Lawyers can use an iPad in their practice in more than one way, whether it be for client meetings or in the courtroom.
For attorneys on the go, a frequent complaint is that you still need to bring a laptop, because typing on the iPad is less than ideal. With that in mind, I was very excited to try out the Verbatim Ultra-slim Bluetooth Keyboard.
It turns out the iPad keyboard is much better than I originally thought.
Most solo attorneys are also first time business owners. Simple things, like setting up bank accounts, can become ginormous headaches. Depending on your practice area, lines of credit are essential to cash flow, which is another massive source of stress.
Then once you make money, there’s that whole paying taxes and stashing away excess for bad months. After a few months, take a look at your balance sheet and consider forecasting income to help maintain financial sanity.
In many ways, the toughest transition for solo attorneys is learning how to run a small business. First you need to set up bank accounts. Next, you need to figure out how to manage cash flow and lines of credit.
The next step is what I consider a good problem: what to do when you make money. Make sure you withhold for taxes and stuff some cash under a mattress for the inevitable bad month.
One of the most difficult new responsibilities of running a solo practice is tracking and managing finances. From accounting software to bank accounts, most of it will be a completely new and foreign experience.
Once you have made the initial financial arrangements for your firm, you are ready for step two: dealing with cash flow and lines of credit.
When you go solo, you are responsible for everything from client intake, to marketing, and to dealing with intimidating opposing counsel. You are also running a business, which is a whole new can of worms.
The financial aspects of running a solo practice can be complicated, stressful, and time-consuming. When you are getting started, here are some key considerations.
The life of a new attorney can be a rough ride. Dealing with potential clients can be tricky, you work all hours of the day, and sometimes wake up in the middle of the night to answer e-mail.
Learning to negotiate is another tall task. Before you do anything else, make sure you understand your client’s goals and your settlement authority. Step two: get inside your opponent’s head.
Very few things—if anything—comes easy as a young attorney. Learning to effectively manage your time, obsessing over work at all hours, and dealing with difficult opposing counsel are just a few of the land mines.
Another tricky skill for young litigators is negotiation. The first step of successful negotiation is simple, but critical—figure out your client’s goals and how much settlement authority you have.
Success in law school can be defined in more than one way: getting good grades, to acquiring legal skills and getting practical experience during law school, to the always-undervalued networking with professors and classmates.
Success (immediately) after law school is usually defined one way: employment. When you find yourself applying for jobs and asking for a letter of recommendation, follow these tips to enhance your chance of success.
New solo attorneys face all sorts of challenges. From dealing with difficult opposing counsel, to suddenly losing confidence in their instincts, to figuring out how to divide your day among the million plus tasks.
Perhaps the most critical element is client intake. If you can’t sign up potential clients, you won’t be around for long. Fortunately, there are ways to sell yourself to potential clients without sounding like someone selling a great piece of oceanfront property.
Starting your own solo practice can be an exciting and overwhelming endeavor (just ask Josh). Things like marketing, a sudden loss of confidence in your legal abilities, and effective time management can easily derail a day or even a week.
The multitude of responsibilities can also lead to less focus on a critical element of a successful solo attorney: client intake.
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