Practice Practicing

Mar

by Salon Gal

Practice Practicing

32 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$5.39

32 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$1.00

32 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$4.99

64 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$11.89

Practice Fingers X 2 for nail art Painting practicing (2pcs)
$4.09

64 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$9.39

Practice Fingers x 2 for Acrylic Nails Treament Practicing
$4.11

64 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$12.39

64 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$2.49

32 x NAIL ART DISPLAY STAND PRACTICE PRACTICING TOOL
$0.98

10 x NAIL ART DISPLAY & PRACTICE PRACTICING WHEELS #58
$4.99

32 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$1.00

2 X Salon DIY Nail Art Display 24 Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$1.00

64 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$7.99

2 X Salon DIY Nail Art Display 24 Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$4.89

2 x Practice Fingers for Nail Art Practicing
$3.80

64 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$2.49

2 X Salon DIY Nail Art Display 24 Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$1.00

64 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$2.79

64 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$2.49

32 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$1.00

64 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$4.49

32 Nail Art Display Stand Rack Practice Practicing Tool
$1.00

struggling to get started in my solo practice – practicing attorneys only, please?

I’m having trouble really getting my solo practice going. I’m 8 months in and still struggling to pay the bills. I need to make more money but am stressed by every new client I do pull in. I’m considering doing contract work or switching to law related work, like lexis rep or legal recruiter… what have you guys done to either make the practice work or succeed in related fields?

I graduated law school in 1993. Sent out tons of resumes, but no one wanted me. (Evening division law student, average grades, returning student, previous job 6 figure director). So, I contracted myself out as an independant contractor – attorney, by the case or by the month. I did a brochure in Microsoft Office and a mass mailing. I carried my own malpractice insurance, since I was a law firm who contracted its only employee out. I could have worked 24/7.

I was able to pick up odd jobs, in law offices, doing lots of stuff their employee attorneys did not want to be bothered with. I would file documents in court, do motion calls, write routine pleadings — all the time I was learning lots about running my own busines. I actually would do just about any task in a law office, those places have sent me referrals — I did tons of computer research and once sat in for a legal secretary, swamped with work, that was rushed to the hospital during a major trial.

In 2001 I decided that I wanted to concentrate on my own firm and stop the contract work. My office opened 7-11-01 with 3 clients. Then came 9-11 and I had no clients. I do arbitration work for two counties and an occassional ALJ gig for a state office when called. I advertized in a suburban newspaper that had lots of circulation (I am in a suburb of Chicago) that worked until the ad rate was more than my rent.

I rent an office from Regus www.regus.com an association where you can be a virtual office — a person answers my phone and connects calls to my home, I get my mail that this swanky office building, and when I need an office I pay for it by the hour.

I signed on with Yahoo to host my web page. Created the page myself with their totally awesome software in just a week. I am listed with my state bar association as a referral — pay an anuual dues for that plus a tiny amount for every case I take. Most of those referrals just ask questions on the phone, I do not charge for that. What that does is gives me tons of good will and referrals from those people — all from a 15 min phone call.

This is my 7th year in business and I have not made half of what I was making in my former job. I have been told that it takes a minimum of 5 years as a business owner to break even, in this economy that would be impossible.

As a solo your best advertising is your mouth. Tell everyone you know that are an attorney. One of my most productive cases was from the cashier at the food store, the next was from my letter-carrier. Go to seminars on the profession and learn something so well that you can be an asset to other attorneys. I wrote a tiny piece on non-compete agreements years ago and still get calls from other attorneys with questions. I keep up on that topic and am more than willing to help another attorney out. That help comes back in referrals.

Make your practice stand out in ways that your clients will appreciate. One of my rules is that every phone call is returned within 24 hours. Can’t tell you the number of clients who appreciate that. For every case, do the very best you can. Send clients copies of any document you create in their name, even if they do not know what it says, they appreciate that. Being good, friendly and approachable is a way to get clients who will recommend you to their friends.

I would not switch to being a rep or recruiter. Those employers are going to want your full attention and work hours, they will not appreciate it if you take off for a hearing.
Best of luck to you.