Re: Joining a solo attorney, what to expect?

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He probably wants to pay you just enough to keep you from starving so you
have a good incentive to build your own caseload. If I were you I would consider
anything you get from him pennies from heaven and go about building your
own practice as if he does not exist. There is often tension between the
established attorney who feels he has gallons of unappreciated sweat equity
invested in the practice and the new atty who feels he is being worked to the
bone for peanuts.
You can put up a good website and generate your own clients pronto. This
could be a really good arrangement for you if you have realistic expecations.

Jeff Mathias
jeff@mathiaslaw.com

On 7/21/06, Steve wrote:
> I am a May graduate, and I recently had an interview with
> a solo attorney in a small East Tennessee town(I'm OK with
> living there because it is very close to my hometown). I
> have been invited out to dinner by the attorney next week,
> and, at the least, I know I should be prepared to discuss
> salary. I am wondering if anyone can provide any insight
> into what I might expect from this type of position
> (salary, etc...). He practices mainly bankruptcy, social
> security disputes, and criminal law. From the initial
> interview, I know he wants someone to develop their own
> practice areas, in addition to working in those areas. He
> also indicated that he wants someone to stay long term.
> It is a town of about 20,000, and the Federal District
> Court for the area is there, as well as the Bankruptcy
> Court. The initial discussions about salary, indicated
> that their would be a base with a mutually beneficial
> percentage as incentive to grow the firm.
>
> Can anyone give any advice as to what a fair salary
> structure would be for this type of arrangement? Is there
> anything I should request in the structure of my salary
> based on long term considerations? Also, how common is
> this type of arrangement for someone straight out of law
> school, and is it a good opportunity for someone who wants
> to work in a small firm? Is there a good long term
> opportunity in this type of arrangement?
>
> Thanks.