what percentage of attorney are in solo practice

by Elisha Armstrong 8 min read

Demographics. Solos and small firms (2-9 attorneys) comprise the majority of the legal profession. This year, 63% of respondents of the 2019 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report, “Volume III: Law Office Technology” were solo and small firm attorneys (32% and 31%, respectively).Dec 4, 2019

How much money do solos lawyers make?

Nov 02, 2009 · As of 2005, some 62 percent of attorneys in private practice work as solo or small-firm practitioners, according to the most recent data avail­able from the American Bar Association.

What do the statistics about lawyers say about the profession?

According to Clio’s 2018 Solo & Small Firm Compensation Survey Report, law firms with fewer than twenty lawyers account for ninety-five percent of law firms. To get a better picture of what income trends lawyers in the small law firm sector can expect with earnings on average, we combed through expert reports.

What percentage of lawyers use contact systems?

May 25, 2015 · Solo legal practice represents a particularly crucial aspect of the economics of the legal profession, because it’s by far the single most common job for lawyers to hold. 75% of all practicing lawyers are in private practice, and half of these people are solo practitioners (the other half is made up of partners and associates in law firms of all sizes, along with lawyers who …

How many lawyers have data retention policies in place?

Aug 12, 2019 · When they graduate, nearly half of new lawyers take jobs at law firms, while 12 percent go to government jobs and 1 percent start solo practices.

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What percentage of lawyers are in solo practice?

Nearly three out of four (71 percent) California attorneys work in the private sector, with more than one in three (37 percent) working in law firms and one in five working as solo practitioners.

What percentage of lawyers in the US work in private practice?

About 75 percent of the 1.3 million-plus licensed attorneys in the U.S. work in private practice. Lawyers are considered to work in private practice when they're part of a firm with two or more attorneys, or they have a solo practice.Jan 12, 2019

How many private attorneys are there in the US?

How many lawyers are in the U.S.? The total number of lawyers in the United States has seen little increase in the last few years; in 2020, there were 1.33 million lawyers in the U.S. – virtually unchanged from the previous year, and not much above the 2015 figure of 1.3 million.Jan 11, 2022

Can a law firm have only one lawyer?

As the name suggests, solo law firms are run by a single lawyer. These "solo practitioners" typically handle general legal matters on a variety of topics -- ranging from personal injury law to family law, but may also specialize in one particular area of law, like patent law.

Where do lawyers get paid the most?

The metropolitan areas that pay the highest salary in the lawyer profession are San Jose, San Francisco, Washington, Los Angeles, and New York.

What sector do most lawyers work in?

Work Environment The majority of lawyers work in private and corporate legal offices. Some work for federal, local, and state governments.Sep 8, 2021

How many Black lawyers are in the US?

The percentage of Black attorneys decreased slightly from 4.8% in 2011 to 4.7% this year—far lower than the more than 13% of Americans who are Black. The percentage of Native Americans also declined, from 1% in 2011 to less than half a percent this year.Jul 29, 2021

What is the ratio of lawyers in the US?

There are more than 1.3 million lawyers nationwide – or approximately one lawyer for every 240 people.Sep 16, 2020

How many practicing lawyers are there in the United States?

According to the American Bar Association, there are 1,352,027 licensed attorneys in the United States. The map below shows the total of number of licensed attorneys in every state in the U.S.

What is the sole owner of a law firm called?

Law Firm Partners Often called shareholders, they are owners and operators of the firm at the same time. The law firm can take many forms and structures. Firms with just one attorney are called sole proprietorships.

What are you called if you own a law firm?

*Partners/Shareholders Law firm partners or shareholders are attorneys who jointly own and operate the firm. The business organization that a law firm chooses varies.Mar 23, 2020

Can two lawyers represent the same client?

The California Rules generally permit a lawyer to represent multiple clients with conflicting interests so long as all the clients have provided their informed written consent.May 1, 2020

What percentage of lawyers are successful?

According to the American Bar Association, about 36% of all attorneys say they are very successful, and about half indicate they are successful. Only 4% of attorneys that were surveyed in the study stated they were not successful. Many attorneys in a solo practice (8%) indicate that their law office is unsuccessful.Jun 2, 2021

How many lawyers are practicing in the US?

Did you know there are 1.3 million lawyers in the United States – and 1 in 4 are in just two states (New York and California)?

How many licensed attorneys are there in New York?

Total number of licensed attorneys in the U.S.State NameTotal Licensed AttorneysNew Hampshire3523New Jersey41021New Mexico5428New York17960047 more rows

What is female lawyer called?

Lady lawyer - definition of Lady lawyer by The Free Dictionary. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Lady+lawyer.

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaPatent attorney: $180,000.Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.Trial attorneys: $134,000.Tax attorney (tax law): $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.More items...•Dec 14, 2021

How many black lawyers are in America?

The percentage of Black attorneys decreased slightly from 4.8% in 2011 to 4.7% this year—far lower than the more than 13% of Americans who are Black. The percentage of Native Americans also declined, from 1% in 2011 to less than half a percent this year.Jul 29, 2021

What is the ratio of lawyers in the US?

There are more than 1.3 million lawyers nationwide – or approximately one lawyer for every 240 people.Sep 16, 2020

What states have the most lawyers?

Number of Active & Resident Lawyers Per CapitaNO. OF LAWYERS PER CAPITA BY STATE (2013)RANKSTATENO. LAWYERS ACTIVE & RESIDENT (2013)1.District of Columbia51,9282.New York166,3173.Massachusetts43,00850 more rows

Which country has the most lawyers per 100 000 population?

The 2010 statistics reflect a relative shortage of judges in Israel, taking into consideration the country's population, the number of lawyers and the volume of civil files in the judicial system. On the other hand, Israel tops the list in the number of attorneys, with 585 per 100,000 residents.Aug 3, 2011

Are there too many lawyers in America?

As of 2017, there are around 1.3 million licensed and practicing attorneys in the United States, which roughly translates to one lawyer for every 244 Americans. ... This is why the market has too many lawyers: because there are not enough people who will need legal services.

What country has the highest number of lawyers per capita?

Overpopulation of Lawyers in Greece and Rest of Europe: Myths vs RealityΑ/ΑCountry / StateCapita per lawyer1New York U.S.A.1152Liechtenstein1763California U.S.A.2364Italy24638 more rows•Feb 17, 2016

Why are solo firms better than larger firms?

Solos and small firms are in a unique position to leverage technology in order to become more sustainable and competitive with larger firms and alternative legal service providers—they have the ability to be more agile than larger firms because of their size. There are numerous technology options available and many are solo ...

What software do solo attorneys use?

Solos were least likely to have conflict checking software and rule-based docket/calendaring. The most used specialized software brand is Westlaw.

Which is the most popular accounting software?

Overall, QuickBooks is the most popular accounting software. Most firms also have electronic billing software, but solos and small firms report the highest likelihood of using it. Overall, 53% of respondents have case or practice management software. This is trending upward slightly from the 2018 Survey.

Do attorneys use laptops?

Small firm attorneys are most likely to use a laptop in the courtroom, followed by solo practitioners. Based on firms of all sizes, attorneys practicing personal injury law are the most likely to use laptops in the courtroom. The greatest use of laptops is for email.

Why is technology important for lawyers?

Technology use can reduce human error, increase efficiency, reduce overhead, provide flexibility, enhance attorney well-being, and better meet client needs.

What percentage of respondents have been infected by viruses, spyware, or malware?

Overall, 36% of respondents have been infected by viruses, spyware, or malware. The most prevalent physical security measure taken by solos and small firms is entry security, computer locks, and security alarms. Only 26% of solos and 15% of small firms, however, report using a password management tool.

Which type of firm is most likely to report that expert review is very influential?

Solos and small firms more often cite consultants as being very influential in their technology purchasing decisions, in contrast to larger firms. Sole practitioners are most likely to report that expert review is very influential.

What is Elefant blog?

Blogs, says Elefant, are one quick and fairly inexpensive way to gain street cred with would-be clients. Elefant created MyShingle.com, a popular blog that offers advice and support to fellow solo practitioners.

How many attorneys are solo in 2005?

As of 2005, some 62 percent of attorneys in private practice work as solo or small-firm practitioners, according to the most recent data avail­able from the American Bar Association. Those numbers likely have swelled and will continue to do so as law firms reorganize and re-evaluate their professional staffing needs.

Attorney Average Earnings and Hourly Rates by State (All Firm Sizes)

With costs of living and legal demands varying from state to state, gathering perspective on average earnings can be crucial to financial decisions solo practitioners and small law firms make. Below, we’ve compiled average hourly rates and average lawyer salaries by state for reference.

Solo Practitioner Average Earnings

The graph below represents average salaries earned by solo practitioners both nationally and across different practice areas. This can provide essential insight into what salaries lawyers can expect on average.

Earnings by Law Practice Type (All Firm Sizes)

These days, most law firms tend to gravitate towards picking a legal specialty instead of offering a broad spectrum of general legal services. As a solo practitioner or small law firm, it’s important to have insight into what types of earnings are seen on average depending on practice type; This can also help with projections.

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The report provides insights on lawyer demographics, earnings, diversity, pro bono service, legal education, use of technology, well-being, and discipline

Wondering how many lawyers actively practice in the United States? I happen to have the answer: 1,352,027. And I can also tell you that a quarter of those lawyers are in just two states, California and New York.

What Are Outcome Analytics? The Best Way To Know What Happened In Previous Cases

Lex Machina’s Outcome Analytics include findings, remedies, damages, and case resolutions. Learn why these are the best way to know what happened in previous cases…

How does tracking performance impact a lawyer?

Tracking performance and productivity impacts your success as a lawyer, so lawyer facts and statistics that highlight how attorneys spend their time are invaluable performance indicators. The 2020 Legal Trends Report, for example, reports a utilization rate (i.e. the number of billable hours worked divided by the number of hours in a day) of 31%—which means that 69% of a lawyer’s work day is spent on non-billable activities.

Is it easier to become a lawyer in 2021?

But with the knowledge based on key lawyer statistics, preparing for 2021 can be a whole lot easier. From knowing the current number of lawyers in the US to how (and how much) attorneys across the country are billing, knowing up-to-date lawyer facts and statistics can give you a clearer picture of where you stand, and which direction you may want to head.

Is cloud computing good for business?

Cloud computing continues to be significant for business success, with the majority of lawyers using online solutions— 59% of participants in the 2020 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report said that they used web-based software services or solutions.

What are the barriers women face in the workplace?

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) indicates that in the US, the top barriers women face in the workplace include getting a job and protecting women from violence. It is worth examining how your law firm can foster a better environment for hiring more women and improving diversity. 5.

How many lawyers are there in the US?

Specifically, for every 1,000 residents in the US, there are only four lawyers. Knowing the status and size of your industry helps you understand your playing field in the legal marketplace.

Which practice area has the highest hourly rate?

Different practice areas charge vastly different rates, as well. The 2020 Legal Trends Report found that bankruptcy was the practice area with the highest average hourly billing rate—in some cases, by a great amount.

Can a lawyer take credit cards?

Reinforcing these lawyer statistics, as Clio’s 2019 Legal Trends Report noted, the ability to make payments electronically can be a deal-breaker for some clients—with 40% of consumers who had dealt with a legal issue in the past two years indicating that they’d never hire a lawyer who didn’t take credit or debit cards. This means that law firms who offer legal credit card payments could have an edge over their competitors by letting clients pay the way they want to.

2. Become involved in the community

Maintaining a strong connection to the legal community is worth the effort when you are just starting out. Many new solos cite seclusion as a top concern, and one way to combat it is to create strong times to your peers.

3. Educate yourself on law firm management

In addition to the challenges of client acquisition, solo practice presents other risks including time and business management.

Know your worth

Another common pitfall new solo attorneys can fall victim to is undercutting their rates in an effort to bring clients in the door.

Keep these tips in mind when you launch your solo practice

Time and again, new solo attorneys report that the business of law is, unfortunately, not something they were taught in law school. As you launch your solo practice, keep in mind the best ways to maximize your practice without breaking the bank.

How much time do attorneys spend on social media?

A majority of attorneys also spend more than an hour per day surfing the web and on social media.

Do attorneys use hourly rates?

In a data point that is not expected to change any time soon, more than three-quarters of respondents use an hourly rate structure to bill clients, with the practice being more common among attorneys serving only businesses rather than those serving only consumers. Among attorneys using alternative methods, more than half of solo practitioners (57%) report using fixed fee billing compared to 39% of employed attorneys.

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Basic Technology

  • Among the respondents, Windows 10 was chosen over the Mac OS by most solo and small law firms. The number of users now using Windows 10 has grown from 46% in the past year to 59%. This growth is noteworthy, as Microsoft has enhanced its market share. Particularly, the Office 365 platform has shown maturity as an option for more and more law offices. Apple’s Mac OS i…
See more on americanbar.org

Web-Based Services and Cloud Computing

  • Fifty-five percent of respondents say they have used cloud computing technology for work-related tasks. Usage is up by 2% overall since last year, and up 17% over the numbers for 2016. This trajectory has stabilized a bit versus the rapid growth between 2015 and 2016. Still, 59% of solos and 58% of lawyers in firms of 2 to 9 lawyers indicated they use cloud computing for legal work-…
See more on americanbar.org

Data Protection and Security

  • Thirty-three percent of the solos and 51.2% of those in firms of 2 to 9 attorneys said they had data retention policies in place. Regarding where lawyers back up their files, solos most often chose external hard drives. 58.1% of solos and 41.5% of those in firms with 2 to 9 attorneys use this method. Offsite storage is used by 18.5% of solos and 33.8% of lawyers in firms of 2 to 9 attorne…
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Technology Budgeting and Education

  • Over 60% of the respondents say they are required under ethical competency rules to stay abreast of the benefits and risk of technology. This was true for both solos and those in firms of 2 to 9 attorneys. For technology purchasing decisions, lawyers are most influenced by various informational sources, from print ads to CLE programs and peers. Solos are most influenced by …
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Conclusion

  • Even though legal technology continues to grow in products and services, and particularly in the area of viable cloud-based systems, the adoption rates still remain low. This seems to be the case again for solo and small firm lawyers, even though they are the ones most likely to be in a position to more freely and easily choose, learn, train, and use technology for law-related work. Future gr…
See more on americanbar.org

Demographics

  • Solos and small firms (2-9 attorneys) comprise the majority of the legal profession. This year, 63% of respondents of the 2019 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report, “Volume III: Law Office Technology” were solo and small firm attorneys (32% and 31%, respectively). The largest majority of solo and small firm respondents were between the ages of 60-69 and on average most had b…
See more on americanbar.org

Law Office Technology

  • Hardware
    Small firms are most likely to report a desktop as the primary computer used in the firm and solos were statistically more likely than not to use a desktop as their primary computer. Overall, the largest percentage of respondents report their preferred primary operating system is Windows 1…
  • Software Communications
    Respondents were asked to identify the types of communication software used in their firms. Overall, the top three software cited were: contacts (81%), remote access (73%), and electronic fax (43%). Contacts software availability among solos was up 7% from last year, with 77% of sol…
See more on americanbar.org

Technology Basics and Security

  • Budget and Goals
    Solos and small firms are the lowest reporting demographic for the allocation of a technology budget (39% and 50%, respectively). The median annual software spend to manage the law practice, which includes practice management, document management, and time and billing sof…
  • Training and Support
    When asked whether or not lawyers are required to stay abreast of the benefits and risks of technology as part of their basic competency requirement under their jurisdiction’s rules of professional conduct, 64% responded in the affirmative overall. Sole practitioners were the seco…
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Summary

  • Overall, technology adaptation appears to be stagnant or declining, with most increases being nominal. Solo and small firm attorneys who have arguably the most to gain from technology implementation appear not to be taking full advantage of the technology available to them. Microsoft continues to be the dominating software brand used in law firms across all demograp…
See more on americanbar.org