Comments on: What Do Solo and Small Firm Lawyers Earn?

By: Kenneth_Yoon

Kenneth_Yoon — Thu, 19 May 2011 07:41:00 +0000

My old boss told me that a solo could expect to max out at about $250k a year. That was said to me several years ago. Now the number is probably a bit higher. But it is based on about 1500 billed a year at $250 an hour. He also said that it is hard to do that.

I think this is fairly accurate. So to calculate solo wages, just add up about 1000 hours, an estimated rate and minus costs (including write offs).

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:02:30 +0000

The last few years there's been an economic survey before Minnesota CLE's annual Solo and Small Firms conference. Here are the 2009 results: http://www.smallfirmsuccess.org/the-practice/the-practice/small-firm-economic-survey-2009

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:02:00 +0000

By: L Stewart

L Stewart — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:46:19 +0000

Working in the southeast, the Florida data is probably the most relevant to me. It is somewhat encouraging, but as a recent graduate and new solo, I’ll believe it when I see it.

By: L Stewart

L Stewart — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:46:00 +0000

Working in the southeast, the Florida data is probably the most relevant to me. It is somewhat encouraging, but as a recent graduate and new solo, I’ll believe it when I see it.

By: jamal

jamal — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:48:39 +0000

The solo field is dieing, just like the rest of the industry. In 10 years much of the law will be outsourced, or at least the parts that already fill doc review’s slums, and growth will be stagnant or receding.

By: jamal

jamal — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:48:00 +0000

By: Ted A. Waggoner

Ted A. Waggoner — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:31:00 +0000

The Henderson study you quote is part of a larger study commissioned by the Indiana State Bar Assoc. SSF Conference of 2007. It went far beyond the Law School issue. I will send you a copy.

By: Ted A. Waggoner

Ted A. Waggoner — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:31:00 +0000

The Henderson study you quote is part of a larger study commissioned by the Indiana State Bar Assoc. SSF Conference of 2007. It went far beyond the Law School issue. I will send you a copy.

By: Paul G. Kostro, Esq.

Paul G. Kostro, Esq. — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:45:04 +0000

Perhaps a more work/family-dedication neutral indicator is the standard hourly rate that solos value their professional time. Are there any sources for that information?