Going solo doesn't mean going alone

As a solo attorney with my own practice, I am often asked what advice I would give to attorneys looking to start their own solo practice. I usually say something along the lines of "close your eyes and jump," or "a fool and his practice are soon parted." Recently though I came across an African proverb that resonated with my own philosophy on going solo. The proverb says, "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Now this may be counterintuitive when you think about starting your own practice, but more and more solo attorneys are learning to turn to collective resources and relationships to build a successful practice.

What do I mean by collective resources? Everything from the Google Cloud to grassroots organizations. The practice of law is shifting, from traditional top-down firm structures to less expensive alternatives which utilize technology and sell bundled services. New solos should find a way to mix these two paradigms and build a modern practice with old school relationships.

One of the advantages new attorneys have is using technology to cut substantial overhead. Google Voice can be deployed instead of a receptionist, or cloud computing can create the virtual office. Although technology isn't the solution to all of your start-up challenges, it can definitely help you begin with a lean and mean practice with minimal overhead. For newer attorneys, working out of an alternative office environment, such as a cooperative office space, is not necessarily a bad thing. I have actually found that most clients have no concerns about office space as long as privacy and professionalism are maintained.

Cooperative office spaces may mean sharing an office with another attorney with a complimentary practice area, or utilizing a shared office with other community activists. Not only will you be able to naturally network, but also you will find support and camaraderie in your new solo career.

An intrinsic ingredient to building a successful practice which is all too often overlooked is developing such collective relationships. The one thing that got me through the first few years of being a lonesome solo is finding ways to become part of a collective, and being prepared to give and take from this relationship.

As you begin to meet other solos, you should try to form a group who meet once a month to exchange ideas, discuss cases or vent about how you made the wrong career choice. I meet with my own group, which I lovingly refer to as my "sewing circle," every few weeks and find that it not only gives me guidance and support, but a sense of community. We often cover for each other if we are unable to make a hearing, or refer cases to one another. Solos are in a better position to not only give advice, but also to help you out with whatever life throws your way.

The other natural arena to take collective action in is the pro-bono and volunteer circuit. There are countless opportunities in various areas of practice through which you can gain valuable experience and give back to your community. My own volunteer work with individual asylum seekers not only gave me structure and work for my first year of practice, but resulted in forming positive relationships with both clients and mentors - relationships which helped me grow as an attorney and as a person. Many of my pro-bono clients turned into paying clients in the long run, either through positive word of mouth or their own need for services.

Professional organizations also offer comprehensive forms of support for those who are starting their own practice. This includes area-of-practice groups which provide members with great support and mentorship as well as networking opportunities. Local organizations and bar associations are obviously another rich resource to explore, as they offer opportunities for education, pro bono opportunities and networking to develop community links.

The legal incubator model represents an additional interesting solution to the needs of the legal community and the desire for new attorneys to find a safe and stable means to transition into solo practice. For example, the Bar Association of San Francisco and its Justice and Diversity Center are set to launch the Community Law Practice Incubator designed to provide new solos with resources and mentorship. The program provides participants with training and supervision in pro-bono and low-bono cases, as well as access to office space and other resources. In doing so it ensures a commitment to community service while providing mentorship and support for solos who are carving their own path.

I believe that the key to building a successful practice, apart from things like hard work and careful planning, is ensuring that it is part of a sustainable model and involved with collective efforts. Whether this means that you are on the low-fee referral lists for nonprofits, or part of a coordinated effort to represent unaccompanied minors, or you put on monthly clinics to assist the elderly, your solo practice should not stand alone.

Legal incubators in particular and nonprofits in general are a great place for young attorneys to find direct mentorship and a support system, ensuring that their solo voyage is supported and successful. Combining these forms of collective support with the capacity to utilize technology are the keys to growing a sustainable and successful practice, one that combines old school networking and modern efficiency.