Comments on: Contact http://myshingle.com 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: Michael Day http://myshingle.com/contact/#comment-11652 Michael Day Sun, 06 May 2012 04:35:00 +0000 http://174.120.83.8/~sh1ngl3/contact/#comment-11652 As a litigator, who regularly searches the internet regarding opposing parties and opposing counsel, I am wondering if any of your blog entries have come back to haunt you. I have eschewed an internet presence preciously because of my own experience in using it to my advantage against my clients' adversaries. Any personal experiences or thoughts?   As a litigator, who regularly searches the internet regarding opposing parties and opposing counsel, I am wondering if any of your blog entries have come back to haunt you. I have eschewed an internet presence preciously because of my own experience in using it to my advantage against my clients’ adversaries. Any personal experiences or thoughts?  

]]> By: Daniellesantuccio http://myshingle.com/contact/#comment-11608 Daniellesantuccio Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:26:00 +0000 http://174.120.83.8/~sh1ngl3/contact/#comment-11608 I was reading one of your posts regarding minimum non-refundable fees.  This topic always drives me crazy because I find the rules (well many rules) particularly unfair to lawyers.  For example, When planning my wedding I hired a photographer for a wedding that was to take place 4 months later.  Not more than two weeks later I explained that we had eloped and would not need the service.  They did not refund my $800 deposit because "they had reserved that date for us and all deposits are non-refundable."  It didn't matter that it was highly unlikely that in the two weeks they had turned down work for that date (especially because this was a hobby job, not a full time job) and it didn't matter that they had four months to re-book that date, or that they eventually did rebook that date.  We had to throw away $800 because they said so, the date was reserved and deposits were not refundable.  When I take a case I very well might not take another case because the new case adds to an already busy caseload and therefore I refuse new cases for a few weeks.  Undoubtedly some of these clients go elsewhere.  So then when the client decides they no longer desire my services, why should I not be permitted to retain a portion of the fee (whether it has been "earned" or not) since I have turned away business that would have paid?  And we all know that, generally, we lawyers will return more than we probably should due to fear of a complaint.  We are the only profession that is expected to work for free, or for less than we are worth, or for clients that won't pay "if to withdraw would be detrimental to the client" and I find it to be the worst part of our collective profession. Your thoughts? Danielle I was reading one of your posts regarding minimum non-refundable fees.  This topic always drives me crazy because I find the rules (well many rules) particularly unfair to lawyers.  For example, When planning my wedding I hired a photographer for a wedding that was to take place 4 months later.  Not more than two weeks later I explained that we had eloped and would not need the service.  They did not refund my $800 deposit because “they had reserved that date for us and all deposits are non-refundable.”  It didn’t matter that it was highly unlikely that in the two weeks they had turned down work for that date (especially because this was a hobby job, not a full time job) and it didn’t matter that they had four months to re-book that date, or that they eventually did rebook that date.  We had to throw away $800 because they said so, the date was reserved and deposits were not refundable.  When I take a case I very well might not take another case because the new case adds to an already busy caseload and therefore I refuse new cases for a few weeks.  Undoubtedly some of these clients go elsewhere.  So then when the client decides they no longer desire my services, why should I not be permitted to retain a portion of the fee (whether it has been “earned” or not) since I have turned away business that would have paid?  And we all know that, generally, we lawyers will return more than we probably should due to fear of a complaint.  We are the only profession that is expected to work for free, or for less than we are worth, or for clients that won’t pay “if to withdraw would be detrimental to the client” and I find it to be the worst part of our collective profession.

Your thoughts?

Danielle

]]> By: Mgar64 http://myshingle.com/contact/#comment-11542 Mgar64 Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:06:00 +0000 http://174.120.83.8/~sh1ngl3/contact/#comment-11542 I know this has been discussed before, but I want to give solo practice a try but I have obligations and can't do it if I can't make about $110,000 per year after overhead. Is this a realistic number? I know this has been discussed before, but I want to give solo practice a try but I have obligations and can’t do it if I can’t make about $110,000 per year after overhead. Is this a realistic number?

]]> By: Scott http://myshingle.com/contact/#comment-11501 Scott Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:28:00 +0000 http://174.120.83.8/~sh1ngl3/contact/#comment-11501 I have been a fan of yours for a while now. I'm glad to see your business interests are expanding and thriving. If I am not mistaken, you once compiled a list of the various software programs and technology solutions solo practitioners were using (you may have used a survey or Google forms to do this). I remember reviewing it about 18 months ago. I am now looking for a new software accounting solution and would like to see what my fellow solo practitioners are using. Do you have any recommendations or at least access to that document? I have been a fan of yours for a while now. I’m glad to see your business interests are expanding and thriving. If I am not mistaken, you once compiled a list of the various software programs and technology solutions solo practitioners were using (you may have used a survey or Google forms to do this). I remember reviewing it about 18 months ago. I am now looking for a new software accounting solution and would like to see what my fellow solo practitioners are using. Do you have any recommendations or at least access to that document?

]]> By: Anonymous http://myshingle.com/contact/#comment-11310 Anonymous Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:55:00 +0000 http://174.120.83.8/~sh1ngl3/contact/#comment-11310 I am so sorry I am only responding to this now. I am sorry about the slight to Buffalo - I had just tossed in any city that was outside of NY. I have worked with many Buffalo firms and it is a great city with lots of legal talent. I didn't mean a slight at all. I am so sorry I am only responding to this now. I am sorry about the slight to Buffalo – I had just tossed in any city that was outside of NY. I have worked with many Buffalo firms and it is a great city with lots of legal talent. I didn’t mean a slight at all.

]]> By: Emfwave http://myshingle.com/contact/#comment-11309 Emfwave Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:52:00 +0000 http://174.120.83.8/~sh1ngl3/contact/#comment-11309 Hi Carolyn - Just wanted to say that your blog is great! Great content, great tone, and great discussion. Thanks for your hard work in keeping this blog going! I've added it to my list of legal must-reads. -Michelle (soon to be hanging my own shingle) Hi Carolyn -

Just wanted to say that your blog is great! Great content, great tone, and great discussion. Thanks for your hard work in keeping this blog going! I’ve added it to my list of legal must-reads.

-Michelle (soon to be hanging my own shingle)

]]> By: Anonymous http://myshingle.com/contact/#comment-11027 Anonymous Sat, 29 Oct 2011 07:14:00 +0000 http://174.120.83.8/~sh1ngl3/contact/#comment-11027 Carolyn, Any thoughts on Law.com eliminating the "Small Firm" category? Carolyn,

Any thoughts on Law.com eliminating the “Small Firm” category?

]]> By: Patrick Kane http://myshingle.com/contact/#comment-10788 Patrick Kane Sat, 10 Sep 2011 13:54:00 +0000 http://174.120.83.8/~sh1ngl3/contact/#comment-10788 Carolyn   Thank you for informing me about Ekaterina Schoenefeld and her victory in A Solo Fought the Law and the Solo Won! NY Jud. Code 470 Found Unconstitutional! In reading your post, I  found your February 15, 2010 post about Ms. Schoenefeld. In that post you wrote, "A fly by night lawyer from Buffalo..."As a practicing lawyer in  Florida who is licensed in New York and a native son of the "Queen City on Lake Erie," I take umbrage at that statement. I am sure that New Jersey has its share of "fly by night attorneys."I had the priviledge to practice law in Buffalo and I know that the legal talent there is second to none. Two former presidents, Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland, practiced law in Buffalo. The firm that Grover Cleveland founded is still in business today.I enjoy your blog. You provide an incredible service to solo & small firm attorneys. Patrick Kane Carolyn
 
Thank you for informing me about Ekaterina Schoenefeld and her victory in A Solo Fought the Law and the Solo Won! NY Jud. Code 470 Found Unconstitutional! In reading your post, I  found your February 15, 2010 post about Ms. Schoenefeld. In that post you wrote, “A fly by night lawyer from Buffalo…”As a practicing lawyer in  Florida who is licensed in New York and a native son of the “Queen City on Lake Erie,” I take umbrage at that statement. I am sure that New Jersey has its share of “fly by night attorneys.”I had the priviledge to practice law in Buffalo and I know that the legal talent there is second to none. Two former presidents, Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland, practiced law in Buffalo. The firm that Grover Cleveland founded is still in business today.I enjoy your blog. You provide an incredible service to solo & small firm attorneys. Patrick Kane

]]> By: Tunester http://myshingle.com/contact/#comment-10697 Tunester Fri, 26 Aug 2011 22:46:00 +0000 http://174.120.83.8/~sh1ngl3/contact/#comment-10697 Carolyn - First, great blog!  I'm not an attorney but have been developing a business concept that would require me to partner with an attorney.  I see that DC is the only entity in the US that allows non-attorneys to own part (25%) of a legal firm.  Do you know of any DC firms that have non-attorney investors?  I assume they would be primarily "silent" partners.  My business model would require me to be an active partner bringing and managing significant technology/marketing tools in the venture.  Have you heard of any firms with this kind of active partnership? Keep up the good work. Tunester   Carolyn - First, great blog!  I’m not an attorney but have been developing a business concept that would require me to partner with an attorney.  I see that DC is the only entity in the US that allows non-attorneys to own part (25%) of a legal firm.  Do you know of any DC firms that have non-attorney investors?  I assume they would be primarily “silent” partners.  My business model would require me to be an active partner bringing and managing significant technology/marketing tools in the venture.  Have you heard of any firms with this kind of active partnership?
Keep up the good work.
Tunester
 

]]> By: Beware of Westlaw http://myshingle.com/contact/#comment-10696 Beware of Westlaw Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:34:00 +0000 http://174.120.83.8/~sh1ngl3/contact/#comment-10696 After spending 12 years at big law firms, I decided to open a solo practice.  I love it!  However, there are some shady vendors out there.  Case in point:  Westlaw.  I got a competitive deal from them and signed up for a 3-year contract.  In my first month of the service, I did a few searches on their public records database, which was out of my plan.  When I got the bill, I was shocked:  $4,000!!!!!  I didn't even need to do the searches.  I did them to confirm info I already had.  When I explained this to Westlaw, they refused to give me a full refund.  Instead, they are offering me a $3,000 refund, provided I now add hundreds of dollars a month in services to my plan.  This would make John Gotti proud!  After spending 12 years at big law firms, I decided to open a solo practice.  I love it!  However, there are some shady vendors out there.  Case in point:  Westlaw.  I got a competitive deal from them and signed up for a 3-year contract.  In my first month of the service, I did a few searches on their public records database, which was out of my plan.  When I got the bill, I was shocked:  $4,000!!!!!  I didn’t even need to do the searches.  I did them to confirm info I already had.  When I explained this to Westlaw, they refused to give me a full refund.  Instead, they are offering me a $3,000 refund, provided I now add hundreds of dollars a month in services to my plan.  This would make John Gotti proud! 

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