Re: solo advice (was Re: A suggestion the intent of this boa

More | Report Post

Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy
Posted by Rob on 4/16/05

On 4/10/05, prez wrote:
> as to how they make money...
> Lots of criminal law including low end work, DUI, suspended
licenses, etc.
> Lots of family law. real estate closings, PI work when
they can get it, SS
> work, worker's comp aas it comes in. Some have contracts
with social
> services and with the public defender's office.
>
> As to would I do family law...
> Yes, it seems a good area for solos. My friends who have
handled them say
> they are emotionally difficult but the ones who have done
well give the
> following advice:
>
> control your client, do not let your client control you.
> Get paid a sufficient amount up front or DO NOT TAKE THE
CASE.
> It is amazing that people have beer and cigs money but
none to pay the
> attorney.
>
> I may winfd up hating family law (and the clients) but I
am confident
> knowing that there are available cases out there.
>
> Any family law practitioners have additonal info or
advice???

Do not make the same mistake I made when I first started
taking family law
cases. I was taking them on a flat fee arrangement. When you
have a flat
fee, the client WILL monopolize your time, will call you
everytime the child
support or alimony check is 5 minutes late, and will call 5
or 6 times a day
(even if you answer all calls).

The only way to effectively handle domestic cases is on a
hourly basis with a
sizable retainer that must be replinished each month. In
family law cases,
the last check you get will be the one you get before the
final matter is
completed.

As a general rule, flat fee domestic clients think that fee
is the amount to
handle their case forever. It did not take me long to move
to hourly
arrangements.

Posts on this thread, including this one
* Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/07/05, by Lawya.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/08/05, by The
Weasel.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/08/05, by
Lawya.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/08/05, by
Guru.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/09/05, by rrr.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/09/05, by
Lawya.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/09/05, by rrr.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/09/05, by
Lawya.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/09/05, by
Lawya.
* Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by The Weasel.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/10/05, by
prez.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/10/05, by rrr.
* Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by rrr.
* Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by v.
* Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by rrr.
* Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by Citizen.
* Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by rrr.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/10/05, by
Lawya.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/10/05, by
prez.
* Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by v.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/11/05, by
randy.
* Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/11/05, by rrr.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/16/05, by Rob.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/16/05, by
Lawya.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/16/05, by Rob.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/16/05, by Rob.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/16/05, by
prez.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/16/05, by Mr.
Blue.
* Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/17/05, by Rob.

Kaplan Paralegal Program
Earn a Degree in one of the fastest growing and most exciting
fields around. Becoming a Paralegal has never been so easy! Click
here for a FREE self-assessment!

ETerm Life Insurance
ETerm Free Life Insurance Quote - Save 50-70% on Term Life
Insurance

University of Phoenix Online
University of Phoenix Online. The campus is virtual. The degree is
real.

AIU Online
Ready to investigate an exciting career opportunity? Earn a BS in
Criminal Justice in 13 months. Learn more!
Click here
Site Map: Home Search Contacts Chatboards Mailrings
Jobs Legal Tools Advertise

© 1996 - 2004. All Rights Reserved. Please review our Terms of
Use, Mission Statement, and Privacy Policy.

More | Report Post

More | Report Post On 4/10/05, prez wrote: rbrb as to how they make money... rbrb Lots of criminal law including low end work, DUI, suspended licenses, etc. rbrb Lots of family law. real estate closings, PI work when they can get it, SS rbrb work, worker's comp aas it comes in. Some have contracts with social rbrb services and with the public defender's office. rbrb rbrb As to would I do family law... rbrb Yes, it seems a good area for solos. My friends who have handled them say rbrb they are emotionally difficult but the ones who have done well give the rbrb following advice: rbrb rbrb control your client, do not let your client control you. rbrb Get paid a sufficient amount up front or DO NOT TAKE THE CASE. rbrb It is amazing that people have beer and cigs money but none to pay the rbrb attorney. rbrb rbrb I may winfd up hating family law (and the clients) but I am confident rbrb knowing that there are available cases out there. rbrb rbrb Any family law practitioners have additonal info or advice??? Do not make the same mistake I made when I first started taking family law cases. I was taking them on a flat fee arrangement. When you have a flat fee, the client WILL monopolize your time, will call you everytime the child support or alimony check is 5 minutes late, and will call 5 or 6 times a day (even if you answer all calls). The only way to effectively handle domestic cases is on a hourly basis with a sizable retainer that must be replinished each month. In family law cases, the last check you get will be the one you get before the final matter is completed. As a general rule, flat fee domestic clients think that fee is the amount to handle their case forever. It did not take me long to move to hourly arrangements. Posts on this thread, including this one * Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/07/05, by Lawya. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/08/05, by The Weasel. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/08/05, by Lawya. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/08/05, by Guru. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/09/05, by rrr. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/09/05, by Lawya. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/09/05, by rrr. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/09/05, by Lawya. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/09/05, by Lawya. * Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by The Weasel. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/10/05, by prez. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/10/05, by rrr. * Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by rrr. * Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by v. * Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by rrr. * Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by Citizen. * Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by rrr. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/10/05, by Lawya. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/10/05, by prez. * Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/10/05, by v. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/11/05, by randy. * Re: U.S. economic collapse?, 4/11/05, by rrr. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/16/05, by Rob. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/16/05, by Lawya. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/16/05, by Rob. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/16/05, by Rob. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/16/05, by prez. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/16/05, by Mr. Blue. * Re: Solo practice areas in a tough economy, 4/17/05, by Rob. Kaplan Paralegal Program Earn a Degree in one of the fastest growing and most exciting fields around. Becoming a Paralegal has never been so easy! Click here for a FREE self-assessment! ETerm Life Insurance ETerm Free Life Insurance Quote - Save 50-70ptpt on Term Life Insurance University of Phoenix Online University of Phoenix Online. The campus is virtual. The degree is real. AIU Online Ready to investigate an exciting career opportunity? Earn a BS in Criminal Justice in 13 months. Learn more! Click here Site Map: Home Search Contacts Chatboards Mailrings Jobs Legal Tools Advertise © 1996 - 2004. All Rights Reserved. Please review our Terms of Use, Mission Statement, and Privacy Policy. ">