This short piece, The not so lonely lawyer (WV Record 7/20/06) offers a couple of quick thoughts on solo practice. Some of the views are positive; for instance, the article takes the time to dispell the myth that solo practice is a greater risk than staying at biglaw:
However, for law firm marketing guru Mark
Future Trends
Solo practice: the most overlooked, underrated law option
With all of the terrific solo blogs, I’m still amazed that people still don’t get solo practice. Among the prime offenders are Ann Israel, who writes the Advice for the Lawlorn column for New York Lawyer and her correspondents. Israel would rather advise folks to leave the practice of law than to give solo practice…
To the Bars: Don’t Make Me Part of Your PR Scam With Mandatory Pro Bono Reporting
Evan Schaeffer posts here that the Illinois Bar is the latest bar to implement a mandatory pro bono reporting requirement whereby lawyers must report pro bono activity annually to the bar. According to Schaeffer, “the Illinois Supreme Court hopes that the new reporting requirement will
serve as a reminder that pro-bono work is important. In…
Small Firm Lawyer Has Big Ideas for The WV Bar
A small firm lawyer, Rob Fisher, has taken the helm at the West Virginia Bar as reported in this article. Based on what he has planned for his state, I sure wish they’d find more like him to lead the ABA. According to the article, Fisher plans to focus on small firms and solos and…
South Carolina Makes Discipline Records Available Online
According to this article, the South Carolina Bar moved to electronically post disciplines of lawyers on its webstie for 75 years (of course, who knows if the web in its present form will be around by then). Some lawyers oppose this decision, arguing that it “creates a Scarlet Letter” for anyone who makes a…
Solo Reported Missing
A Texas solo is missing, according to this Texas Lawyer article (4/20/06), State Bar of Texas Steps in After Solo is Reported Missing. According to the article, Britt Hall, a Houston solo, has not been seen since Jan. 3, according to a private investigator who is searching for him. And State Bar officials say…
Graying of the Bar
This article, Graying of the Bar (Seattle Times, 4/10/06) raises some concerns for solo and small firm lawyers reaching the later stages of their careers. As the article describes, state bars are finding that they are investigating more complaints against older lawyers who may be suffering from mental health issues, but continue to practice law. …
Small Time Lawyer, Big Time Impact
This article on the death of New York attorney, Joel Scelsi, will make you proud to be called a “small town lawyer.” Where else can you handle such a wide array of cases and be known around town as the person to go to for help if someone finds themselves in trouble.
After reading articles…
Arizona Makes It Easier to Check Up on Lawyers
According to this article, the Arizona State Bar now includes records of formal disciplinary action against lawyers at its website to help consumers “weed out lawyers with spotty records while searching for representation.” You might think that someone like me, who constantly complains that bars unfairly target solo and small firm lawyers (as I…
Cheney’s Victim Is A Famous Solo in his Own Right
Harry Whittington has been in the news recently as the victim in a hunting accident involving Vice President Cheney, but before this event, he’d earned a reputation as a famous solo in his own right. As this article from the Austin Statesman describes, Whittington’s successful legal battles included ensuring that the state properly spent…