Solos/Small Firms

Lawyer accused of relying on staffer to take CLE classes gets sanction reprieve if he accepts indigent cases

A solo practitioner in Maine may find it difficult to comply with the terms of an ethics sanction imposed for relying on his assistant to take his continuing legal education classes.

Oct 27, 2022 9:05 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Another BigLaw merger; SCOTUS is ‘more of an advocacy group,’ Biden says

News Roundup

Oct 14, 2022 2:43 PM CDT

Law firms experience downturn in profits in first half of 2022, new survey says

Law firms are experiencing new challenges in 2022 as their profits decreased and expenses increased, according to new data from Wells Fargo’s Legal Specialty Group.

Aug 17, 2022 10:08 AM CDT

Pay for 2021 law grads is at all-time high as percentage of BigLaw jobs increases, NALP says

Law graduates from the class of 2021 are enjoying record high salaries and record high employment in jobs for which bar passage is required or anticipated, according to figures released Thursday by the National Association for Law Placement

Jul 28, 2022 12:00 PM CDT

ABA project seeks more pro bono attorneys in wake of Supreme Court death penalty decision

The Death Penalty Representation Project offers varying opportunities for mid- to large-size firms, small firms and solo practitioners. Its staff is actively recruiting pro bono attorneys for about two dozen cases at any given time and will hire law students and undergraduate students for semester-long internships throughout the year.

Jul 6, 2022 3:14 PM CDT

Ex-Tesla attorney leveraged her contract expertise into a book and thriving LinkedIn community

In 2020, a contract attorney posted to LinkedIn once per day, every day, for a month. A selection of those posts found its way into a self-published book, Practical Tips on How To Contract.

Apr 6, 2022 11:22 AM CDT

Ex-associate indicted for allegedly faking legal documents in court cases

A former associate for a St. Louis-area law firm has been indicted on five counts of identity theft for allegedly faking legal documents.

Feb 16, 2022 3:55 PM CST

5 tips for new lawyers who want to go solo

“Ten years of practicing law is an appropriate time to contemplate the past and reflect on what worked and what didn’t. If you’re a young lawyer or law student ... , I hope my experiences as a solo practitioner and the following lessons can help you.”

Feb 1, 2022 10:58 AM CST

2 law firms announce separate mergers effective Jan. 1

Verrill Dana and Smith Gambrell Russell have announced separate mergers with smaller firms that are effective Jan. 1.

Dec 23, 2021 10:15 AM CST

State of the Profession 2021: BigLaw proved to be most resilient to COVID-19

Fears that COVID-19 would cause a prolonged financial blow to the legal industry did not come to fruition. Instead, many firms were able to quickly and effectively transition to remote working, which left them in position to assist with an array of COVID-19-related legal issues. But the industry’s successful transition to widespread remote working has not come without drawbacks.

Dec 1, 2021 12:00 AM CST

Lawyer who gave ‘perfect’ secretary a second chance after theft is suspended after misjudging her

A Pennsylvania lawyer who gave a trusted employee another chance after she stole from his aunt’s estate has been suspended from practice following her continued client thefts.

Aug 12, 2021 12:13 PM CDT

ABA president, other leaders will volunteer for Free Legal Answers

ABA President Patricia Lee Refo will join other leaders from the ABA in volunteering for ABA Free Legal Answers, a virtual legal advice clinic that allows income-eligible users to ask volunteer attorneys civil legal questions.

Apr 12, 2021 10:06 AM CDT

50 startup tips to get your practice off the ground

For many, being your own boss is the ultimate dream. But the idea of hanging up your own shingle can be scary and confusing, while others might not know where to start. The ABA Journal asked lawyers, legal professionals, marketers, consultants and other experts what to keep in mind when starting your own practice.

Apr 1, 2021 12:05 AM CDT

Prepared for the future? Here are tips to help avoid disaster

During his Friday panel at the ABA Techshow 2021 titled “Rebooting a Practice: Disaster & Continuity Planning,” attorney Richard Ferguson pointed out that lawyers always have to deal with and plan for disaster, such as data hacks and hurricanes.

Mar 12, 2021 5:06 PM CST

Former Boies Schiller lawyer refused to leave new firm after partnership voted him out, lawsuit says

A partner in a firm formed by former lawyers at Boies Schiller Flexner refused to leave after he was ousted for abusive behavior in a partnership vote, according to a lawsuit filed Saturday.

Mar 2, 2021 10:05 AM CST