Ideas & Tips

This article, Tiffed by Staff, John Gibeaut (ABA e-Report 12/16/05) shows the benefits of coming clean when you’ve committed an ethical infraction – or even think that you might have committed one.  The article describes the case of a Delaware solo real estate lawyer who recently received a public reprimand for mishandling client funds.  The…

Another article about a really bad solo, Jo-Ellen Wells (Estate Seeks to Disbar Divorce Lawyer), this one out of New Hampshire who took money from several clients and never did the work and in one instance, represented a divorcing wife when the lawyer had already been retained by the husband (though apparently, Wells never did…

Since many of us solos may find ourselves working on more less universally observed federal holidays like Columbus Day or Veterans’ Day Solo, Brandi Karl has a great idea to compensate:  proclaim your own holiday!  Of course, Brandi’s holidays are more productive than observant:  she suggests Brainstorming Day (to devote to a certain project), Work…

This blog, Duct Tape Marketing looks like a great addition for your daily feeds.  I especially like Jill Konrath’s channel, Selling to Big Companies.  Why?  Well, most resources for solos tell us ways to pick up individual clients or small businesses.  Nothing wrong with that, of course; I’m proud that we solo and small firm…

It’s been ten months since we first posted this story about Hawaii attorney Richard Lee who thought he’d discovered a way to avoid client complaints (sadly, it wasn’t this far more legitimate approach either).  Lee figured that if he included a clause in his retainer agreements forcing clients to pay him $2000 if the disciplinary…

Most of us have read about folks from other professions, ranging from school teacher to police officer to doctor, who’ve gone to law school and started practicing law.  But this article, Bridging the Legal gap for Nurses (10/2/05) got me to thinking about whether this path can work in reverse, i.e., would it make sense…

Below, a reader writes in with advice on some frequently asked questions related to solo practice.  The reader’s questions and our answers are interspersed below.  Readers, since I’ve only started one practice, after all, I’m the first to admit that I’m not an authority on all ways to go solo.  What I’ve learned from blogging…

Editor’s Note:  Recently, I’ve been receiving a number of inquiries seeking advice on starting a practice.  I’m going to try to address as many as I can, as quickly as I can, in what will hopefully be a regular "Questions & Advice" column.  If you send me an email with a question, try to eliminate…