Re: Solo Out of Law School

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On 5/03/08, Rob wrote:
> Thanks for the encouragement bigtymer. My wife is three
> months pregnant and I know money will be tight, especially
> working for free- but I'm willing to do it if that's what it
> takes. How soon were you able to generate sufficient fees to
> support student loans and expenses?
>
> On 5/02/08, bigtymer wrote:
>> On 4/30/08, Rob wrote:
>>> I graduate in 2 days. Wahoo! Anyhow, I知 first in my
>>> class and have been unable to find a job so far. Most
>>> places are asking for bar passage, experience, etc.. I知
>>> interested in starting solo right out the door and working
>>> my way up. No better time to start at the bottom than
>>> when you池e already there, huh? I plan to take the
>>> Mississippi Bar in July.
>>>
>>> I would like to have some supervision/guidance from an
>>> experienced attorney to start with, but I致e run into some
>>> resistance. I知 willing to spilt fees and do whatever it
>>> takes to get experience and direction, but I知 getting the
>>> cold shoulder due to liability concerns. Any suggestions
>>> on starting out right out of law school (aside from
>>> financial), the types of cases I should take, and how to
>>> get guidance? I have no contacts in the legal profession
>>> in the state I intend to practice, so I知 starting from
>>> scratch.
>>
>> I started right out of law school and did fine. Find
>> attorneys that practice the area you want to practice and
>> offer to work for free. That's what I did and that's how I
>> learned how things work. When you pass the bar, open your
>> own place.

I was breaking even after 2 months, cleared about 60 the first
full year. If you open your office, don't put up your diploma
or license, it just reminds everyone how young you are. Set
your fees a little below others in the area and be better than
they are at returning calls, working with people, not being a
dick to clients, that sort of thing. Many lawyers are such
pricks that if you treat people like humans they will send you
lots of business. I don't know a lot about MS, I'm from
Arkansas and it is very poor and difficult for a lot of
attorneys.