What Do You Call Yourself?

Wow!
I think GAL is being overly touchy. If he wants to work with a partner, call it a partnership.
If he wants to work alone, then solo is as good of a word for alone as anyone else.
Do what you want and who cares what anyone else thinks??
In the corporate world, solo might not have as good of a connotation, but if he’s happy and his client’s happy, who cares?
I’ve been a sole practitioner for 11 years and never worried about the ‘connotations’ of my choices. Do what you want, and let other people do what they want.

I practice in an area that is normally the domain of large firms. Many large firm lawyers do look down on solos (and in fact can’t understand why one would turn down an opportunity to work with a large firm). Regardless of what you call yourself, their bias will not change. However, I can say that not only do I get clients who leave large firms, but I am much happier than I would be if I worked for a large firm. Ex-large firm attorneys tell me that management creates a nasty culture to get people to work harder – and of course instilling pride in the fact that they work in a large firm is part of that.
Ultimately, I say, who cares what others think.

What’s in a name for “solos”?

Carolyn Elefant ponders a question from The Greatest American Lawyer:

Dave: I appreciate your comments. Believe me, I have no insecurities about being solo, nor do I care what anyone else thinks. My practice is rolling forward so fast, I doubt I will be a one lawyer law firm for long.
But I know that other attorneys fail to even consider solo practice because of their belief that it indicates failure, or because they fail to see that it is an attractive alternative.
My goal is to inspire attorneys to seek their own way, outside the constructs of partnership-based business models (which I believe to be superior for both lawyers and clients). I know the task will be tough as long as perceptions about solo practice remain. I have the option of working for the ‘silkiest’ of law firms (and have done so). I spent years flying by private jet and limousine. But I was not serving my client. I was serving my law firm.
I choose to practice independently like so many other attonreys.
The point is not thin skin. The point is changing the way law is practiced. The point is changing the legal system. The point is that it is IMPORTANT to change the way lawyers and clients think about independent practitioners.
We need to care what people think if we care about the system itself. We need to build up the reputation of being independent practitioners if we hope to encourage the masses to consider it as a top-drawer alternative.

Okay, GAL does have a point. I’m a sole practitioner fighting on the side of the little guy. Heck, even my website is http://www.DavidvsGoliath.com.
Doing plaintiff’s work, being a one, two or three man shop is more the norm than the exception.
I can see in the corporate world, where there is a bias against being small.
While that is not my world, I think the best way to change people’s minds is to get good work, do good work and have fun doing it.
Let your life be the proselytizer and attitudes will change.

All adopting a euphemism does is confuse people and (eventually) corrupt the new terminology. Maybe Special Practitioner is apt.

I don’t believe that “solo” or “sole” practitioner is a negative term, and it is certainly not one that cannot be overcome by the quality work and integrity of the particular solo lawyer. Trying to change perceptions through the use of euphemisms is never a good idea — it tends to confuse and (eventually) to corrupt the meaning of the adopted terminology. For example, let’s not switch to Special Practitioner.