Solos/Small Firms

Practicing on Faith

In an unassuming office park in a quiet Chicago suburb, six lawyers are planning a revolution. The six are American women of the Muslim faith, and they have started what they believe is a first-of-its-kind law firm. They hope to change the way others think about their religion and culture,…

Feb 28, 2008 9:55 PM CST

SoloSez Offers Lawyers a ‘Cyberconnection’

The ABA’s SoloSez listserv offers solo and small-firm lawyers a chance to share professional advice and interact with each other, a formula that appears to be working. The number of lawyers participating now stands at more than 3,100, only 12 years after the e-mail discussion list’s creation, writes Keith McLennan,…

Feb 1, 2008 6:54 PM CST

CUNY Law Program Encourages Grads to Return to the Hood

The City University of New York law school is encouraging graduates to hang their shingles in underserved communities with an 18-month training program on how to run a law practice. The sessions, financed by the school and the state, cover how to find clients, keep financial records, and hire and…

Jan 9, 2008 2:19 PM CST

Successful Solo’s Advice to Others: Save, Plan, Be Brave

A decade after he ventured out on his own at age 40, one successful lawyer now has some advice to offer others on how it can be done. Save your money, put together a business plan, enlist your spouse’s support and then … take the plunge, says Richard Kemp, who…

Jan 9, 2008 12:41 AM CST

Refer Madness

When a referral calls for advice, try thinking of it as advertising rather than intake

Jan 1, 2008 8:18 PM CST

Michael Grossman’s Favorite Web Sites

See related story: “A Conspiracy of One”

Dec 1, 2007 9:09 PM CST

Pencil to Paper to Prosperity

David Freeman’s Five Elements of a Successful Client-Development System

Dec 1, 2007 8:45 PM CST

The Law Office of Michael R. Grossman: An Update

See related story: A Conspiracy of One

Dec 1, 2007 8:39 PM CST

A Conspiracy of One

After months of planning, hoping and hand-wringing, Michael Grossman is ready to start his new life as a solo practitioner

Dec 1, 2007 7:41 PM CST

Starting Strong

How I found a niche, built a client base and turned a profit in just one year

Dec 1, 2007 7:38 PM CST

Female Partners Strike Out on Own, Cite BigLaw Rate Hikes as Reason

Two former partners at a large San Antonio firm who left to strike out on their own report they’ve been able to retain 90 percent of their clients. Janet L. King and Eileen E. Sommer left Jackson Walker to start King & Sommer to focus on their business and real…

Nov 28, 2007 7:13 PM CST

Alert Solo Catches Clerk’s Error, Derails 200 Christmastime Evictions

More than 200 Florida homeowners facing foreclosure got an early Christmas present from an alert Miami solo—the ability to remain in their homes through the holiday. Solo Scott Jay was discussing a partition case with co-counsel when he noticed a problem: A clerk had inadvertently counted Veteran’s Day in the…

Nov 28, 2007 3:10 PM CST

Charging by the Slice

Value billing shows that breaking up (the case) isn’t hard to do

Nov 1, 2007 8:55 PM CDT

FL Small Firm Managers Create Network

When Florida lawyer Joseph H. Serota tried to network with fellow managing partners, he felt the sting of rejection. His firm at the time only had 25 members, too few to join the group from which he sought guidance. So Serota struck out on his own, forming the Florida Association…

Oct 30, 2007 7:28 PM CDT

Merger Mania: From Small to BigLaw, Then Goodbye Job

When Berg & Parker, a 13-lawyer California boutique with a significant real estate practice, merged into 400-attorney Preston Gates & Ellis about three years ago, its attorneys had high hopes for their future with the Seattle-based national firm. But after Preston Gates merged with Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham roughly…

Oct 25, 2007 6:47 PM CDT