Unable to Find Jobs, Law Grads Hang Out a Shingle

Two 2008 graduates of the University of Missouri-Kansas City law school took matters into their own hands when they were unable to find a job. They rented office space and formed their own law firm. The new lawyers, Sarah Buckley and Alexandra Hutchings, “decided working for themselves would be better…

Feb 3, 2009 7:15 PM CST

Proceed with Caution

An ABA opinion tells in-house ethics counsel how to play by the rules

Feb 2, 2009 2:09 AM CST

How to Start Your Own Law Firm: Just Do It, Successful Solo Says

It doesn’t necessarily take a lot of money to start your own law practice. But it does take determination. The one most critical factor in establishing a solo practice is deciding to do it, attorney Deborah Blommer tells the Wisconsin Law Journal. She has taught a course at Marquette University…

Jan 22, 2009 6:38 PM CST

Recession-Proof Your Practice

10 tips to protect your firm in the toughest times

Jan 1, 2009 11:40 AM CST

‘I need to advise them to fall behind on their payments, and that’s ludicrous to me.’

Arnettia Wright, sole practitioner, Wright Law Group

Jan 1, 2009 10:20 AM CST

To Ernie Svenson, Blogging is ‘Largely a Selfish Activity’

Dec 2, 2008 5:30 AM CST

Bar-ista

Make no mistake about it: Kathleen Aguilar loves her solo practice representing nonprofits and artists. But like other solo and small-firm practitioners, she’s also found that the rewards of a satisfying career can come with a price. In her case, she’s learned it can be hard to make a living…

Dec 2, 2008 3:40 AM CST

Free and Clear

How to handle those inevitable inquiries from friends and family

Dec 2, 2008 2:10 AM CST

3 Charged in N.Y. Lawyer’s Murder

When a 44-year-old real estate lawyer and businessman was found murdered last month in a Long Island, N.Y., parking lot, a friend said he believed the killing wasn’t random. Now authorities are alleging that a business connection of attorney James DiMartino, who was reportedly shot in the head in broad…

Nov 17, 2008 11:51 PM CST

Board Says La. Law Partners Treated Staff as Attorneys, Seeks Disbarment

Two longtime Louisiana lawyers have been recommended for disbarment after a disciplinary board found in what a local newspaper described as an “often blistering opinion” that they allowed staff of their Baton Rouge-based law firm to act as attorneys. E. Eric Guirard and law partner Thomas R. Pittenger allowed non-attorneys…

Nov 13, 2008 4:50 PM CST

IP and BigLaw: Raid, Flee, Repeat

“When times are good, we do great. When times are bad, we still do well.” Such is the allure of a successful intellectual property practice group, but as more BigLaw firms tumble, snatching up a surviving IP group doesn’t always equal triumph for expanding general practice firms. Dr. Paul Rauch,…

Nov 12, 2008 10:37 PM CST

Big Firm Bust = More Solos?

As clients demand more face time with attorneys and lower fees in a turbulent economy, there may be an opportunity for BigLaw lawyers to go solo. Take Chicago-based lawyer Rishi Agrawal, a former staff attorney at Eimer Stahl Klevorn & Solberg. After nine years of practice under his belt, he…

Nov 12, 2008 5:42 PM CST

Solos Cautioned Against Tacking ‘Associates’ to Firm Name

Solo practitioners who pump up their practices by using the word “associates” in their firm names may be running afoul of ethics rules, at least in Connecticut. A report in the Connecticut Law Tribune equates such a practice to embellishing a resume. The paper cites the case of Joseph Moniz,…

Nov 3, 2008 7:47 PM CST

A Little on the Side

Some solos work full-time jobs on top of their practices

Nov 2, 2008 2:00 AM CST

Find Support Group First, Then Open Office, Solo Advises

After 20 years of practice, Jane Ann Landrum decided she was ready to go solo this year after her previous law firm dissolved. But a big part of what made it possible was the support network she had in place, the Kansas City, Mo., litigator tells the Kansas City Star.…

Oct 14, 2008 5:04 PM CDT