How To Start A Solo Law Practice

Most lawyers think about running their own practice at some point.

For some it’s a passing thought.

For others, it’s a calling that doesn’t go away.

I know the feeling.

I went out on my own more than 18 years ago.

It was the best professional decision I’ve made, but it wasn’t smooth, and I learned many lessons the hard way.

The guide I wrote recently is the resource I wish I’d had before I took that leap.

It shares the real story - the good, the bad, and the practical realities no one talks about.

This piece introduces the key issues in the guide and explores each of these from my own perspective.

There is rarely a perfect time to go solo.

It’s a personal decision that should be made with eyes open and then executed deliberately.Some

Some Important Things To Consider

• the type of experience you actually need before going solo

• the financial and emotional realities no one talks about

• how to balance freedom with discipline in your first year

• the common mistakes that impact new solo practices hard and how to avoid them

• mindset and readiness

• regulatory and business set-up

• client intake, compliance and risk

• office, technology and systems

• branding

• marketing and referral development

• operations and oversight of financials

If you want to explore these issues in more detail, our Guide expands on each of these areas and the practical realities involved in going solo.

If you’re preparing to take the next step, our Setting Up A Solo Firm Checklist brings these issues together into a practical pre-launch reference.

If you’re considering going solo and want to think it through properly, you can book a Solo Practice Strategy Session with Paul Ippolito.