Re: Going Solo

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Martin, good to hear from you again. Very thoughtful question. Yes, class
of 1994.

On 10/23/06, Martin MacCheever wrote:
> JF, have you graduated from law school yet?
>
> On 10/23/06, JF wrote:
>> 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.?