Question of the Week

What's Holding You Back from Going Solo?

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Next week, the Legal Rebels ‘09 Tour will be visiting an expert on going solo.

On Tuesday, Sept. 15, an ABA Journal team will talk to Susan Cartier Liebel, the solo practice evangelist who founded Solo Practice University, a website providing support and resources to those practicing alone or in small firms.

But before we meet up with Liebel, we thought we’d open the floor to questions and issues you’d like her to address.

In the comments below, let us know what concerns you have about going solo or starting a small firm. Are you worried about how much savings you need? Whether you’ll be able to handle the business side of the practice? Or, if you’re a new lawyer, do you have concerns about finding mentors?

Tell us, what, if anything, is holding you back from hanging your own shingle?

Answer in the comments below.

Read the answers to last week’s question: What E-Mail Practices of Co-Workers, Clients Drive You Nuts?

Featured answer (which has been around the Internet for a while):

Posted by HVB: Those disclaimers are so silly, and I think they would not hold up in court once the evidence is in that your lunch orders are privileged. Here’s one I often use and people seldom notice:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This email is intended for the use of the individual addressee(s) named above and may contain information that is confidential privileged or unsuitable for overly sensitive persons with low self-esteem, no sense of humor or irrational religious beliefs. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is not authorized (either explicitly or implicitly) and constitutes an irritating social faux pas. Unless the word absquatulation has been used in its correct context somewhere other than in this warning, it does not have any legal or no grammatical use and may be ignored.

No animals were harmed in the transmission of this email, although the kelpie next door is living on borrowed time, let me tell you. Those of you with an overwhelming fear of the unknown will be gratified to learn that there is no hidden message revealed by reading this warning backwards, so just ignore that Alert Notice from Microsoft. However, by pouring a complete circle of salt around yourself and your computer you can ensure that no harm befalls you and your pets. If you have received this email in error, please add some nutmeg and egg whites, whisk and place in a warm oven for 40 minutes.

Thank you.

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