Solo Practice Advisory
For Lawyers In Italy
We provide english language strategic and operational advisory for solo lawyers and small law firm principals in Italy.
Paul Ippolito works with lawyers who are establishing, strengthening, reshaping or repositioning their own practices.
Based in Australia and advising lawyers internationally, Paul is available by Zoom and for selected in-person meetings in Rome when he is in Italy.
Consulenza strategica per avvocati in Italia
Consulenza strategica e organizzativa in lingua inglese per avvocati che esercitano in proprio e titolari di piccoli studi legali in Italia.
Paul Ippolito è cittadino australiano e italiano, parla italiano e ha una conoscenza diretta del contesto culturale italiano.
Le sessioni di consulenza e le raccomandazioni scritte sono svolte in inglese, per garantire precisione e chiarezza.
Practical Advisory For Lawyers Running Their Own Practices
Running your own legal practice requires more than legal ability.
It requires clear decisions about positioning, pricing, clients, workload, systems, financial control, technology such as AI, capacity, wellbeing and overall the kind of practice you are actually trying to build.
Those decisions become more difficult when you are making them alone.
Paul Ippolito provides an experienced outside perspective to lawyers who want to think more clearly about the commercial and operational direction of their practices.
This is practical advisory work informed by his direct ongoing experience of legal practice, solo law firm ownership, legal education, business and people management and research and knowledge about the changing future of the profession.
Who This Is For
This work is intended for:
lawyers preparing to establish a solo practice;
lawyers already practising on their own who want greater structure and control;
principals of small law firms who want to reshape or reposition their practices;
lawyers considering a new niche, market or service offering;
lawyers dealing with workload, capacity, profitability or operational problems;
Italian lawyers working with international, cross-border or English-speaking clients who want a clearer, better-controlled and more commercially disciplined practice;
lawyers examining how technology and artificial intelligence will affect their practices;
lawyers who want an experienced outside perspective before making an important practice decision.
You do not need to be located in Rome.
Advisory sessions are available throughout Italy by Zoom.
English-speaking solo lawyers and small law firm principals elsewhere in Europe are also welcome to enquire.
What We Can Work On
Every engagement is tailored to the solo lawyer and their practice.
Starting A Solo Practice
Thinking through timing, readiness, positioning, financial requirements, systems, risk and the practical steps involved in establishing your own practice.
Practice Strategy And Direction
Clarifying what the practice is trying to become, which work it should pursue and what should be left behind.
Positioning And Niche
Developing a clearer market position, specialisation or service focus without reducing the practice to a collection of generic claims.
Pricing And Financial Control
Examining pricing, revenue, paying yourself properly, owner remuneration, outstanding fees and receivables, expenses, overheads, cash flow and the financial discipline required to operate a viable practice.
Workload And Capacity
Addressing a practice that is too dependent on its principal, continually overloaded or unable to grow without creating further pressure.
Systems And Operations
Improving how work enters, moves through and leaves the practice including the sensible use of technology, external support and automation.
International Client Service And Coordination
Improving how the practice explains scope, pricing, responsibilities, next steps and delays to foreign and international clients.
This may also include improving how the lawyer coordinates with accountants, notaries, foreign counsel and other professional advisers.
Artificial Intelligence And The Future Of Legal Practice
Considering how artificial intelligence, changing client expectations and new professional models may affect the lawyer’s services, positioning, systems and longer-term direction.
Reshaping An Existing Practice
Identifying what is no longer working and deciding what needs to change next.
Why Work With Paul Ippolito?
Paul is a strategic adviser to solo lawyers.
His advisory work is supported by his continuing experience as a practising Australian lawyer, solo law firm principal, legal educator and legal futurist.
Paul established his own law firm more than 18 years ago and continues to practise through Ippolito Lawyers.
He has worked as both a litigation and transactional lawyer, managed large and small teams of people and a solo legal practice, taught law and management and advised lawyers establishing and reshaping their own practices.
He has been on the tools, in the courtroom, across the table from clients and inside the business of law.
Solo legal practice is not an abstract business model to him.
He has lived the decisions, pressures and responsibilities involved in building and operating a law firm.
An Italian Connection And An International Perspective
Paul is an Australian and Italian citizen of Italian heritage.
He speaks Italian and is comfortable meeting and conversing in Italian.
Formal advisory sessions and written recommendations are provided in English.
This ensures that detailed commercial, strategic and professional discussions are conducted with precision and clarity.
Paul’s international perspective does not assume that Australian and Italian legal practices are identical.
Professional structures, legal markets and regulatory environments differ.
The purpose of the advisory work is to help each lawyer make better decisions within the circumstances of their own practice.
The Solo Practice Strategy Session
The Solo Practice Strategy Session is designed for a solo lawyer facing important practice decisions or needing a clear outside view of what should happen next.
It includes:
written pre-session questions;
a private 90-minute strategy session with Paul by Zoom or in person if he is available in Rome;
a short written statement of priorities and recommended next steps; and
one 15-minute follow-up session approximately three weeks later.
The session may be appropriate where you are:
considering going solo;
deciding how to position or reposition your practice;
struggling with workload, capacity or profitability;
uncertain about your niche or service offering;
dealing with unpaid fees or expenses or poor cashflow control;
examining how artificial intelligence and technology should be used;
trying to scale or regain control of an established practice;
improving the experience of international or English-speaking clients; or
deciding what the next stage of your practice should look like.
Professional Fee €600 For A 90 Minute Session
This is the full professional fee for the Strategy Session described above.
Suitability, availability, invoicing, tax treatment and payment arrangements are confirmed before the engagement proceeds.
What This Advisory Work Is And Is Not
Ippolito Advisory provides strategic, commercial and operational advisory services to lawyers.
It does not provide Italian legal advice.
Paul does not advise on Italian law, interpret Italian professional obligations, review files involving the clients of Italian lawyers or provide legal services to those clients.
Paul is admitted and practises as a lawyer in Australia.
He is not admitted as an avvocato in Italy.
Services provided through Ippolito Advisory are separate from the legal services provided through Ippolito Lawyers, the solo law firm Paul operates.
Italian legal, taxation, accounting and professional-regulatory questions should be referred to appropriately qualified Italian advisers.
Advisory By Zoom And in Rome
The usual delivery model is Zoom.
This allows Paul to work directly with lawyers throughout Italy and elsewhere in Europe without requiring the lawyer to travel.
When Paul is in Italy, a limited number of in-person meetings may also be available in Rome.
Ippolito Advisory remains an Australian advisory business serving lawyers internationally.
A Direct And Practical Approach
This work is not for everyone.
Paul’s approach is practical, candid and based on what he believes will genuinely assist the lawyer and the practice.
He does not promise effortless growth, instant profitability or a formula that works for every lawyer.
The objective is more straightforward:
To help you think clearly, make sound decisions and take deliberate action in building a stronger and better-controlled legal practice.
Enquire About A Strategy Session
Send a short enquiry explaining:
where you are currently;
the decision, problem or opportunity you are facing and
what you want to change or achieve.
We will confirm whether the Strategy Session appears suitable, together with availability, professional fees, invoicing and the next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the advisory sessions conducted in Italian?
Paul speaks Italian and is comfortable holding introductions and general conversations in Italian.
Formal advisory sessions and written recommendations are conducted in English to ensure precision and clarity.
Do you provide Italian legal advice?
No.
Ippolito Advisory provides commercial, strategic and operational advice concerning the development and management of a legal practice.
It does not provide advice on Italian law or Italian professional obligations.
Is Paul admitted as a lawyer in Italy?
No.
Paul is admitted and practises as a lawyer in Australia.
He is also an Italian citizen but is not admitted as an avvocato in Italy.
Do I need to be based in Rome?
No.
Sessions are normally conducted by Zoom and are available to lawyers throughout Italy.
Selected in-person meetings may be available in Rome when Paul is in Italy.
Do you work with lawyers elsewhere in Europe?
Yes.
The initial focus of this page is Italy, but English-speaking solo lawyers and small law firm principals elsewhere in Europe may also enquire.
What issues can be discussed?
The session can address matters including practice strategy, positioning, pricing, paying yourself, outstanding fees, workload, systems, financial control, international client service, technology, artificial intelligence and the future direction of the practice.
How much does the Strategy Session cost?
The professional fee is €600.
The session includes written pre-session questions, a private 90-minute advisory meeting, written priorities and recommended next steps, and a 15-minute follow-up approximately three weeks later.
How do I get started?
Send a short enquiry outlining your practice, the issue you are facing and what you want to achieve.
Suitability, availability, invoicing and payment arrangements will then be confirmed.
Last reviewed and updated on 5 August 2026