Solo In Chicago…Grow Your Practice!

All you law firm managers out there Robert Half Legal just published its 2008 Salary Guide. Free copies available on the site.

Average starting salaries for all legal professionals are projected to rise by 4.2% next year to the range of $84,750 to $130,500. There was a little blurb about the piece in the Law Bulletin…they sound pretty bullish.

That’s not what I’m hearing “on the ground” from recent law school grads.

I attended an administrative hearing yesterday before the IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (IDHFS) at the above yesterday. You’ve got to go there to see jurisprudence and due process at its finest. The 15th Floor deals with cases where IDHFS has frozen assets of non-custodial parents (NCP) who owe back child support arrearages.

So first our case was scheduled at 1015am and we didn’t get called until 230pm. I’m there w/o my client who’s out-of-state and the non-custodial-parent is there having appealed an account of his that had been frozen. He alleged that it was a “convenience” account and that the funds were his mother’s. Then when your case gets called you go into a pre-hearing with an IDHFS advocate (who opposes the NCP). And it’s laughable…the NCP doesn’t realize that this person really is his opposition and yet this individual is actually advising the NCP. Next, we go into a hearing. We’re on the record with an old cassette player as transcriber and a non-lawyer as hearing officer. It’s kangaroo court at it’s finest.

Opposing counsels who don’t communicate with you at all between court dates and then show up five minutes early for a status hearing, have an “Agreed” Order entered and then leave. Real classy.

The Attorneys Registration and Disciplinary Commission is posting some guidance regarding the recent Dowling case concerning attorney retainers. Here’s a nugget:

In Dowling, the Court recognized the following three types of retainers:

(1) A classic retainer, also referred to as a true or general retainer, is paid by a client to the lawyer in order to secure the lawyer’s availability during a specified period of time or for a specified matter. This type of retainer is earned when paid and immediately becomes property of the lawyer, regardless of whether the lawyer ever actually performs any services for the client. Dowling at *6.

(2) A security retainer is where funds paid to the lawyer are not considered present payment for future services but are intended to secure payment of fees for the future services the lawyer is expected to perform. This type of retainer remains the property of the client and, therefore, must be deposited in a trust account and kept separate from the lawyer’s own property until the lawyer applies it to charges for services that are actually rendered. Dowling at *6. Any unused portion of the retainer is refunded to the client under Rules 1.15(b) and 1.16(d) of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct. Dowling at *12.

(3) An advance payment retainer consists of a present payment to the lawyer in exchange for the commitment to provide legal services in the future. Ownership of this retainer passes to the lawyer immediately upon payment. Dowling at *6, 11.

I don’t think I’ve ever used anything but a “security retainer.” Anyone using the others much??

Saw this bit of billing advice on a listserve I’m on…thought I’d pass it on:

As an in house counsel, here are my recommendations also:

- Your work (and cost) on the 1st piece of business are all that the new client will consider when deciding to hire you again. Do a good job, and at a reasonable price.

50 ways to market your practice from ABA.

Chuck Newton’s take on lawyer logos.

So I had an interview with a law firm the other day…what I can I say I do keep my eyes open for potential opportunities. Well, the position wasn’t quite what I was looking for but it was an interesting learning experience on a couple of levels…

First, all this guy (firm’s lone principal) did was sales. Essentially the model is to do a ton of marketing to generate heavy phone inquiries. Then offer an initial free consultation. Then his skill is getting the clients signed-up at the initial free consultation. This is all he does for 5 1/2 days of the week. Then all the legal work is farmed out to associates. Might some part of this idea be worth pursuing. The traditional strengths of a good practitioner I don’t think generally include sales and yet aren’t most small firm lawyers doing both: sales and practice. Maybe there’s a better way? I know selling isn’t my strength.

Second, the use of multiple law firms for marketing purposes. Essentially this guy had a firm with his name and then another called something like the National Law Firm (slightly different). And he discussed the background of the idea…he mentioned another firm that did sort of high end legal work for a state’s governor and then the “same” firm had another storefront firm for the “average Joe” clients. All you need is one a separate phone number and perhaps a Website. Maybe you have your name firm and then others with practice areas in the title or geographic locations.

A little good marketing will seriously separate you from 95% of lawyers out there.

Yeah so that posting is from our Firm…real funny.

Serious thought though, why are so many firms listing jobs in the Law Bulletin and not simply using the free career bulletins at local law schools?

Saw this job posting for a distinguished Chicago law firm:

A growing, Chicago-based solo specializing in family and elder law seeks a new attorney for court coverage and occasional project work. Great opportunity for a new attorney going into solo practice. Willing to mentor and provide office space for client meetings. Of Counsel or partnership opportunities considered. Please send resumes to Peter Olson (petero@olsonlawfirm.net) if interested.