Finding first clients, setting fees, and building a practice from zero.
Trust account reconciliation intimidates new solos and is a leading cause of bar complaints, yet the process itself is straightforward once you understand it. Here is how the three-way reconciliation works and how to make it a habit.
Most new solos fly blind on their finances, then get surprised when the money runs low. You do not need a CFO dashboard in year one. You need a handful of numbers that tell you whether the practice is alive and where it is headed.
New attorneys feel pressure to pick a practice area, but rarely get taught how to choose one. The decision balances interest, demand, income, and lifestyle, and it does not have to be permanent. Here is how to think it through.
A new solo needs a website, but has little time or budget to build one. The good news is that an effective first site is simpler than you think. Here is what to include, what to skip, and how to make it actually bring in clients.
Your firm name is a long-term decision that touches branding, marketing, and ethics rules all at once. Most solos default to their own surname, but you have more options than you think. Here is how to choose well.
The first bad review stings, and the urge to set the record straight is powerful and dangerous. Your confidentiality duty means you cannot respond the way you want to. Here is how to handle a negative review professionally.
Payment plans win you clients who could not otherwise afford representation, but a badly structured plan turns your firm into an interest-free lender that runs out of cash. Here is how to offer them without starving your practice.
A paying client with a matter you have never handled is tempting and risky. Winging it can hurt the client and your career. Here are the four honest options, and how to pick the right one.
Flat fees are popular with clients and dangerous for attorneys who guess at the number. Price one too low and you work for free on the back half of the matter. Here is how to set a flat fee that actually covers your time, your costs, and your risk.
Every lawyer thinking about going solo asks the same question: how long until it pays? The honest answer depends on what profitable means to you. Here is what drives the timeline and how to speed it up.
Co-counseling with another lawyer can be a great opportunity or a real headache. The difference is the questions you ask first. Here is a due-diligence checklist before your first co-counsel arrangement.
A client who disputes your bill can rattle a new attorney. Here is how to handle a first fee dispute calmly and professionally, the options for resolving it, and why suing for fees is rarely the first move.
