You may be at a point in your career where you feel burnt out from the big firm, tired of poor management in a smaller firm, or want to try something new. How do you make the transition? How would you get clients? I hope to shed some light on the subject based on my experiences.
I have practiced law for 24 years and began my career in a very small firm. Despite them giving me many opportunities, teaching me the ins and outs of local practice, and giving me a great base on how to litigate by myself, I saw no real path to partnership. They all had over 20 years of experience, and I felt I would always be seen as the “kid.” (They were also all men, and the staff were all women.)
One day, I left the firm to be a partner at another small firm. As we were taught, being a “partner” meant you had made it in the world of civil practice. I was able to take most of my clients with me, as I had been the one holding their hands and answering their questions for the past few years. The partnership was not all that it was cracked up to be. I was paid a percentage of my receivables when collected, which was okay, but they would also give me some of their cases to work on that sometimes did not pay. We also paid a lot of overhead for office space, paralegals, and the like. The more I thought about it, the more I felt I could run a much more efficient practice and keep more money in my pocket…so I left. I was a little depressed and thought, oh well, if I just never make it here, I’ll figure something else out or go on vacation and then bury my head in the sand.
It was comforting to know my clients would likely follow me, but going all-in to the solo world was a little frightening. What if no new clients came along? Enter the ABA. I had participated in local organizations like our county YLD (Young Lawyers Division), but I hadn’t really had any ABA involvement. I had also participated in a statewide leadership program, and while it opened my eyes to state bar leaders and judges, it wasn’t a national program.
A letter from the TIPS Leadership Academy came in the mail one day. I had no idea what that was, and I had just started my firm, but the brochure said something about a trip to Coronado and Puerto Rico and had smiling, happy people on it, so I applied. Oh, how it changed my life! It was by far the best leadership program I had ever been in. The speakers were awe-inspiring and were of a national caliber. Everyone I met in TIPS was a rock-star attorney but, most of all, welcoming and friendly. This was the motivation, inspiration, and collegiality that I needed. I have now been a TIPS member for over 15 years.
Fast forward to today. I love my solo life and can never return to an all-day job. I have managed to keep my local reputation as an excellent attorney, being the only attorney in town currently a Thomson Reuters SuperLawyer™ in Business Law. I also serve part-time as a tribal court Appellate Justice and as a state court Administrative Law Judge Pro Tem. I consider it my public service, but I can set my schedule to choose my workdays judging. Since COVID, I have shifted toward transactional, smaller disputes and arbitration/mediation. I was tired of litigation schedules running my life. I enjoyed the thrill of litigation, but as a solo, it’s a 24/7 on-call job.
Being a sole practitioner opened up my life to what I wanted my life to be. My hourly rate pays the bills at home, but the flexibility of my practice is that I can work from almost anywhere and still be there for my small business clients 24/7, but in a better venue. Sitting on a beach in the Bahamas answering emails isn’t something I dreamed of as a young associate. TIPS and the ABA have shown me that having it all is possible. I can enjoy traveling with my colleagues, learning new things, and having a great time doing it (if you don’t believe me, follow my social media). Living in a small town is sometimes dull. I have a great life here as well, but expanding my horizons and being able to travel while doing some volunteer work with my friends is a fantastic lifestyle.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some of my other volunteer jobs and organizations I’m involved with. Volunteering and being involved in organizations is a fun way to network and further your career and leadership roles. I’ve never had to advertise. All my clients are word of mouth; most come from referrals from the groups I’m involved with. As far as the ABA, I have served both on TIPS Council and GP Solo Council. I’ve also served in the House of Delegates on and off for over ten years. I’m also involved with NAPABA (National Asian Pacific American Bar Association) and served as president of our local affiliate ABAW (Asian Bar Association of Washington). I’ve served in leadership positions on many other local volunteer boards and associations and, most recently, as an officer of our local county bar association (they finally convinced me to stick around!). When do I find time to work? Sometimes, I’m up late working or working on the weekend, but that’s because I chose to golf on a Wednesday. For those who know me, I always get the job done and get it done right. It’s all a matter of priorities and running things efficiently. I’m happy to discuss some methods for streamlining work, but that’s for another article or CLE.
The biggest joy in my career is mentoring younger lawyers. I recently received an award from our state bar as a “local hero” for mentoring law students and new lawyers in their careers. It can be a scary, isolating time for many, and I love seeing new attorneys grow and succeed. Of course, you may have to “do your time,” as I call it, working in the trenches and learning from the best, but one day, you too can be free. I encourage those unhappy in their career to explore other options and, even if it means working harder when they get home, travel with lawyers and join groups like TIPS. The fun memories I’ve had with my TIPS friends cannot be surpassed. For me, solo life is the way to go. I hope to see you in Kauai to discuss how to be a happy lawyer over a nice beverage on the beach. Cheers to the life you always wanted!
