Some thoughts on solo practice
This short piece, The not so lonely lawyer (WV Record 7/20/06) offers a couple of quick thoughts on solo practice. Some of the views are positive; for instance, the article takes the time to dispell the myth that solo practice is a greater risk than staying at biglaw:
However, for law firm marketing guru Mark Merenda, remaining with a mega-firm is the risky decision. “As an employee, you can be fired at any time for almost any reason,” Merenda began. “In your own practice, one or two clients might fire you, but they’re not all going to fire you at once. “There is actually greater security in having your own practice.”
At the same time, it’s obvious that the author hasn’t been reading MyShingle or noticed the changes that have evolved in the profession over the past few years. The article notes:
Small firms are often characterized as “minor league law.” Often, solo practitioners have to work harder than lawyers in larger firms to make sure that their firm image matches those in the “majors.”
Honestly, I think much of that has changed. Sure, there’s “bet the company” litigation where corporations want a bigname firm (not just for the name, but to handle the size of the litigation), but many other companies are choosing smaller firms with more personalized service and lower costs. The change is evolving slowly of course, and perhaps, but it’s a real phenomenon just the same.
I have several solo clients who win the business of large companies in “bet the company” type litigation with some frequency over large firms.
And I’ll share a tip from my How To Market A Small Law Firm audio cd that can help any solo reading this, who wants to learn how to do the same:
FREE SAMPLE
Instead of competing against a large firm for a bet the company type of case, team-up with them. That’s right…all over the country, solos with unique specialties are learning how to go to market WITH their big firm competitors to offer prospective clients the best of both worlds in a true win-win scenario.
NOT JUST FOR LITIGATORS
And don’t think this approach has to be limited to litigators either. I once worked with a solo whose speciality is representing national franchisors. He teamed-up very effectively with a 50 lawyer firm that did’t have anyone with deep franchise expertise, but they did have experience and depth in several other practice areas that were important to the prospective client.
Long story short, together they signed-on a lucrative new client that neither could have gotten alone. And we beat-out several much-larger firms in the process.
You don’t have to wait around for larger firms to come knocking on your door. When you learn some of the Rainmaking skills they never taught us in law school, you’ll find that alot more larger firms than you may expect, are far more receptive than you might imagine when a varierty of solos in different practice areas initiate contact. If done right, this can be a potentially HUGE source of business in most markets and in almost every practice area.
Respectfully,
RJON ROBINS
http://www.HowToMakeItRain.com
Helping Lawyers In Small Law Firms Make ALOT More Money!
I have several solo clients who win the business of large companies in “bet the company” type litigation with some frequency over large firms.
And I’ll share a tip from my How To Market A Small Law Firm audio cd that can help any solo reading this, who wants to learn how to do the same:
FREE SAMPLE
Instead of competing against a large firm for a bet the company type of case, team-up with them. That’s right…all over the country, solos with unique specialties are learning how to go to market WITH their big firm competitors to offer prospective clients the best of both worlds in a true win-win scenario.
NOT JUST FOR LITIGATORS
And don’t think this approach has to be limited to litigators either. I once worked with a solo whose speciality is representing national franchisors. He teamed-up very effectively with a 50 lawyer firm that did’t have anyone with deep franchise expertise, but they did have experience and depth in several other practice areas that were important to the prospective client.
Long story short, together they signed-on a lucrative new client that neither could have gotten alone. And we beat-out several much-larger firms in the process.
You don’t have to wait around for larger firms to come knocking on your door. When you learn some of the Rainmaking skills they never taught us in law school, you’ll find that alot more larger firms than you may expect, are far more receptive than you might imagine when a varierty of solos in different practice areas initiate contact. If done right, this can be a potentially HUGE source of business in most markets and in almost every practice area.
Respectfully,
RJON ROBINS
http://www.HowToMakeItRain.com
Helping Lawyers In Small Law Firms Make ALOT More Money!
“Some Thoughts on Solo Practice”
Posted by Carolyn Elefant: ?his short piece, The not so lonely lawyer (WV Record 7/20/06) offers a couple of quick
“Some Thoughts on Solo Practice”
Posted by Carolyn Elefant: ?his short piece, The not so lonely lawyer (WV Record 7/20/06) offers a couple of quick