My Shingle

Encouragement

Solos, Take Back the Law

January 6, 2012 by Carolyn Elefant

Each year, I try to identify an overarching theme that will impact solo and small firm practitioners.  And each year, I’ve been dead wrong – either because I’m way too far ahead of the trends, or because my predictions are contaminated by my own wishful thinking. For example, in 2009, I predicted that in the [...]

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The Miracle of the Solo

December 20, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

[Warning - Hanukkah-themed post ahead, if you would rather avoid religious-oriented content] Tonight marks the first night of Hanukkah, a joyous Jewish holiday that holds special meaning for me as a solo. From the small band of Maccabees triumphing over the Syrian army to the tiny drop of oil that fueled the eternal flame for [...]

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To a New Year of Meaning

September 30, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

Both today and yesterday, I have been observing Rosh Hashanna, the Jewish New Year. When I was in college and law school, I abided the rituals, well, religiously, foregoing work and use of any electronics and spending my time in services. But back then, the prayers and rituals resonated with me in a way that [...]

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The First Week of Going Solo

September 14, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

The following is a guest post by Carl, a New Jersey Divorce Attorney who recently hung a shingle. The First Week of Going Solo Day 1 The first few weeks of hanging a shingle and starting a law practice are a blurry, fear-inducing yet simultaneously exciting tightrope walk along the edge of hope and fear. [...]

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A Solo Fought the Law and the Solo Won! NY Jud. Code 470 Found Unconstitutional!

September 8, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

The wheels of justice grind slowly, but exceedingly fine. Nearly four years have passed since New-York barred, New Jersey residing attorney Ekaterina Schoenefeld refused to play scofflaw and ignore a valid law requiring only non-resident lawyers to maintain an in-state office  simply because she personally believed it to be outdated or unjust. Instead, Schoenefeld did [...]

Read more Celebrating Solos 8 comments

Is This Really How You Want To Practice Law?

August 22, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

Well, it pays the bills. A solo criminal defense practice that generates over $100,000 in billings. No employees and no need to advertise.  There’s just one small detail: you’ll handle 558 cases in a year and take 4 to trial. Fewer than one percent. It’s not difficult to find a solo practice like the one [...]

Read more Criminal Law, Practice & Policy 15 comments

To Make The World A Better Place

July 21, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

Lately, my posts at MyShingle have been sparse. Since mid-June, I’ve been buried in a couple of new matters plus I’ve been writing for Small Firm Innovation and The Xemplar and preparing for my summer travels to bar conferences near and far to meet and teach and learn from my fellow practicing solos. But truth [...]

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Why Solo Success Looks Like Jose Baez

July 11, 2011 by Carolyn Elefant

Jose Baez’s win for Casey Anthony wasn’t pretty. From an opening statement that promised much but didn’t fully deliver to cross-examination questions that went nowhere or elicited evidence that seemed to hurt more than help to the clumsy cardboard exhibits, no one will ever confuse Jose Baez and his band of solo lawyers with the [...]

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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

HALO – Help a Lawyer Out

December 21, 2010 by Carolyn Elefant

Professional courtesy. When is the last time you’ve used that phrase, or heard it as anything other than the punchline of a lawyer joke? For me, professional courtesy is one of the aspects of being a lawyer that I most enjoy. Like giving a free consultation to a client sent my way by a colleague. [...]

Read more Dealing With Clients 7 comments

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