Re: Joining a solo attorney, what to expect?

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I was in a similar arrangement. It works out as long as you
are receiving your commissions like you are supposed to.
Eventually, it got to the point to where I had to beg for my
commissions, sometimes to be told I was being "Selfish"
because he was on down times.

Just be sure he is someone you can trust, and remember his
hard times become your hard times (i.e. even if the client is
paying him, if he has some personal issues, he will put
himself first).

On 7/23/06, Jeff Mathias wrote:
> 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.