My Shingle

From the category archives:

Questions & Advice

Solos Know Strategies Associates Need To Learn

May 14, 2010 by Carolyn Elefant

(Note:  originally published at Complete Lawyer, November 2008 )
If you’ve just read this article’s title, you’re probably racking your brain trying to figure out what the heck a lowly solo practitioner like me can teach you about succeeding as a law firm associate.
You probably think that solos simply churn out form documents [...]

Read more Questions & Advice View Comments

Sale of a Law Practice, Interview With Ed Poll & Lawyers at Midlife

March 12, 2010 by Carolyn Elefant

Searching for fodder for blog posts, I came across this advertisement posted by a soon to be 70 year old retiring lawyer who is seeking buyers for his law practice located in Syracuse, in Hamilton County, Kansas.  According to the ad there are only two other lawyers in the County, thus allowing for a County-wide [...]

Read more Questions & Advice View Comments

A Happy Ending to the $50K Question, Should I Solo Now?

October 5, 2009 by Carolyn Elefant

In May 2008, I discussed a tantalizing question posed by reader who at the time was employed in a federal clerkship, after having spent two years at biglaw.  He asked  do I go solo now and forfeit the $50,000 clerkship signing bonus from a large firm, or take the leap into solo practice immediately after [...]

Read more Questions & Advice View Comments

Would You Hire An Unemployed Lawyer As A Volunteer?

March 29, 2009 by Carolyn Elefant

From Newsday, I learned that the Nassau County Attorney’s office hopes help out in this economic downturn by opening its doors to bring on several volunteer lawyers who haven’t been able to find other employment.  Positions range from working with the county’s Home Ownership Center to advise in mortgage default situations to defending the county [...]

Read more Questions & Advice View Comments

Reader Question: Should I Take Consumer Cases Short Term Even Though I Want to Do Business Law Long Term?

January 29, 2009 by Carolyn Elefant

I try to respond personally to the many emails that I receive from readers, but every so often, the email raises a question that has broader interest to other readers, so I post it here.  Here’s an email that I recently received, with my response – but I welcome you to chime in:
Q:  I am [...]

Read more Questions & Advice View Comments

Should I Turn Down A $50k Bonus Clerkship Bonus To Start My Own Practice?

May 26, 2008 by Carolyn Elefant

Here’s a question from a reader of this site and Solo by Choice:
I spent two years at a large law firm and now clerk for a federal district court judge.  I want to start my own practice after my clerkship concludes, but if I do, I’ll be turning down the $50k starting bonuses that firms [...]

Read more Questions & Advice View Comments

Start a Law Firm…In North Carolina?

February 27, 2008 by Carolyn Elefant

Go east, young lawyer if you want to start a law firm.  As this article reports, a recent study released by the Pope Center for Higher Education shows that North Carolina needs more lawyer in light of recent population growth and a strong economy.  The catch – only graduates of accredited ABA law schools qualify [...]

Read more Questions & Advice View Comments

Hey, McKee Nelson Associates – There’ll Never Be A Better Opportunity Than Now to Start Your Own Law Firm

November 13, 2007 by Carolyn Elefant

Thanks to a lemon of a credit market, associates at McKee Nelsonhave the opportunity to make a huge vat of life-changing lemonade. Above the Law’s David Lat is reporting here that NY/DC based McKee Nelson, in an effort to avoid economically-induced, forced associate layoffs, is offering associates two options: (1) a full bonus, [...]

Read more Biglaw Practice and Issues View Comments

If I solo out of school, do I pick the cheaper law school?

January 28, 2007 by Carolyn Elefant

Q:  I’m only applying to law school now, but I am hoping to open up my own general practice as soon as I graduate.  Here is my situation:  I am fairly sure that I will be admitted to a law school in the city where I am intent on living and opening my firm (School [...]

Read more Questions & Advice View Comments

The best time to start….

November 14, 2006 by Carolyn Elefant

Seth Godin has some great advice on the best time to start a firm:  maybe last year, maybe never.  But the second best time is now.  So go for it (and read Godin’s entire post).

Read more Questions & Advice View Comments

← Previous Entries