Comments on: The ABA Makes A Play for Solos, but Should Solos Play With the ABA? http://myshingle.com/2010/07/articles/myshingle-solo/the-aba-makes-a-play-for-solos-but-should-solos-play-with-the-aba/ Great Things Come in Small [Law] Practices! Thu, 10 May 2012 10:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Statcho http://myshingle.com/2010/07/articles/myshingle-solo/the-aba-makes-a-play-for-solos-but-should-solos-play-with-the-aba/#comment-10603 Statcho Sat, 13 Aug 2011 16:36:00 +0000 http://myshingle.com/?p=2059#comment-10603 It's my understanding that the ABA has some kind of official pro-abortion rights position. Does anyone know where I can find this? It’s my understanding that the ABA has some kind of official pro-abortion rights position. Does anyone know where I can find this?

]]> By: Jodi Bromberg http://myshingle.com/2010/07/articles/myshingle-solo/the-aba-makes-a-play-for-solos-but-should-solos-play-with-the-aba/#comment-5170 Jodi Bromberg Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:31:10 +0000 http://myshingle.com/?p=2059#comment-5170 As a BigLaw fugitive gone solo-ish (2 person firm), I'd love to hear thoughts on what organizations *have* been helpful to solos/small firms (aside from the pros/cons debate of the ABA). As a BigLaw fugitive gone solo-ish (2 person firm), I'd love to hear thoughts on what organizations *have* been helpful to solos/small firms (aside from the pros/cons debate of the ABA).

]]> By: Legal http://myshingle.com/2010/07/articles/myshingle-solo/the-aba-makes-a-play-for-solos-but-should-solos-play-with-the-aba/#comment-4032 Legal Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:51:48 +0000 http://myshingle.com/?p=2059#comment-4032 ABA is not getting a cent of my money. They have done great harm to our profession and particularly to Solos by their rampant accreditation of law schools. Starve ABA of what it really wants from you- money to survive and it will learn a little something about protecting attorney's rights. ABA is not getting a cent of my money. They have done great harm to our profession and particularly to Solos by their rampant accreditation of law schools. Starve ABA of what it really wants from you- money to survive and it will learn a little something about protecting attorney's rights.

]]> By: Susan Cartier Liebel http://myshingle.com/2010/07/articles/myshingle-solo/the-aba-makes-a-play-for-solos-but-should-solos-play-with-the-aba/#comment-3858 Susan Cartier Liebel Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:23:34 +0000 http://myshingle.com/?p=2059#comment-3858 Now that I'm back from vacation, I've responded in my blog post: 'The ABA: Friend, Foe...or Simply Irrelevant for the Solo?"<br><br><a href="http://buildasolopractice.solopracticeuniversity.com/2010/07/26/the-aba-friend-foe-or-simply-irrelevant-for-the-solo/" rel="nofollow">http://buildasolopractice.solopracticeuniversit...</a><br><br>Thanks for always calling it like you see it! Now that I'm back from vacation, I've responded in my blog post: 'The ABA: Friend, Foe…or Simply Irrelevant for the Solo?”

http://buildasolopractice.solopracticeuniversit…

Thanks for always calling it like you see it!

]]> By: The ABA: Friend, Foe or…Simply Irrelevant for the Solo? | Build A Solo Practice @ SPU http://myshingle.com/2010/07/articles/myshingle-solo/the-aba-makes-a-play-for-solos-but-should-solos-play-with-the-aba/#comment-3857 The ABA: Friend, Foe or…Simply Irrelevant for the Solo? | Build A Solo Practice @ SPU Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:42:21 +0000 http://myshingle.com/?p=2059#comment-3857 [...] week when my big and little guys were asleep after an exhausting day at the beach I learned of Carolyn Elefant’s post on MyShingle.com letting loose on the ABA as an ‘organization’ (not it’s volunteers or staff).  [...] [...] week when my big and little guys were asleep after an exhausting day at the beach I learned of Carolyn Elefant’s post on MyShingle.com letting loose on the ABA as an ‘organization’ (not it’s volunteers or staff).  [...]

]]> By: Carolyn Elefant http://myshingle.com/2010/07/articles/myshingle-solo/the-aba-makes-a-play-for-solos-but-should-solos-play-with-the-aba/#comment-3845 Carolyn Elefant Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:28:07 +0000 http://myshingle.com/?p=2059#comment-3845 I've never understood why neither the ABA nor the state bars have been able to leverage the power of their members to secure low cost LEXIS and Westlaw service. True, the state bars now offer Fastcase and Casemaker free, but those services still aren't quite ready for hardcore litigation research or for specialty practices. LEXIS and Westlaw pay tons of money to bar associations but somehow those sponsorships never result in lower cost of service to members. I've never understood why neither the ABA nor the state bars have been able to leverage the power of their members to secure low cost LEXIS and Westlaw service. True, the state bars now offer Fastcase and Casemaker free, but those services still aren't quite ready for hardcore litigation research or for specialty practices. LEXIS and Westlaw pay tons of money to bar associations but somehow those sponsorships never result in lower cost of service to members.

]]> By: Carolyn Elefant http://myshingle.com/2010/07/articles/myshingle-solo/the-aba-makes-a-play-for-solos-but-should-solos-play-with-the-aba/#comment-3844 Carolyn Elefant Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:25:52 +0000 http://myshingle.com/?p=2059#comment-3844 The problem as I see it with setting solo policy is that so much takes place at the state level, where incumbent powers will also set policies that make it harder for newbies to get in the door. There's a need for a strong voice at the national level to combat the states - that's where the ABA could play a prominent role, in my view - but creating this kind of group from scratch would be tough, though not insurmountable (nothing is, after all if!) In the meantime, I continue to serve as one voice lobbying for solo interests here at MyShingle - in recent months, I weighed in on cloud computing (<a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/33588206/Letter-to-NC-Ethics-Committee-Re-Cloud-Computing" rel="nofollow">http://www.docstoc.com/docs/33588206/Letter-to-...</a>) and spoke out against both NY and NJ bonafide office requirements (<a href="http://myshingle.com/2010/02/articles/ethics-malpractice-issues/attorneys-defending-bar-requirements-say-that-lawyer-must-violate-them-to-bring-a-challenge/" rel="nofollow">http://myshingle.com/2010/02/articles/ethics-ma...</a>, <a href="http://myshingle.com/2010/03/articles/client-relations/njs-bonafide-office-rule-would-have-me-doubled-over-with-laughter-except-that-it-will-double-the-cost-of-legal-services/" rel="nofollow">http://myshingle.com/2010/03/articles/client-re...</a> The problem as I see it with setting solo policy is that so much takes place at the state level, where incumbent powers will also set policies that make it harder for newbies to get in the door. There's a need for a strong voice at the national level to combat the states – that's where the ABA could play a prominent role, in my view – but creating this kind of group from scratch would be tough, though not insurmountable (nothing is, after all if!) In the meantime, I continue to serve as one voice lobbying for solo interests here at MyShingle – in recent months, I weighed in on cloud computing (http://www.docstoc.com/docs/33588206/Letter-to-…) and spoke out against both NY and NJ bonafide office requirements (http://myshingle.com/2010/02/articles/ethics-ma…, http://myshingle.com/2010/03/articles/client-re…

]]> By: Letitia http://myshingle.com/2010/07/articles/myshingle-solo/the-aba-makes-a-play-for-solos-but-should-solos-play-with-the-aba/#comment-3842 Letitia Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:31:07 +0000 http://myshingle.com/?p=2059#comment-3842 Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the ABA kinda serve as a union for lawyers? Aren't they supposed to lobby for our interests? I'm not sure that the ABA does that for solos, which is a bit shocking, b/c I believe that solos and small firms make up about 60% of the attorney population...<br><br>Yes the ABA does perform some pretty good services, mainly Solosez, but again, it shouldn't cost too much to maintain. Perhaps one could build on Solosez (or Solo Practice University) and create a union or lobbying arm or whatever you want to call it, with its primary focus on solos/small firms. As many of you know, there is strength in numbers...imagine the power of harnessing a good chunk of 60% of the attorney population!<br><br>Sorry if I seem a bit starry eyed (I'm a pretty new attorney), but the legal profession is in sore need of an overhaul, and I don't see the ABA participating in something like that... Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the ABA kinda serve as a union for lawyers? Aren't they supposed to lobby for our interests? I'm not sure that the ABA does that for solos, which is a bit shocking, b/c I believe that solos and small firms make up about 60% of the attorney population…

Yes the ABA does perform some pretty good services, mainly Solosez, but again, it shouldn't cost too much to maintain. Perhaps one could build on Solosez (or Solo Practice University) and create a union or lobbying arm or whatever you want to call it, with its primary focus on solos/small firms. As many of you know, there is strength in numbers…imagine the power of harnessing a good chunk of 60% of the attorney population!

Sorry if I seem a bit starry eyed (I'm a pretty new attorney), but the legal profession is in sore need of an overhaul, and I don't see the ABA participating in something like that…

]]> By: dgulbran http://myshingle.com/2010/07/articles/myshingle-solo/the-aba-makes-a-play-for-solos-but-should-solos-play-with-the-aba/#comment-3841 dgulbran Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:07:36 +0000 http://myshingle.com/?p=2059#comment-3841 Speaking for myself, I don't need more "journals" or mailing lists from the ABA. I don't need CLE from them either. I need *actual* *useful* services: good discounts on malpractice insurance, health insurance, life insurance, legal research services, etc.<br><br>I get all of those at great value from my state/local bar associations. The ABA's offerings aren't as attractive, from a service or price perspective.<br><br>Aside from Solosez and Techshow (neither of which require ABA membership to participate in) I can't figure out one thing I've gotten from my ABA membership in the past, which is why I'm not renewing. Speaking for myself, I don't need more “journals” or mailing lists from the ABA. I don't need CLE from them either. I need *actual* *useful* services: good discounts on malpractice insurance, health insurance, life insurance, legal research services, etc.

I get all of those at great value from my state/local bar associations. The ABA's offerings aren't as attractive, from a service or price perspective.

Aside from Solosez and Techshow (neither of which require ABA membership to participate in) I can't figure out one thing I've gotten from my ABA membership in the past, which is why I'm not renewing.

]]> By: John Harding http://myshingle.com/2010/07/articles/myshingle-solo/the-aba-makes-a-play-for-solos-but-should-solos-play-with-the-aba/#comment-3835 John Harding Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:00:17 +0000 http://myshingle.com/?p=2059#comment-3835 Hi Carolyn. <br><br>Because I am one of two lawyers in my firm my dues are $399! Times are tough for everyone. Cuts need to be made. I can fire my associate so that I can get the ABA solo rate, or I can keep her employed and cancel my ABA membership, which is essentially nothing more than a $399 magazine subscription. So long ABA.... Hi Carolyn.

Because I am one of two lawyers in my firm my dues are $399! Times are tough for everyone. Cuts need to be made. I can fire my associate so that I can get the ABA solo rate, or I can keep her employed and cancel my ABA membership, which is essentially nothing more than a $399 magazine subscription. So long ABA….

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