Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 8
CAREER & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
LAWYERS' CHOICE
SUITES
910 17th Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006
a shared office environment
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new affordable
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Full Time Receptionists
Conference Rooms
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Internet Legal Research
Westlaw Provider
Senior Lawyer Discount
DO'S & DON'TS
FOR GOING SOLO
By Erika Winston
E
ach year hundreds of lawyers part ways with their law firms and other
legal employers to open their own solo practices. Before you embark
on this challenging endeavor, hear from experts on how to ease your
transition to becoming a solo practitioner.
DO HAVE A PLAN
Daniel M. Mills, assistant director of the D.C. Bar
Practice Management Advisory Service (PMAS),
Regulation Counsel, champions the importance of
having a plan in place prior to leaving your law firm.
"Think it through and prepare intensely," Mills says.
"Also, don't go into your meeting with the managing
partner to announce your departure, thinking that
you can negotiate for 30 days before leaving. You
might just be escorted directly to the lobby without
a chance to even go back to your office."
DON'T BE AFRAID
TO LAUNCH 'LEAN'
According to Mills, you don't need a fortune to
launch your own practice. "While it helps to have
funds, lean launches are quite possible when the
circumstances require it." He says the PMAS has
helped lawyers launch their practices with little
more than their last firm paycheck. "Contact me
or Rochelle Washington at the D.C. Bar and attend
one or more of our regular programs on starting
and growing a law firm," Mills advises.
DO TAKE STOCK
OF YOUR SKILLS
Alvin M. Guttman, Esq.
(202) 293-3595
www.lawofficespacedc.com
Anna Rappaport, owner of Excelleration, LLC,
suggests lawyers do a serious inventory of their
skills when moving from law firm to solo practice.
"Successful entrepreneurship requires legal skills,
sales skills, long-term visioning, attention to detail,
ability to manage others, etc.," she explains. "Almost
no one starts out excelling at the full range of
required skills, so find ways to augment your
strengths and compensate for your weaknesses.
Choosing partners and staff with complementary
strengths is a crucial first step."
DON'T GO OVERBOARD
WITH PAID ADVERTISING
Rappaport warns against relying too heavily on
paid advertising. "Although for some practice areas,
Google ads or other forms of advertisement
can be helpful, it is a lot more complicated than
most people realize. If it were as simple as hiring an
expert and suddenly you have all the business you
want, everyone would do it," she says. According to
Rappaport, the ability to attract clients is based on
relationships and reputation. "Leveraging your
existing relationships, figuring out how to network
effectively, or creating more opportunities for
visibility is generally more effective than relying
on advertising."
DO PRIORITIZE
CLIENT DEVELOPMENT
Tasha "TC" Cooper, founder of UpwardAction,
says lawyers should start thinking about their
development and marketing strategies as soon
as they decide to leave their law firm. "As early
as you begin thinking about leaving your firm
for a solo practice, you should be thinking about
a plan to continuously develop business and
attract clients," she says. Cooper suggests
updating your LinkedIn profile. "Use descriptions
that contain popular keyword phrases used
by clients in your areas of practice," she says.
"Also, use a professional photo with a clear
view of your face."
DON'T POST WILLY-NILLY
TO SOCIAL MEDIA
However, Cooper warns against social media
marketing without a comprehensive plan of
action. "Do not start posting a lot of information
on various social networks without a plan for
archiving your content and a strategy for using
your content to increase your impact, expand
your influence, and attract ideal business opportunities. Be productive, not busy, when using
social media."
Erika Winston is a regular contributor
to Washington Lawyer.
http://www.lawofficespacedc.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018
Your Voice
From Our President
Calendar of Events
Government & Gavel
Feature: Our Future Begins Here
Super Lawyers
Feature: Risky Business
Member Spotlight
Worth Reading
Media Bytes
Attorney Briefs
Ask the Ethics Experts
Disciplinary Summaries
Community & Connections
Last Word
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Cover1
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Cover2
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 1
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 2
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 3
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 4
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Your Voice
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - From Our President
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 7
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 8
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 9
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Calendar of Events
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 11
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Government & Gavel
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 13
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Feature: Our Future Begins Here
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 15
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 16
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 17
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 18
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 19
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 20
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 21
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Super Lawyers
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - SL2
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - SL3
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - SL4
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - SL5
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - SL6
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Feature: Risky Business
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 23
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Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Member Spotlight
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 39
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Worth Reading
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Media Bytes
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Attorney Briefs
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Ask the Ethics Experts
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Disciplinary Summaries
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 45
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Community & Connections
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 47
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Last Word
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Cover3
Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - Cover4
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