Should You Take This Bar Exam or That Bar Exam?
Not sure which bar exam to take? How do you decide?
Guest Bloggers
Do You Really Need Full Time Office Space for Your Solo Practice?
One of the first things people do when starting a practice is rent office space. At least it seems like something that you should be doing. Originally it was all about the image you present and impressing clients with the fancy location with nice furniture. These days more and more firms are doing away with the full-time office location.
You Should Practice Burger King Law
You may be a “Solo by Choice” as Carolyn Elefant describes it in her excellent “why and how to” book on going solo, or you may be a solo by default in this rocky modern legal landscape. Either way, aim to practice “Burger King Law.” I’m referring to Burger King’s 40 year old tag line, “Have it your way.”
Are You Poisoning Your Solo Practice?
It’s Spring, traditionally time for a little Spring Cleaning. Toss out the old, start fresh. For the solo attorney, that often means purging ourselves of bad habits and setting some new goals.
This Spring, I recommend that you stop being toxic to your business. Yeah – you heard me. YOU are toxic to your business. And you need to stop it!
How Long Do I Need to Keep My Closed Files?
As a risk manager, this question is the one question I’m asked more than any other and I get it. Truth be told, however, the answer to this question isn’t a simple one; but it is manageable and it begins with determining when any given file can be destroyed.
5 Mantras Successful Rezooming Attorneys Chant
Jeff Haden, a ghostwriter, speaker and ponderer of really interesting questions, wrote his column this month about 5 Statements Successful People Refused to Except (or Even Think). It was an interesting article which first discussed what not to think then suggested how to think differently. It spoke to the reader’s traditionally negative state of mind, […]
The Importance of Flexibility in a Solo Practice
One of the best things about being a solo/small firm lawyer that solo/small firm lawyers always cite is the flexibility. Flexible work schedule, flexible billing options, flexible practice areas. We are practically yogis.
What we never say is that all that flexibility does not mean a reduced workload, easier billing or lowered obligations to learn all those new practice areas. There is a price, and we usually pay it in longer hours working for ourselves than we ever put in working for Big Law.
Managing the Risk that Comes From Bad Lawyering
The number of professional liability claims that arise as a result of a substantive legal error has varied a bit, but it generally seems to hover around 46%. In short, this means that roughly 46% of reported claims in any given year are a result of an attorney failing to know the law, failing to properly apply the law, or failing to know or ascertain a deadline…..
What Did You Expect?
Attorney Craig Tucker* knew immediately that he was going to have problems with his new client. The client slipped on a few fallen grapes in the produce section of a large grocery store. She was in her late 30s and suffered only minor injuries. Her treatment was limited to chiropractic care. Tucker knew after the initial meeting that her case would be worth a few thousand dollars. Unfortunately, the client had very different ideas.
The New Solo: Jack of All Trades, Master of None?
As a new lawyer, should you be a jack of all trades? Unless you practice in a very small town, this strategy is usually a mistake.
Featured Podcasts
The Gen Why Lawyer
Why Going Solo as a Young Attorney Could Be the Best Decision Ever with Susan Cartier Liebel from Solo Practice University®.
Staying Motivated While Starting A Solo Law Practice
On this episode of New Solo from the Legal Talk Network, Adriana Linares interviews Susan Cartier Liebel from Solo Practice University® about how to stay motivated throughout the process of starting a solo law practice.
Helping Lawyers Go Solo
Motivation in life is very important. I share seminal moments which have shaped me as a human being and helped me become who I am today.
Learning To Build And Run A Solo Practice
On this podcast from Lawpreneur Radio, Miranda McCroskey interviews Susan Cartier Liebel from Solo Practice University® about perceptions of fear, failure and other issues facing solos.
2015 Blawg 100 Hall of Fame
Regular Contributors
Susan Cartier Liebel
Founder & CEO
Mark Bassingthwaighte
Columnist, Managing Risk
Debra Bruce
Columnist, Lawyer - Coach
Lee Burgess
Columnist, Bar Exam Success
Karen Caffrey
Columnist
George Gold
Columnist
Suzanne Meehle
Columnist, Big Law to Solo
Cynthia Sharp
Columnist
Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton
Columnist, Solo Re-Zooming
Chelsea Williams
Columnist
Wendy Witt
Columnist, Million Dollar Attorney®
Allison Wood
Columnist
Recent Blog Posts See all »
Launch Pad – Building a Go-To-Market Plan for a New Law Firm – Guest Lecture with Jared Correia
Oct 8th • Solo Practice University Blog
Let’s Learn the Ethics of Using AI…for Lawyers (Part 2) – Guest Lecture with Jared Correia
May 14th • Solo Practice University Blog
You Think You Know How to Construct A Fee Agreement? Think, Again! – Guest Lecture with Jared Correia
May 7th • Solo Practice University Blog
Here’s a Down and Dirty List of 60 Productivity Apps For Solos – Guest Lecture with Jared Correia
May 4th • Solo Practice University Blog