Thinking Of Going Solo As A Lawyer?
Solo Lawyer Self Assessment
Thinking about going out on your own?
Before you make any decisions, it’s worth stopping and having a good think about the why, when, and how of it all.
This short self-assessment below is based on the issues explored in our guide, When’s the Right Time to Go Out on Your Own as a Lawyer?
It is designed to help you reflect honestly on your readiness for solo practice - professionally, financially, and personally.
There are no right or wrong answers.
Answer the questions below based on where you are right now, not where you hope to be.
Don’t overthink them - I know you will anyway, as I’m still a lawyer too.
Questions
1. What is driving your thinking behind going out on your own?
A. A strong desire to build something of my own and practise law my way
B. Wanting more control and autonomy, but I am still weighing it all up
C. Frustration with my current role or firm which has limited options
2. How would you describe your legal experience?
A. I can confidently run matters end to end without supervision
B. I have solid experience but still rely on others at times
C. I am still developing my core experience
3. How well do you understand the business of running a law firm?
A. I understand cashflow, pricing, overheads, and risk
B. I understand parts of it, but not the whole picture
C. I have little practical understanding
4. If income was uneven in the first year, you would:
A. Be financially prepared and able to manage it
B. Be uncomfortable, but get through it somehow
C. Struggle bigtime
5. How confident are you about getting work in?
A. I am confident and realistic about where work will come from
B. I believe I can bring it in, but I still worry about it
C. I am relying more on hope than a plan
6. Right now, going out on your own feels like:
A. A considered, deliberate and the right next step
B. A major decision I am still thinking through
C. The only realistic escape from my current situation
Your Responses - What They Suggest
Mostly A’s
You are approaching solo practice with your eyes open.
That does not mean it will be easy, but it does suggest you are thinking deliberately rather than emotionally.
You are asking the right questions at the right time.
Mostly B’s
You may be closer than you think, but there are some gaps that need attention, often around money, confidence, or the business of law.
This is a common and workable position, provided it is handled carefully.
Mostly C’s
At this stage, going solo appears more reactive than planned.
That increases risk and makes an already demanding path harder than it needs to be.
That does not mean “never”.
It may simply mean “not yet”.
Next Steps
If this self-assessment raised questions or confirmed doubts, the next step is not to throw your hands up and give up.
It is simply a sign that you need to think more deeply and realistically about what going solo actually involves.
When’s the Right Time to Go Out on Your Own as a Lawyer? is our straight-talking guide drawn from real experience
- the good, the bad, and the lessons learned the hard way by Paul Ippolito. It is the guide he wishes he had read before going out solo over 17 years ago.