My Shingle

February 2011

Memo to SmallLaw: You Don’t Own Small Law!

February 28, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

This morning, I learned that Technolawyer.com through biglaw bully firm, Fish & Richardson, is demanding that the Lawyerist blog take down a recent post using the term small law, charging that this usage creates confusion with Technolawyer’s trademarked term SmallLaw.  Though as a courtesy, I’ve attempted to make contact with Neil Squillante of Technolawyer prior [...]

Read more Big Law/Small Law 8 comments

I Am Not An Entrepreneur…My Answer to the Most Important Question for Solo Lawyers

February 25, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

Over at his new gig at Above the Law, my blogging colleague and law firm founder/owner Jay Shepherd poses the penultimate question to prospective shinglers:  Do you want to run a business, or do you want to practice law? For Jay, there’s only one right answer: if you want to start a law firm, you’ve [...]

Read more Big Law/Small Law 9 comments

Tribute to Joe Flom: Skadden’s Solo Role Model

February 24, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

As solos, mega-firm Skadden is perhaps one of the last places we’d ever think to look for a role model. But being solo doesn’t just mean working for oneself.  Solo is a state of mind; a combination of vision, hustle and sheer doggedness that together, convert adversity into a best friend. That’s the story of [...]

Read more Biglaw Practice and Issues 0 comments

FREE MyShingle Webinar: What You Don’t Know About Solo Practice Can Hurt You

February 24, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

It’s been ages since I’ve offered a free webinar, so this one is long overdue. No real reason (in other words, nothing to sell!) but I wanted to give back to my readers and test out a new webinar platform to replace DimDim. The webinar, which is based on the twice-yearly talks that I give [...]

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Starting A Law Firm: Creating the Marketing Portfolio

February 23, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

Diversify, diversify, diversify.  That’s the advice you’ll commonly hear if you’re investing in the market.  Well, that advice applies with equal force when you’re starting a law firm and investing in yourself.  Just as you need a portfolio for stock investment, so too, you’ll want a portfolio of activities by which to market your practice.  [...]

Read more Marketing & Making Money 1 comment

MyShingle Resource Round-Up

February 16, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

I’ve been out and about lately, so I thought it was time for a round up post highlighting the terrific resources that MyShingle has to offer. 1. Status of ebooks and tutorials: In December 2010, drop.io, the repository that MyShingle had been using for our free ebooks and tutorials, shut down. Since then, I’ve been [...]

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Events: Starting A Firm Talk in DC, FREE Webinar on SEO & Content Creation and Funniest Lawyer Contest

February 13, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

Here’s a quick round-up of some upcoming, FREE events of potential news to readers: 1. On FEBRUARY 15, 2011, I’m returning to the American University, Washington College of Law School, to reprise my talk on the Nuts & Bolts of Starting a Law Firm – which covers the reasons to consider starting a firm out [...]

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Just Say No To Free Use of Your User-Generated Content

February 11, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

Conventional, 21st century wisdom says that content wants to be free. That content isn’t worth paying for. That “exposure” in exchange for content is sufficient reward. Funny thing is that those who try to sell you this line don’t have content. And not only do they want yours free, but they want to profit off [...]

Read more MyShingle Solo 5 comments

Women Lawyers Too Busy Reading People Magazine To Blog, Suggests Crime & Federalism Blogger

February 9, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

Objectively speaking, there are fewer women than men who blog or contribute to wikipedia or are partners at AmLaw 100 law firms, for whatever that dubious honor is worth besides a huge paycheck. Sure, I’d like to see more women enjoy the same benefits that I have from blogging, but I surely don’t blame men [...]

Read more Parents Who Practice 18 comments

DLAPiper’s $200k Cover Charge Part II: Ethics Issues

February 8, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

This morning, I posted about DLAPiper’s $200k minimum annual billing cover charge for clients. But after a couple of conversations, I’ve gotten to wondering how DLAPiper can enforce this minimum charge without running afoul of ethics requirements. For example, what happens if DLAPiper estimates that defending Company X in a major lawsuit will cost $250,000, [...]

Read more Biglaw Practice and Issues 0 comments

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