Lawyers q re starting a practice

groovygrl

Just curious your opinions on how easy it is for someone to start a solo practice just after graduating from law school? And would it be possible while working part time elsewhere to help w finances?

mexicolombiana

It definitely depends on the type of law you practice. 

It is not easy to run your own firm.  You have to decide whether you are going to rent an office and how to keep your overhead way down.  Will you have malpractice insurance?

"easier" types of laws to do on your own:

1. Bankruptcy

2. Criminal Defense

3. Real Estate

4. Immigration 

I'm a bankruptcy attorney and it wouldn't be too hard to be on your own because you just need some good bankruptcy software and a conference room to meet with clients.  However, you have to know what you're doing.  I would assume that being right out of law school means you wouldn't necessarily know what you're doing just yet.  Assuming that you know what you're doing you still have to build up your client base.  How will you advertise?  A lot of is word of mouth and it's going to take some time to gain the experience needed for clients to trust you. 

My husband does criminal defense and traffic cases.  Generally I think this is one of the easiest types of law to practice on your own because there isn't much overhead.  You just meet clients in court, they pay you cash and you hopefully complete the case relatively quickly.  But again, this takes a lot of experience and know how on how to work the system.

I think it's hard to start your own practice right of law school but it's definitely possible, especially if you have a good network of people to refer you cases. 

Mustardseed2007

I have a friend who did it. She didn't have a part time job but she got married to a guy who had a full time job so I am sure that helped.

She has gotten to know a lot of older lawyers who farm out cases to her that they don't want to handle. She goes to all the TYLA, local bar association meetings etc. I joke with her that if 2 or more lawyers are meeting, there she will be also.  

She did sign up to work assigned criminal cases, she also does probate ...she does a lot of things, basically whatever you need her to do she does.

I get the feeling that she's fairly successful and she seems to love it. She thrives on the 24/7 self promotion part, which is the part that I know I would hate.

 

snicksnack

My husband did it and was successful. He has a large network of attorneys that he works with that farm  cases to him. He shares space with another small firmand they   share cost of things like copiers printers IT etc.  They also refer back and forth.  he does civil litigation, estate work and  minor criminal defense. Between the two firms they cover all parts of the law. It is not easy. In recent years he has had more lean times. Several friends and coworkers will make comments that I don't have to work That I choose to. Which is so not the case. They assume because he is an attorney we are rich lol. There have been several years where I have made more than him and I carry our benefits. 

GreenMonkey1

My husband started a solo practice fresh out of law school, so yes, it is possible.  As others have mentioned there is a lot of marketing to be done - DH became involved with a business networking group that has been excellent.  He also joined the local Chamber of Commerce and did a ton of network. 

Working part time may be tricky, but it would depend (imho) on the PT job.  Again, a lot of the work as a solo practitioner at the beginning is getting clients in the door.

Your local Bar Association or even a local law school may have resources or suggestions for how to start a business.  You can also call the Small Business Association or local start-up organization for help.

DH lost money the first year, but has done better each year and now (5 years later) is able to hire a law clerk to help with his overflow.  He would not have been able to do this without me working - I carry the benefits and when he wasn't contributing (much or at all) paid the bills.  So I guess it also depends on what type of support you have available.

Opening a practice has definitely been a labor of love, but it has been worth it for DH.

groovygrl

Thanks all it is not for me and I believe that family law might be the focus... I am just trying to be sure I understand how the balance w another 50percent job might work.

thedash

It is extremely difficult but that does not mean it's impossible. I started a firm with a partner after 4 years of practice in my area. I don't know how I would have done it right out of law school. Branching out into new practice areas has been very difficult. Unless you have some solid clinic or internship experience and a great mentor you will spend tons of time just figuring out the basics where and how to file pleadings, and the court's preferred practices.

What practice area are you considering?

thedash

groovygrl:

Thanks all it is not for me and I believe that family law might be the focus... I am just trying to be sure I understand how the balance w another 50percent job might work.

I don't think you could do it with another half-time day job. As a new attorney/firm you have to be available during all business hours and some evening/weekend appointment hours, especially in family law. It's also important to network which is usually happy hour type events.

You could certainly bartend or wait tables on the weekends while launching a practice though. It would mean working seven days a week and a whole lot of hours but it's possible. 

IBackBevo

I've been practicing for 4-5 years and I think I would have a difficult time being on my own. I could never have done my current job on my own right out of law school.  But I also do commercial litigation and handle a lot of complex, multi-party cases.  This might be more of an option if you are doing something like family law.  Here in Texas, you can get on the docket to be an attorney in the DFPS (fka CPA) cases and then the state pays you. I did some of this in law school through a program at my law school and these cases were (usually) simple enough that I could have handled them on my own.    

AshleyF1234

groovygrl:

Thanks all it is not for me and I believe that family law might be the focus... I am just trying to be sure I understand how the balance w another 50percent job might work.

 

I tried this. With tons of LS grads entering the work force, its the only option I had. I did mostly Family Law, supplemented with Wills/Estate work. Another thing to consider, find out how to be an ad litem. I was on the ad litem list in 4 counties and always had a few cases going on. It definitely helps out when you are trying to make it work.

 

IBackBevo

AshleyF1234:

groovygrl:

Thanks all it is not for me and I believe that family law might be the focus... I am just trying to be sure I understand how the balance w another 50percent job might work.

 

I tried this. With tons of LS grads entering the work force, its the only option I had. I did mostly Family Law, supplemented with Wills/Estate work. Another thing to consider, find out how to be an ad litem. I was on the ad litem list in 4 counties and always had a few cases going on. It definitely helps out when you are trying to make it work.

 

I definitely second this! Try getting on the docket to be either an attorney ad litem for kids or sometimes you can even get on a docket to represent parents who cannot afford a lawyer. I have a friend who did this.

groovygrl

IBackBevo:

AshleyF1234:

groovygrl:

Thanks all it is not for me and I believe that family law might be the focus... I am just trying to be sure I understand how the balance w another 50percent job might work.

 

I tried this. With tons of LS grads entering the work force, its the only option I had. I did mostly Family Law, supplemented with Wills/Estate work. Another thing to consider, find out how to be an ad litem. I was on the ad litem list in 4 counties and always had a few cases going on. It definitely helps out when you are trying to make it work.

 

I definitely second this! Try getting on the docket to be either an attorney ad litem for kids or sometimes you can even get on a docket to represent parents who cannot afford a lawyer. I have a friend who did this.

So sorry I was not clear the 50 percent 20hr job is not in law, it would be a way to keep money coming in for the person while s/he works on getting the practice started. It is flexible but still within a mf weekday normal workday hours. Is that realistic to balance the two?