New Solo

When starting a solo or small practice, a lawyer has to consider many new business details that were unnecessary while working for a larger firm. How do taxes differ for sole proprietorships versus other entity types? What are the necessary business or trust accounts for each individual lawyer? What is the most important thing to consider when paying taxes and acquiring insurance? Any lawyer who is starting a solo practice, confused by the options and information available, can make costly mistakes. In this episode of New Solo, Adriana Linares interviews Reba Nance and Bill Gibson, two experts in the field of law practice management, about what steps lawyers can take in the beginning of their solo practice to optimize their chance of success. Nance recommends several bank accounts with clear paper trails that are reconciled regularly, acquiring malpractice insurance even if the state does not require it, and not taking shortcuts when pressured by clients. Gibson encourages lawyers who have newly gone solo to

Starting a solo law practice can be invigorating, frightening, and exciting at first. But after the adrenaline and excitement of starting a solo practice fades, how do lawyers stay motivated? Unlike working in a large firm, an attorney's personal life and solo practice become interconnected, causing unique and often unexpected challenges. Many lawyers experience inner turmoil that requires a different resolution than a well thought-out business plan or financial planning. On this episode of New Solo, Adriana Linares interviews consultant Susan Cartier Liebel about how to stay motivated throughout the process of starting a solo law practice. Liebel encourages lawyers to make concrete life goals and envision where they might be 5, 10, and 15 years in the future, both professionally and personally. She recommends integrating personal interests and lifestyle with professional practice, resulting in a support system and a trusting client base. According to Liebel, there are three emotional inhibitors when opening

Starting a law firm from scratch can be a daunting endeavor. With a down economy, limited budget, and not enough clients, solos can have a tough time breaking into the market. In her debut as the new host of New Solo, Adriana Linares interviews Jay Foonberg, the most influential author on the subject of starting your own law firm. Together they discuss where to find clients, how to get paid, and recommended practice areas. Tune in to learn how attorneys stay relevant with new technology, why it's important to train assistants, and how to sustain a long happy marriage. Jay Foonberg is the author of How To Start and Build a Law Practice (5th edition) and was a practicing attorney in Beverly Hills for over 40 years. He served in the ABA House of Delegates, is on the Advisory Council for the ABA Commission on Evaluation of the Rules of Professional Conduct, and was a founder of the ABA Law Practice Management Section. In addition to being an author of three other important books (all available from the ABA), Foon

Did you ever think of starting your own bankruptcy practice? New Solo host and solo practitioner, Attorney Kyle R. Guelcher chats with Attorney Christina M. Turgeon, about some of the pros and cons of opening a bankruptcy practice, professional organizations a new lawyer should join when starting a bankruptcy law practice and important resources that would assist a new bankruptcy law practitioner.

Are you confused about what to charge your clients? New Solo host and solo practitioner, Attorney Kyle R. Guelcher talks to Attorney Jeremy Byellin, from Byellin Law, PLLC, about how a solo can determine how much to charge, the Laffey Matrix, the pros and cons of charging flat rates to clients and offers advice on how to communicate fees during the initial client meeting.

New Solo host and solo practitioner, Attorney Kyle R. Guelcher, spotlights solo attorney Carl Irace and his path to becoming a successful solo practitioner. Carl discusses his career as an Assistant District Attorney in New York City and explains the challenges of moving from the public to the private sector. Carl also gives tips for marketing solo practices in small markets.

Looking to get your solo practice off the ground but aren’t sure how? Learn about the tools you need to turn your solo practice into a highly utilized business when New Solo host and solo practitioner, Attorney Kyle R. Guelcher, talks to Alex Vega ,a law firm consultant with The Vega Firm. Alex shares his great insight on the basic human skills a lawyer needs for a successful practice, how a solo can develop an effective word of mouth campaign and the importance of a realistic marketing plan.

Solo attorneys need to know what is happening in the structured settlement industry for a more successful practice. New Solo host, Attorney Kyle R. Guelcher, a solo practitioner looks to the experts, Ringler Associates Consultant Peter Early, and Vincent Polinsky, Director of Operations at Ringler Medicare Solutions, to explain the evolving role of the structured settlement consultant today. Hear the discussion about the advantages of a Medicare Set-Aside, and the benefits overall to your client’s settlement.

Are you looking to start your own blog but don’t know where to begin? New Solo host, Attorney Kyle R. Guelcher, a solo practitioner and the most recent Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association joins legal blogger, legal technology guru and co-host of Legal Talk Network’s Lawyer2Lawyer, Attorney Bob Ambrogi, to offer tips to solos on starting your own blog. Bob talks about everything from which platform is best, to what type of information you should contribute as a blogger, to how to promote your blog and stand out from the others.

New Solo host, Attorney Kyle R. Guelcher, a solo practitioner and the most recent Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association is joined by Attorney Melissa Conner, from the Conner Law Offices out of Boston, Massachusetts, to spotlight women solos. Melissa shares her recommendations on everything from which organizations female attorneys can join when first starting their office, to the benefits of a women’s bar association to how to find a mentor.

Solos and Law Students-have you considered Pro Bono as an investment? It can expand your client base and knowledge, open doors for employment and networking, and enrich your standing in the community. New Solo host, Attorney Kyle R. Guelcher, a solo practitioner and the most recent Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association discusses with Attorney Luz Herrera, Assistant Professor of Law at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California how she used Pro Bono to build her practice and strengthen her community.

New Solo host, Attorney Kyle Guelcher, a solo practitioner and the most recent Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association, joins Frank A. Cseke, a Fort Collins, Colorado-based attorney and founder of the blog, The Solo Lawyer, to discuss some hot topics in the solo attorney community. Kyle & Frank take a look at the power of blogging, and a host of other topics including: marketing, rainmaking, "good" clientele and taking a Zen approach to the law.

Are you looking to build your international law practice? New Solo host, Attorney Kyle Guelcher, a solo practitioner and the most recent Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association, joins Attorney Charles Whittier from the Whittier Law Firm, to talk about how solo attorneys can develop international law as a private practice area. Charles shares his insights on how a new lawyer can build an international law practice, avoid controversy in international advertising, and the risks and benefits of practicing international law.

Looking for innovative, practical solutions to improve client services? New Solo host, Attorney Kyle Guelcher, a solo practitioner and the most recent Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association, joins Catherine Sanders Reach, Director at the American Bar Association's Legal Technology Resource Center, to highlight the many ways you can use technology to provide better client service. Catherine discusses Google tools and resources, information about credit card transaction services for lawyers, programs that would allow a client to "log in" and see the status of their case, and much more.

Want to know how you can build your client portfolio? New Solo host, Attorney Kyle Guelcher, a solo practitioner and Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association, joins marketing expert, Richard DeLuca, Principal of MarketerAtLaw.com, to offer tips on how to build a solid client base. Rich talks about the approach new lawyers should take if attending a conference, the importance of blogging and search engine optimization (SEO) and how a new lawyer can stay motivated when the phone is not ringing.

Online profiles and posts, email and smartphone etiquette, courtroom attire and socializing with co-counsel - what to do? These are just some of the areas of interest and concern for new lawyers in an ever changing legal business environment. New Solo host, Attorney Kyle Guelcher, a solo practitioner and Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association taps the expertise of Donna Gerson, attorney, frequent speaker and author of several books on legal career topics including Choosing Small, Choosing Smart, Building Career Connections and The Modern Rules of Business Etiquette as they discuss best practices and how to avoid making that new lawyer type of mistake.

Are you looking to get more actively involved in your Bar Association? In this July edition of New Solo, host Attorney Kyle R. Guelcher, a solo practitioner from Springfield, MA and Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association, is joined by Scott Heidorn, an associate in the Boston office of Campbell Campbell Edwards & Conroy, to talk about how young lawyers can utilize bar associations for career advancement. Kyle and Scott discuss why a young lawyer would want to join a bar association, how to "give back" to the community through a bar association and take a look at some resources that bar associations offer to help bridge the learning gap from law school theory to actual lawyering.

Good clients are essential to any growing business. As a lawyer, what is the best way to manage your clients? In this June edition of New Solo, host Attorney Kyle R. Guelcher, a solo practitioner from Springfield, MA and Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association is joined by solo attorney, Paul E. Mawn, Principal at The Law Office of Paul E. Mawn Jr., out of Newington, CT, to talk about how to conduct an initial client meeting, discuss fees with potential clients and how to best communicate with existing clients.

How do you create a successful virtual law practice? In this May edition of New Solo, host Attorney Kyle R. Guelcher, a solo practitioner from Springfield, MA and Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association welcomes Attorney Andrea J. Hable, to talk about her unique practice. Andrea discusses her alternative office arrangements, harnessing technology, dual admittance, differing fee structures and much more.

What steps should you take to have a successful micro law office? In this edition of New Solo, host Attorney Kyle R. Guelcher, a solo practitioner from Springfield, MA and Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association, welcomes Gen Y Solo, Attorney Rachel Rodgers, owner and principal attorney at Rachel Rodgers Law Office, to discuss starting a Spartan overhead, sharply focused law office - the micro law office. Kyle and Rachel talk about the advantages of a micro law office compared to a "traditional" office, essential pieces of technology for any micro firm, and how social media plays a role in the success of a micro firm.