I have practiced law for over three decades which at times seemed like a very long time. However, this year, for the first time, I am practicing on my own, as a solo practitioner and this has been an amazingly action packed fast first few weeks.
When it became obvious that I had to leave my old firm, I explored several options and concluded, rather quickly, that if I was going to continue to practice consumer bankruptcy law – filing bankruptcy petitions to protect people from collection action and to provide them with an opportunity to obtain a fresh start – I would like to do it while maintaining control of the entire process and the best method to ensure that would happen would be for me to go out on my own.
So how does one start the process and how does one trust the process? Here is where I begin my thank you’s. @Curt Golkow has been a dear friend for years and he practices as a solo. When I mentioned my plan to Curt, he provided me with my Bible – an outline Curt used when he started. I had his email and outline handy at all times and even printed a copy for my car in case a vendor ever called me while I was driving. When I completed the tasks on the outline I gained confidence that I could get my new career started.
As far as vendors are concerned, @James Davis and @Geri Davis are also great friends who provided to me a list of contacts each of whom, seemingly could supply me with products or services at a fraction of the price I was expecting to pay. I talked to @Lori Reiner and @Keith Reiner and although I am still working on building out my HR and Accounting Departments (presently, the person typing is the HR and Accounting manager) they patiently listened to my business plan, offered advice and Keith remains the only person to contact me through my new website www.Clayman-Law.com to order take-out.
After I announced my new firm on LinkedIn and Facebook, I then really began to feel the love hearing from friends and colleagues – texts, emails and even a hand written letter from @Tim Basting. Thank you! To each of you. @Eric Shore replied on LinkedIn and challenged me to ask him for marketing advice which I did, and I am quite appreciative.
Speaking of marketing, from the beginning I have been inundated with solicitation emails and calls from those who are proud to exclaim they are “the best at SEO for law firms”, “the best at SEO for consumer bankruptcy law firms”, “the best at SEO for consumer bankruptcy law firms who have one attorney whose first name is Eric” and so forth. My guess is there is a high profit margin in SEO.
Also, I am so fortunate to have married a smart person! @Amy Clayman has been supportive – very supportive during this process – and loving, and I was lucky to have started this process while @Garrett Clayman and @Josh Clayman were visiting and both have tremendous computer and graphic arts skills (I really like my logo) at least from my prospective.
I have been provided the advice that I should gain 20 pounds in the next 60 days by going out to breakfast and lunch each day. I am trying to do the meals but thanks to my runs with @David Shevrin, and my weight training with Aaron Greenberg (who has provided great marketing advice as well) I think I can maintain both my sanity and my present weight.
As far as my practice is concerned it is really going quite well. I have filed bankruptcy cases for a woman who lives on fixed income in Camden to get rid of a bad solar panel loan, I have stopped several sheriff sales, released a $2,700 bank account levy and I am assisting a truck driver who owns two trucks one of which is severely over-financed. This is all work I used to do, but now I own it from the beginning throughout the process. These are now my cases and I really enjoy the impact I am having on my clients’ lives.
Are you thinking of starting your own practice? Think about it. Talk to trusted colleagues and friends and then, please give me a call. I would enjoy passing it forward.