Customer Reviews

Solo by Choice: How to Be the Lawyer You Always Wanted to Be

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you've ever considered entering into solo practice, Carolyn Elefant's new book Solo By Choice is a must-read. But the book is so packed with practical advice about running a law office that I'd recommend it even if you're a seasoned practitioner or not currently considering going solo.

Solo By Choice presents a practical, pragmatic and realistic view of solo practice, including reasons to become a solo and a `reality check' on whether you're cut out for solo practice. The book contains step by step advice starting with what to do in your current position before opening your own firm or how to start a solo practice directly out of law school, including essential considerations such as malpractice insurance, choosing a name for your firm, and deciding whether (and where) to look for office space. But the advice doesn't stop there.

Most law schools don't teach the business issues that are essential for any solo (or law firm manager) to master. This book explores how to choose a jurisdiction and practice area, how to create a client-centric practice and how to determine which clients or matters to keep and which to refer to others. Elefant leaves no stone unturned, tackling difficult issues like dealing with `nightmare' clients, essentials of retainer agreements and billing and fees.

In today's climate, no book on solo practice would be complete with out discussions about staffing, outsourcing and creating reliable revenue streams, particularly when starting out as a solo. Elefant addresses them all and provides marketing ideas are straightforward and achievable by lawyers on any budget. For solos facing `growing pains,' the book discusses virtual law firms, affiliations, project partnering and networks.

Throughout, Elefant reminds the reader of jurisdictional quirks, ethical considerations and client concerns that could affect the would-be solo's decisions. She includes stories from her own experience going from a law firm environment to solo practice, as well as the real-life experiences of other solo lawyers (in their own words.) Her writing is straightforward and accessible and she provides resources throughout the book for more information on each of the topics she discusses.

If you're looking for a handbook for starting a law practice or going out on your own, this is it.

Carolyn Elefant, the well-respected legal blogger, advocate for solo and small firm lawyers, quality energy regulatory and appellate lawyer, and experienced writer has combined all of her prodigious talents in this book that provides solo and small-firm lawyers with a highly practical guide to opening and managing a law practice. Comprehensive and based on real-world experiences, this book is different from other "how-to" manuals -- it's far more useful than others I've read. Published in 2008, it's up-to-date and incorporates present-day marketing and other concepts. The book examines everything from the initial decision to go solo to planning to the realities of practice to marketing, and also includes FAQs and resources, as well as profiles based on interviews of a number of solo and small firm lawyers, who tell of their experiences. Read this book before you make the jump into the solo life, and you'll have far fewer surprises, and be much more successful at it.

I thought the book was decent, not great. It's a little heavy on fluff and light on hard facts -- like numbers. I also thought it repeated some advice over-and-over (e.g. speak with other solo attorneys about x,y or z). I thought the most helpful aspect of the book was the beginning where it went through a careful analysis of the considerations attorneys ought to make before endeavoring out on their own. I thought the next chapters, however, were weak and lacked substance. What I wanted to know where hard numbers -- or at least ranges. Malpractice insurance. Lexis/Westlaw rates. These types of things. I also thought it would be helpful to give more specific examples of salaries. I thought it was interesting that Carolyn when through the salary issue, but stating that a first year solo could expect a 25-80% reduction from what he/she makes now isn't that helpful. case studies from the individuals she quotes, with a little background on their respective practices, would've been more helpful. all-in-all not a bad purchase. $40 is a little much though for what appeared to be a collection of blog posts and/or ABA Journal articles.

Whether you are a laid-off lawyer, a recent law school grad discouraged about finding a job in a recession, or a seasoned solo practitioner, you will benefit from reading Solo by Choice by Carolyn Elefant. The book aims at a reader who is opening a new law practice. It answers questions like: Do I really need expensive office space? Will a home office or executive suite work? If I'm changing practice areas or just out of school, how can I get the experience I need? How will I get my first clients? Should I have a blog?

Even experienced practitioners will learn new tricks, however, by reading her tips on meshing traditional practice methods with today's technology without blowing your budget. She'll get you to rethink what you need to do to streamline work flow, market your practice, and outsource temporary work overload. You can also read many examples of what other lawyers say about the methods that worked for them.

Solo by Choice offers a lot more than can be captured within its pages. It has links to additional useful articles, resources, checklists and forms on almost every topic Elefant addresses. Even more important: when you finish this book you'll feel proud to be a solo.

I'm a lawyer-coach who practiced law 18 years and I've coached over 400 attorneys. I'm recommending this book to many of my solo and small firm clients.

"The" book for attorneys starting a solo practice for a long time has been Jay Foonberg's "How to Start and Build a Law Practice." Foonberg is still good but this book is more up to date. I recommend getting Ms. Elefant's work first, then taking a look at Foonberg in the law library.

Highly recommended.

Carolyn Elefant writes the highly popular blog [...] where she provides lots of encouragement for lawyers who are thinking about going solo. This wonderful book is for all those folks who are frustrated in their legal career and wonder if there is something more.

Carolyn captures the focus of her book wonderfully in her preface:

Back when you were in law school, you had dreams. Maybe it was standing before a jury, passionately arguing on behalf of a desperate client ... or winning an appeal that would link your name to a new legal precedent ... or pulling off a dramatic 11th hour deal that would give your struggling technology client a life-saving infusion of capital.

But what happened?

Here it is two, five, eight years out of law school - maybe more, maybe less - and most of these dreams are unrealized:

· You work 60-hour weeks in BigLaw, researching narrow legal issues for clients you never met, toting a partner's briefcase to court and watching him argue a motion you drafted nights and weekends, and which you know you could argue better given the opportunity.

· Or, you're a government prosecutor or Justice Department attorney whose litigation experience is the envy of your large-firm colleagues, but where the work no longer challenges you and you can't move up any higher without political connections. Or you want to move to the private sector but your limited tenure won't bring sufficient value to the firm.

· Or, you were let go from a firm because you weren't partnership material, and now you're temping at document-review jobs that barely pay the bills.

· Or, you enjoy your work but you're plagued with guilt about leaving your children with a nanny five days a week.

· Or, you just passed the bar, and the prospect of paying off your student loans by slaving away the next seven, eight years on the chance you might make partner has you popping antacid in the middle of the night.

Of course, your own situation might not be all this grim, but you're still haunted by the thought there ought to be greater satisfaction practicing law.

Believe me, there is.

This book is dedicated to every lawyer who ever wanted to run the show but worried that going solo was career suicide ... every lawyer who wanted to solo but didn't know how to set up the office and make it work ... every lawyer who never set foot in a courtroom but dreamed of one day practicing law their way. In short, this book is dedicated to becoming the lawyer you always wanted to be.

Elefant begins an early chapter by listing six reasons to go solo (autonomy, practical experience, to feel like a lawyer, work flexibility, to own not loan your talent, and career satisfaction) and explains why each reason merits consideration. She then provides no-nonsense guidelines to follow in planning your solo practice and gives plenty of advice about getting started.

Elefant offers a practical course of action for dealing with clients, billing and fees, generating cash flow, outsourcing and growing your business. She also has highly informative chapters on both traditional marketing (including Web based marketing) and some nontraditional ideas.

The Appendix is filled with sample business plans, hardware and software basics for starting an office, legal research services, and ideas about creating a sample forms library. What is also noteworthy about this book is the treasure trove of author notes, solo quotes, sidebars filled with practical advice, and interviews with other solos.

This book is also filled with great ideas for those already in solo practice. But the real benefit is for those considering hanging out their own shingle. So if you've even had the glimmer of an idea that you'd like to become a solo practitioner, don't make a move before reading this excellent book.

As a new graduate who's starting a solo practice, this book had some of insightful tips. My problem with the book, however, is that there are numerous grammatical errors throughout. There are full sentences that are repeated, misplaced words, incorrect article usages, etc. Thus, when I was reading the book I was a little concerned about the Author's (and the Publisher's) credibility. As an attorney, one of your strongest skills should be your ability to write properly. Thus, I was disappointed after I found multiple errors throughout the book. One or two minor erros, no big deal. However, when I kept unintentionally spotting one after another I began to doubt the credibility of the advice.

Apart from the sloppy grammar and editing, the book does have some good advice but could easily be said in half the current page length. The small font does not help to conceal the writer's inability to reduce the volume of text. In sum, the book is helpful but needs a lot of TLC before I would make a recommendation.

I have read Foonberg's book and while it is good, it is dated. I found Ms. Elefant's book to be modernized version and very relevant. She doesn't gloss over the difficulties of solo practice but she offers option, ideas, inspiration...and hope to those who want to carve their own path. I would recommend it to anyone contemplating going into solo practice.

I've read several books on this topic recently and this was the most comprehensive, well written, and useful. Highly recommended for any lawyer who's considering opening his or her own office.

Solo by Choice is an extremely comprehensive guide to starting a solo practice. Carolyn's book has all the answers -- if you're employed by a firm, how much notice should you give? How much start up capital do you need? Is it okay to borrow some firm stationary? Should you work from home or suck it up and lease an office? How do I get clients? What's the best technology for a solo practitioner? What ethical issues should I consider? How much money can I expect to make? How do I sell the fact that I was fired, and this was a backup option? Solo by Choice is a comprehensive guide for either a firm attorney who wants to start their own practice, or a law student who wants to try and start a firm right out of law school.

If you're going to start a solo practice, or interested in how small firms operate, I think this is the most up to date book and comprehensive guide for doing it. In terms of what this book does differently, Jay Foonberg's book has more advice on managing a practice, while Elefant's book is, very practically, focused on getting it up and running.

I've read Solo by Choice several times and it's still sitting on my nightstand, dogeared and marked up. It's one of the books I'm always referring to. Put simply, this is the authoritative guide to starting a solo practice in today's world.

Philosophically, I love the direction Carolyn takes. "Solo by Choice." It's about taking control of your own destiny, and lawyering how you want to. "Being the lawyer you always wanted to be" is a powerful statement. Solo is a lifestyle.

Is it worth the price? Absolutely. Every cent.