Re: Going Solo

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To answer your question about sharing office space as the "only way to
go", the big advantage, as was said by others, is that you have people
to bounce ideas off of (and vice versa). This is invaluable. On the
other hand, you will be competing with these people for a small amount
of business, unless of course you're with people who don't practice
your areas, which would be great.

Personally, I like sharing space with non-lawyers. There's no other
lawyers, so no competition, and people who share your office space
give you A LOT of respect, always coming to you with their clients'
issues. Find a real estate broker office, or accounting office, or
mortgage broker, or chiropractor, or whatever type of professional(s)
you think can help you. Of course, make sure that these professionals
are successful themselves so there's enough activity to overflow to
you (a starving artist, for example, probably wouldn't get you much
business).

It's hard to say what's better, but I would limit my choices to a
lawyer's suite where you have a unique practice area, or office
sharing with appropriate (and BUSY) professionals.

On 10/23/06, JF wrote:
> Here's some advertising/marketing ideas (glad there's someone
> willing to listen):
>
> 1. As Carol said, informational pamphlets. Cheap and effective.
> Check your local bar association.
>
> 2. Also check your bar association(s) for legal referral programs.
>
> 3. Join Hyatt legal plans, Signature legal plan, and ARAG. These are
> legal insurance companies that don't pay a lot, but they produce
> good clients who usually give you repeat business. It's free to
> them, so why not? If you conduct a closing for them, for example,
> they'll almost always follow up with a will, since they don't pay
> for it. Just keep on top of them. Again, persistence.
>
> 4. I don't like yellow pages advertising, but if you do it, make
> sure you're in the front. One trick that's worked is to list your
> self as "Attorney so-and-so". That way, you're name will be with
> the "A's (the only problem being that many yellow pages companies
> have caught on to this and won't allow it). If your first name
> happens to begin with "A", then you can list yourself that way. You
> don't need a big add, but you should display the type of law you
> practice prominently. If you state "ESTATE PLANNING LAWYER - John
> Smith", you will obtain some estate planning clients. If you
> state "JOHN SMITH - Estate Planning Lawyer, you'll get people
> looking for John Smith. In other words, nobody. Personally, I think
> your money would be better spent with a small ad in the local
> newspaper, because you have a better target audience with less of a
> financial commitment.
>
> 5. Consider AARP's legal panel, which is a referal program even
> though they won't call it that. It's a little pricey (about $600.00
> a year), and you get a lot of elderly people looking for free
> advice, but you do pick up some good work, and the good clients tend
> to refer you to all of their friends.
>
> 6. Internet advertising seems to work. Do a lawyer search for your
> practice area and town and see what sites come up (findlaw being one
> example). Then, join that site, if it's in the budget.
>
> 7. Do be careful in taking cases other lawyers don't want. These
> are usually dog cases that can kill you. I don't think they lead to
> good cases, either. If they did, one of two things will happen: 1.
> the referring lawyer would want the case, or 2. You would take the
> case and earn the reputation of a client-stealer.
>
> 8. If you do rent space with other lawyers, find a suite where
> nobody practices in your area. Then, the referrals will be
> legitimate.
>
> 9. There's no substitute for networking & volunteering.
>
> 10. Run a seminar. If you can team up with another professional (a
> real estate agent, financial planner, CPA, etc.), all the better,
> because you'll be forging another relationship.
>
> 10. Finally, I've found it incredibly easy to get published. Call
> your local paper and ask to write a guest column. Many small papers
> are always looking for something to print. Writing an article for
> the general public is a lot easier than writing something for a
> legal journal, because you'll be writing about basics rather than
> some scholarly law-review type article. Being published is free and
> effective.
>
> 11. All of the above: all the clients you gain will refer you,
> assuming you give good service (unfortunately, many people don't
> know good service when they see it, but this problem is unavoidable).
>
> 12. Whatever area of law you concentrate in, tell everyone willing
> to listen that you're an expert. Have a big mouth. Of course, make
> sure to back it up!
>
> Good luck, Solo to be, and keep us informed And btw what state are
> you in?
>
> On 10/23/06, Solo to be... wrote:
>> I've heard consistent references to Foonberg's book, which I've
>> just ordered. I look forward to reading it. In your opinion, is
>> sharing office the space the (only) way to go? Also, what kinds
> of
>> advertising, if any, do you reccomend to spread the word that I've
>> gone solo? A mailer, add in the bar journal, etc.?