Need Help Compiling Top Ten Reasons to Shingle

Hello, readers!  I’d like to put together a Top Ten List for my sidebar of reasons that lawyers should consider hanging out a shingle.  GAL posted something similar here, a list of the benefits of being an independent practitioner. For me, the reasons for going solo include autonomy, flexibility to achieve balance with family, an opportunity to learn about different fields of law and the ever present possibility that you’ll stumble across the case that might catapult you from obscurity into the limelight.

But that’s just me.  I’d like to gather ideas from readers as well.  You can send your contributions to me at elefant@myshingle.com or post them as comments below.  Submissions can be anonymous, but I’d be interested in learning whether you’re a solo (and if so, for how long), large firm or government attorney, academic, student or not an attorney at all.

18 Comments

  1. Anonymous on July 10, 2005 at 5:29 pm

    No office politics.



  2. Anonymous on July 10, 2005 at 5:29 pm

    No office politics.



  3. anon on July 11, 2005 at 9:01 am

    Ability to handle own cases, counsel clients, and “make partner” at age 30–as you mention in your bio.
    Ability to see effect of your work right away.
    Ability to make at least $150 an hour instead of the $50 an hour that firms pay.
    Ability to implement technology instead of having technology that is 5 years outdated.
    Pride in owning your own business.



  4. anon on July 11, 2005 at 9:01 am

    Ability to handle own cases, counsel clients, and “make partner” at age 30–as you mention in your bio.
    Ability to see effect of your work right away.
    Ability to make at least $150 an hour instead of the $50 an hour that firms pay.
    Ability to implement technology instead of having technology that is 5 years outdated.
    Pride in owning your own business.



  5. Inside Opinions: Legal Blogs on July 11, 2005 at 12:30 pm

    Your byline wanted: Top Ten reasons to go solo

    Carolyn Elefant wants your help with her list of the top ten reasons lawyers should hang out their own shingle. She writes: Hello, readers! I’d like to put together a Top Ten List for my sidebar of reasons that lawyers



  6. Inside Opinions: Legal Blogs on July 11, 2005 at 12:30 pm

    Your byline wanted: Top Ten reasons to go solo

    Carolyn Elefant wants your help with her list of the top ten reasons lawyers should hang out their own shingle. She writes: Hello, readers! I’d like to put together a Top Ten List for my sidebar of reasons that lawyers



  7. Melissa Montgomery on July 12, 2005 at 8:29 am

    1. Ability to determine your own priorities. For example – not having to sacrifice your weekend for your boss only to see you work sit on his/her desk for two weeks after you completed it).
    2. Keeping your own cases instead of having partners cherry-pick them after you’ve already done the work.
    (Those are based on antecdotes from big firm friends.)



  8. Melissa Montgomery on July 12, 2005 at 8:29 am

    1. Ability to determine your own priorities. For example – not having to sacrifice your weekend for your boss only to see you work sit on his/her desk for two weeks after you completed it).
    2. Keeping your own cases instead of having partners cherry-pick them after you’ve already done the work.
    (Those are based on antecdotes from big firm friends.)



  9. Little Bird on July 13, 2005 at 10:49 am

    No bleeding of personal life into office politics — I live in a small town, and my personal tangle with a nasty real estate agent prior to my working at that firm (turns out that the agent was good friends with my boss at that time) coming back to haunt me time after time.
    Also not making the partner rich while you work and he /she’s out of the office 3 to 4 days a week…really — it’s happened to me until I wised up.
    Peace and quiet.



  10. Little Bird on July 13, 2005 at 10:49 am

    No bleeding of personal life into office politics — I live in a small town, and my personal tangle with a nasty real estate agent prior to my working at that firm (turns out that the agent was good friends with my boss at that time) coming back to haunt me time after time.
    Also not making the partner rich while you work and he /she’s out of the office 3 to 4 days a week…really — it’s happened to me until I wised up.
    Peace and quiet.



  11. Lynn Roberts on July 13, 2005 at 5:14 pm

    Being solo means:
    Autonomy
    Reaping fruits of own labor
    Answering to self & clients only
    Directing the direction of the business
    Ability to use creativity and other non-traditional tools for success
    I’d say those are my reasons for being solo. It really means, in essence, freedom!
    ~~ Lynn Roberts
    http://www.lawyerlynn.com



  12. Lynn Roberts on July 13, 2005 at 5:14 pm

    Being solo means:
    Autonomy
    Reaping fruits of own labor
    Answering to self & clients only
    Directing the direction of the business
    Ability to use creativity and other non-traditional tools for success
    I’d say those are my reasons for being solo. It really means, in essence, freedom!
    ~~ Lynn Roberts
    http://www.lawyerlynn.com



  13. Rick on July 14, 2005 at 10:32 am

    Freedom to concentrate on work rather than constantly being distracted by the desire to take out your fully loaded, carbine gas-powered semi-automatic machine gun and stalk office to office shooting all the idiotic partners who drive you crazy.



  14. Rick on July 14, 2005 at 10:32 am

    Freedom to concentrate on work rather than constantly being distracted by the desire to take out your fully loaded, carbine gas-powered semi-automatic machine gun and stalk office to office shooting all the idiotic partners who drive you crazy.



  15. Cato on July 15, 2005 at 8:48 am

    Mind you that I am only a law student right now, but I have come up with a list of ten reasons that I have posted to my blog at http://deminimus.blogspot.com. Please come over and check them out – I have had no visitors as of yet.



  16. Cato on July 15, 2005 at 8:48 am

    Mind you that I am only a law student right now, but I have come up with a list of ten reasons that I have posted to my blog at http://deminimus.blogspot.com. Please come over and check them out – I have had no visitors as of yet.



  17. Stuart on July 18, 2005 at 9:34 am

    Being able to fire your boss (i.e. clients) if you get a bad one.
    Implementing technology (see above)…YES.
    No face time.



  18. Stuart on July 18, 2005 at 9:34 am

    Being able to fire your boss (i.e. clients) if you get a bad one.
    Implementing technology (see above)…YES.
    No face time.



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