how to get work as a new solo attorney

by Prof. Kiley Monahan II 10 min read

How do you grow solo law practice?

How To Grow Your Law Practice From Solo To Small FirmAnalyze Everything. ... Set Realistic Metrics. ... Do What You Do Best. ... Find Funding. ... Automate Processes - Another streamlining option that can reduce administrative time is by using a software suite that automates many repetitive and time-consuming tasks.

How do solo law practices get clients?

Your Guide on How to Get Clients as a Solo AttorneyDeliver Exceptional Client Service. ... Build an Effective Website. ... Work on Your Local SEO. ... Leverage Social Media. ... Consider Paid Ads. ... Ask for Client Reviews. ... Engage in Content Marketing. ... Make Strong Community Connections.Feb 2, 2021

How do lawyers get more cases?

Provide them with your business cards and let them know of the kind of work you're engaged/interested in. The best people to ask for referrals are your clients – ask them send you new in future and ask your client to refer you to a friend.Jan 15, 2017

How do I start a new lawyer?

Here Are The 10 Tips For Starting Your Own Law FirmKeep Away From The Naysayers. ... Give Your Law Firm An Appropriate Name. ... Plan In Advance. ... 4 Create A Website. ... Focus On Your Expertise. ... Pick A Physical Address Carefully. ... Build A Network. ... Join A Listserv.More items...•May 30, 2017

How do I get my first client?

How to Find Your First Client: A GuideEducate yourself. The first key in getting clients is to know your market. ... Get an online presence. ... Leverage social media. ... Network. ... Use inbound marketing. ... Pet personal. ... Demonstrate value. ... Be consultative in your approach.More items...•Jan 29, 2021

How do law firms win clients?

They have to put together fully costed proposals, sometimes deliver presentations and then the client picks. Sometimes the law firms sit through the presentations delivered by the other firms they're up against, and sometimes it's all done behind closed doors/ using documents only.Aug 28, 2020

How do lawyers find clients?

Following ways can help to get first client as an Advocate (The list is not exhaustive):-Friends, Family & Relatives. ... Join the Bar Association of your Court. ... Public Speaking, Events, Conferences and Meet-ups. ... Social Media: A Powerful tool. ... Online Marketplaces and Platforms. ... Search Engine Optimization (SEO)More items...•Oct 20, 2020

What do clients look for in a lawyer?

Most lawyers want to build a strong client relationship. ... Clients understand intellectually that they need your help to resolve their legal problem, but what they actually want is comfort, reassurance, and connection.Jun 14, 2019

Why are lawyers not respected in India?

Being a lawyer is difficult due to the work pressure, amount of dedication, and the burden it has. There have been significantly high records of cases where law professionals quit their jobs.

Is it hard to make it as a lawyer?

The BLS reports that it typically takes seven years of full-time postsecondary education to become a lawyer. ... Law schools are highly competitive to gain acceptance, and aspiring lawyers will need to pass the daunting LSAT to prove their worth—a process that can take a full year of study and preparation.Jun 2, 2017

How do you survive a law firm?

How To Survive BigLawLearn Your Passions. Many people dislike being a BigLaw associate. ... Actively Seek Out Work. ... Who Are Those Lovely People Sitting Outside Your Office? ... Bill Properly. ... Ask the Money Questions Upfront. ... Find The Key Partners. ... Earn Your Work-Life Fit. ... Learn the Rules.More items...•Aug 21, 2014

What are lawyers salary?

115,820 USD (2015)Lawyer / Median pay (annual)

Create a direct mail campaign

As an estate planning and elder law attorney, I have closed some great clients by reaching out via snail mail to local financial planners and CPAs. There are two reasons why I think that this works for me.

Develop relationships with other attorneys

Another great idea is to target other solo attorneys who practice in completely different practice areas.

Why is online marketing important for lawyers?

The reason for this is that more than ever before, people are turning to the internet to seek legal help and find a lawyer.

How to build trust with clients?

The key to a good relationship with your clients starts with trust, and the best way to build trust is to establish your credibility in your community. Share your experiences and knowledge with a local university. Volunteer to talk at your law school about your field.

How to increase referrals?

Another good way to increase your referrals is to focus on a niche legal field and become known as the specialist. There are plenty of lawyers who do civil litigation or PI, and vying for referrals in those areas of practice is basically a popularity contest.

Is it easy to start a law practice from scratch?

Building a law practice from scratch is no easy task. By focusing on the strategies above you can get your law practice on the right track and land your first clients. The key is to just jump in and get started!

How do lawyers get clients?

One of the best solutions for how a lawyer can get clients is to stay connected with people you worked with early in your career. This includes your peers in college, law school, and your employers. Make sure you treat everyone you come into contact with as if he could be a future client.

What do clients want from an attorney?

Clients want attorneys who are likely to do the best work possible and make clear decisions. When you examine most organizations that are very successful and have been around for a long time, it is easy to see that they tend to look for “steady” people who are not particularly mercurial and seem quite competent.

What are the most important things to do in law school?

When people are in law school and even during their first few years out of law school, they tend to believe that the most important components of a successful law firm career involve (1) billing a lot of hours (meaning working hard) and (2) doing quality work. Very rapidly, however, young lawyers come to understand that just as important as doing ...

Who is your dry cleaner?

Your dry cleaner, the person who mows your lawn, the mechanic who fixes your car —whomever you can imagine is a potential source of business for you. Stay in touch with them and remember to always be nice.

What are some mistakes lawyers make?

One of the biggest mistakes attorneys (and even law students!) make, proving they do not know how to get new clients for a law firm, is ignoring that every single person they ever meet is someone who could be a client or will someday be in a position to be their client. Many attorneys believe that they are often being “smart” sizing up people they meet and trying to assess whether they could potentially be their clients. They may assume, for example, that the janitor in their building could never be their client. They may assume that the person who sells them auto insurance could never be their client. They may assume that someone who was once their biggest enemy could never be their client.

Who is the founder of BCG?

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

Can former employers give you business?

Your former employers (and all of the people within them) could possibly move to other employers and potentially be in a position to give you business. Your former employers may also have cases and other work they do not want to do but that you can do. Whatever the case, you need to realize that your former employers are people who are in a position to give you a great deal of work. DO NOT burn bridges wherever you go and make sure your former employers are always your advocates. Your former employers will be in a position to give you work and talk about you to others who can also give you work.

Should I open my own law firm?

That’s easy: Yes! Except for those of you who aren’t disciplined enough to run a business rather than a legal clinic. And those who have zero interest in money, those who want a strict 9 to 5, those who demand certainty and security in their livelihood at all times.

My personal journey as a solo lawyer

For me, I started as a solo practitioner because I wanted to be a lawyer. Period. I graduated into the great recession and spent years working in alternative legal career jobs before getting so frustrated with life that I was ready to do anything to finally achieve that dream of practicing law.

What to consider when thinking about starting a solo law firm

When figuring out how hard is it to make it as a solo practitioner, first consider what is most important to you. I have heard people say that they went into solo practice for a better work-life balance, but quite frankly, most solos that I know that are making a substantial living do so by working very long hours.

How to set yourself up for success as a solo practitioner

Few businesses ever succeed when they are governed by the whims of entrepreneurs and fate. If you are launching a law firm with no plan, your odds of success are going to be slim. Every single day will bring many surprises, not of the good kind.

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Networking

  • “Sigh.” I know, my thoughts exactly. We all know how exhausting legal networkingcan be. But for a lawyer starting their own firm (or frankly any professional entering a new field) this is one of the most important things you can do. A common mistake lawyers make is to network only with fellow attorneys. While fellow attorneys can be a great source of referrals, it’s also important to …
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Referrals

  • For most experienced attorneys, referrals are what keep them in business. Most young attorneys want to get to this level of sustainability quickly, but they may not know the necessary things they must do to get there. Cultivating quality relationships with both clients and lawyers is the key to building your law practice through referrals. That means you need to go above and beyond the b…
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Public Appearances

  • Public speaking is not always the first thing that comes to mind when lawyers brainstorm on how to generate new business, but it can be very effective nonetheless. The key to a good relationship with your clients starts with trust, and the best way to build trust is to establish your credibility in your community. Share your experiences and knowledge with a local university. Volunteer to tal…
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Online Marketing

  • Online marketing for lawyers has become a hot topic and a highly competitive space over the past decade. The reason for this is that more than ever before, people are turning to the internet to seek legal help and find a lawyer. If you want to have any chance of succeeding in today’s legal world, you’ve got to have a presence online, and you’ve got to use technology to help grow your l…
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Conclusion

  • Building a law practice from scratch is no easy task. By focusing on the strategies above you can get your law practice on the right track and land your first clients. The key is to just jump in and get started! Pick a strategy and run with it. It isn’t going to happen overnight. But, given enough time, and with a consistent effort, you will surely find success. We published this blog post in Jul…
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