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Advice to Young Sole Practitioners in a Tough Economy

published August 02, 2013

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left
Published By
( 4 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Advice to Young Sole Practitioners in a Tough Economy
The legal market has been brutal since about 2008. With larger firms downsizing experienced lawyers and paralegals and smaller firms not hiring, new lawyers have to complete for the same salary against lawyers with multi-years of experience.

I've run my own firm for over four years in the toughest economy in 75 years. It has been tough and stressful, but rewarding. There have been personal loans to the firm. Liquidating of 401k's. No paychecks for extended periods of time. Light paychecks for most of the time. So after all of this stress, I am willing to hire someone that can work with me on salary and invest in the firm as a stakeholder. If you want just money, good luck finding it in this economy.


A young lawyer has to understand that any job beats hanging out on the couch playing X-Box. A young lawyer needs to get to the table to show the firm that they deserve a chance. My advice to any young lawyer is to pick a firm that they are interested in and offer to work there for 2 to 4 weeks as an unpaid legal intern. Doing research, wrangling witnesses at court, making copies, answering the phone or whatever needs to be done. Once that agreed upon time is over, the employer may be able to try to find some form of paying job for you. If not, you at least have a positive working reference and some networking connections.

Anything is better than zero! I usually start a new lawyer as a contract research assistant, then a low paid associate, and once the lawyer starts bringing retainers, I give them a raise. The more they succeed, the more I can afford to pay them. When the firm is struggling to pay bills and salaries and the brunt of that burden is shouldered by the partners and their pay. If the choice is between the rent being paid and a partner getting a salary, the partner will have to sacrifice the pay.

A new lawyer that is starting a new firm needs to rent a small office that has a more successful lawyer in the building. The small office will keep down on overhead costs, which is crucial for a new firm. The experienced lawyer will likely refer a case due to conflicts of interests or client's that cannot afford the higher retainer. A new lawyer's number one client will be other lawyers' referrals. Email, tell every lawyer you meet and go to the local bar meeting and say "I am a new lawyer, please send me the cases that you do not want." Most of the cases will be garbage, but every once in a while, you will get a hidden gem that will pay the bills. If you work for yourself, re-invest your money and do not expect a salary for at least the first year.

Never, never, never, put money into expensive marking and say: "This will pay for itself with two retained clients per month." It won't! Trust me, it won't. Expensive listings and yellow page ads are luxuries for cash rich firms. You are not one! Go with free or cheap internet listings. Always answer your phone. Most lawyers do not. You need to get the business from a Saturday night potential client. Answer it, even when you do not want to.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.

published August 02, 2013

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left
( 4 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.