded by an incredible network of similarly situated professionals, then you should be enrolling in Solo Practice University® - the ‘practice of law’ school.

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A Little About Me: In 2000, I approached the Acting Dean of Quinnipiac University School of Law in Hamden, Connecticut and said, “let me teach your students how to open their own practice right out of law school.” I must have caught him in a weak moment because he gave me the green light. To date, a full 20% of my students have successfully “hung a shingle” right out of law school or shortly thereafter.

As a result of my teaching success, in 2004 The Connecticut Law Tribune recognized my contributions with the “Young Leaders in the Law” award for Education. This honor led to my regular columns in The Connecticut Law Tribune and Law.com, “An Independent Spirit,” which gives advice to solos and discusses issues many solos face as well as regular columns in The Complete Lawyer, Lawyers USA Weekly, recognition in several books, speaking engagements and more about (you guessed it) going solo!

It is my personal mission, through education and authorship, to change the way law schools educate their students and the way the legal community receives solos.

I am uniquely qualified to consult and coach lawyers on how to start and grow their law practice whether right out of law school or shortly thereafter because that is exactly what I did. I live what I teach and preach.

I went to law school a decade after graduating from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in advertising. In those ten years I earned a living in advertising, promotion, marketing and sales as both an employee and an entrepreneur. In sales, whether starting a new office for a recruiting company or selling planned unit developments, I was always the top salesperson. Why? I believe in what I do and I understand how to first identify and then address the needs of my clients as well as building a network of relationships which is the basis for a truly successful practice.

Upon passing the bar exam, a few months after graduation from the University of Bridgeport School of Law (now Quinnipiac University School of Law), two fellow students and I started the law firm of Cartier, DeMatteo and Forman, LLC based in Fairfield, Connecticut. After five years, the law firm became Cartier & DeMatteo, LLC as the partners grew into their own. Life changes; your practice evolves. Beginning in 2001, I operated the Law Offices of Susan Cartier, LLC. Creating the national coaching/consulting firm of Build A Solo Practice, LLC in 2005 was a natural evolution from my professional and life experience and my teaching. It was very well received because I’ve walked the walk, I don’t just talk the talk.

Having been so well received, in August, 2007 I closed the doors to my law office so I could coach and consult full time. In 2008 I concluded my instruction at Quinnipiac University School of Law which limited my teaching both geographically and the total number of students I could reach. And now I have embarked on an exciting challenge to bring solo practice education to hundreds, if not thousands, of new lawyers throughout the country in a revolutionary new web-based educational community called Solo Practice University®.

We officially opened the doors to Solo Practice University® on March 20th, 2009.

If you want to have that all important ‘how to’ education from those who have succeeded in their chosen area of expertise plus be surrounded by a network of other professionals who share the same goals as yourself, then you should explore Solo Practice University® - the ‘practice of law’ school.

A law degree gives you freedom to create and design your life while enjoying your career on your own terms. I’m living proof it’s not only possible but very doable. And at Solo Practice University you will find those who are sharing your same dream.

Hope to see you on the inside!