Thoughts from a Portsmouth Solo
This article, Focus on Families, Michael McCord, Sea Coast On Line (5/20/05) contains an interview of Susan Denenberg, a New Hampshire attorney who’s been solo for the bulk of her twenty five year career. Denenberg expresses views that most of us solos understand:
Denenberg told the Interview that she realized early on that she was less interested in criminal law and litigation and decided to carve a niche for herself in the less-glamorous sectors of the law such as wills and trusts, probate and guardianships, and family law in general. She says her no-frills, one-person office in downtown Portsmouth reflects her desire to focus on work that brings some peace of mind to her clients.
The Interview: Why did you choose to go out on your own and not be part of a larger law firm?
Susan Denenberg: I worked briefly (in a firm), but I found that my time wasn’t my own, which is why I decided to work on my own. I liked being able to make my own schedule and to spend more time with clients. The last few years I’ve been able to stay … at home (a lot) while raising a young child (her 7-year-old adopted son Nicolas). … The difficulty is that I have no one to back me up, and many people don’t know what it’s like to be self-employed.
You have to deal with things like not having your number listed in one of the phone books. But I like what I’ve been able to do to give more personal service by traveling to my clients, if necessary.
Denenberg also offered her views on people’s attitudes towards lawyers:
TI: What have you learned about people’s attitudes regarding lawyers?
They don’t like them until they need them. When I’ve handled divorces,
I’ve found that clients sometimes think of you and talk about you as if
you were a doctor who had done a good job. The best thing is working
with people when you know you’ve done a good job and they let you know
how they appreciate it. … Not everyone has a million dollars, and not
everyone needs the fanciest lawyer. As you can see I don’t have much
overhead, so I don’t need to charge a high rate. I think it’s important
to provide this vital service to people.