The Solo Solicitor Practice Set-Up Checklist Tool
A practical launch checklist for solicitors preparing to start their own practice properly.
Built to help you work through the essential commercial, operational, regulatory and risk issues before you open your doors.
Most new solo solicitors do not struggle because they cannot practise law.
They struggle because nobody showed them how to set up and run a practice in a deliberate, orderly way.
This checklist is designed to fix that.
It gives you a practical sequence for working through the core decisions, systems and set-up issues involved in launching a real solo practice with fewer blind spots and fewer avoidable mistakes.
What This Checklist Is
Created by Paul Ippolito, Principal of Ippolito Advisory, it is designed for solicitors in Australia and elsewhere who want a clearer, more disciplined way to prepare for solo practice.
This is a 7 page practical checklist tool for solicitors planning to go out on their own.
It is an instant digital download designed to help you think through what needs to be addressed before launch, in the right order.
It is jurisdiction-agnostic by design. That means it focuses on the practical establishment, systems, commercial judgment and risk issues that arise in almost every solo practice, while leaving room for you to apply your own local regulatory requirements.
It is a working tool for solicitors who want to launch with more structure and less guesswork.
What’s Inside
The checklist walks you through the main areas that matter before launch, including:
whether you are personally and professionally ready to go solo
the core legal, regulatory and business set-up decisions
banking, trust account, tax, insurance and financial control issues
client intake, compliance, file risk and practice management
office arrangements, technology and operating systems
branding, online presence and market positioning
pricing, referral development and early business generation
ongoing oversight, discipline and pre-launch review
More importantly, it helps you avoid common early mistakes, such as:
opening before your systems are ready
overlooking key practical or compliance steps
underestimating cashflow/ workflow pressures
setting weak pricing from the outset
treating the launch as an event rather than building a functioning practice
Why It Is Worth Paying For
You could certainly put together your own set-up list from articles, conversations and half-remembered advice. Many do.
The problem is that such scattered information rarely gives you a clear sequence, and it often misses the practical issues that only become obvious once you are already in motion.
This checklist is worth paying for because it saves time, sharpens your thinking, and helps you prepare with more discipline before mistakes become expensive.
At $49, it is a modest cost for a tool designed to reduce omissions and false starts at a critical stage.
Who This Is For
This tool is for solicitors who are:
actively planning to start a solo practice
in the early stages of preparing a launch
wanting more structure before making the move
trying to think clearly about readiness, sequence and risk
Who This Is Not For
This tool is not for people looking for:
detailed jurisdiction-specific legal advice
a substitute for accounting, financial, regulatory or insurance advice
The Guide
If you want broader context around the decision to go solo, you might want to read the guide:
When Is The Right Time To Go Out On Your Own As A Lawyer?
That guide is the broader strategic read.
This checklist is the practical implementation tool.
If you are still unsure whether solo practice is the right move, we recommend you complete the self-assessment as well.
Next Steps
If you are serious about going solo and want experienced judgment on readiness, sequence, timing and risk, the next step is a private strategy session.
That is for solicitors who want more than a checklist and are ready for direct advice on how to approach the move properly.
Book A Strategy Session With Paul Ippolito
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this checklist help me?
It helps you work through the main practical, commercial and operational issues involved in launching a solo practice, in a more disciplined order and with fewer blind spots.
What exactly do I get?
You receive a 7 page digital checklist tool designed to help you prepare for launch and review the essentials before opening your practice.
Is it jurisdiction-specific?
No. It is intentionally jurisdiction-agnostic, focusing on the practical set-up, systems, sequencing and business issues common to solo practice, so you can apply it alongside your own local requirements.
Is this a standalone guide or part of something broader?
It is a standalone practical checklist. It also works well alongside the broader guide on whether it is the right time to go out on your own.
When will I get it?
Immediately after purchase, as an instant digital download.
