Solo In Chicago…Grow Your Practice!

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Y.M.C.A. It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A. They have everything For young men to enjoy. You can hang out with all the boys…” Hey don’t kid yourself, I own a copy of the Village People’s Greatest Hits and I’m a member of my local Y.M.C.A. branch. But that’s for another blog…

So I was doing my weekly lap swim and as I passed a racquetball court lo-and-behold on its wall was a law firm advertisement. Olson, Olson and Olson, P.C., Peter Olson’s a YMCA member…that’s sort of how it read. Good use of marketing dollars?

Not really commenting specifically on the “Y”, I think niche, smallish non-profits (often a lot smaller than a YMCA branch) can provide cost effective marketing opportunities for lawyers. Our firm used to run an ad in a local catholic church bulletin, I think the cost was like $100 for the entire year. All the local service groups (Rotary, Kiwanis, Optomist, ect.) and chambers of commerce have their newsletters and golf outing sponsorships. Be creative in finding an effective way to find this niche…it’s there and often it’s CHEAP!

I acknowledge up front I’m a political junkie with a “problem,” but putting on my pure attorney-at-law hat for a while, isn’t it a bit concerning the lack of scrutiny that’s been given to the State’s Attorney race here in Cook/Chicago??

At the pure citizen/taxpayer level, at stake is an office with a $100 million budget, more than 900 lawyers and the authority to launch investigations, issue subpoenas and convene grand juries. Size and stature make the post one of the highest-profile political jobs in Illinois. But beyond that as lawyers so many of us are having daily contact with the SAO. Obviously if you’re doing any criminal work the SAO is the Plaintiff in every case. Even on the traffic tickets…they’re on the other side. As a domestic relations attorney I’m often facing assistant state’s attorneys representing the IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services in child support collection matters.

Here’s a decent overview piece. All that to say that if you’re a practicing lawyer in Cook County I doubt there’s a more important race on the 2/5 ballot…all apologies to our favorite Park Ridge native.

We previously blogged here on these indigent contempt of court cases in Cook County. It’s unique when your client approaches the bench in Cook County Jail garb in handcuffs (I don’t do criminal so this is about the only scenario where I see this). So by way of a little follow-up, I got appointed to my first case this week. I was beginning to wonder if the program was worthless…I’d been the “on-call” lawyer for one week per month over the last 3-4 months and hadn’t gotten any calls. I guess all the deadbeats out there suddenly got current on their support and no contempt proceedings were pending (yeah, likely story).

Just thought I’d post an update…because this program is a viable business source for solo/small firm folks. I hope the head judge of the domestic relations division publicizes it a little better. I’m told by a lawyer who has been in the program much longer than me that the procedures that judges use to appoint lawyers just recently changed dramatically and apparently everyone is not clued in yet. Even if you/I don’t get appointed much I’ll say this, the 3/4 hour training for the program and the materials you receive in themselves are worth it.

Yep I think that’s called litigation run amok or is it the ACLU again? But I digress…so a transgender woman was denied her rule 298 fee waiver for a name change and now she’s appealing to the IL Supreme Court. The IL Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/5‑105) and Supreme Court Rule 298 control the petitions to sue/defend as an indigent person. Sort of interesting; frivolous, but interesting.

I think it’s essentially the judges discretion as to what is/isn’t “indigent.” I was surprised on the only 298 petition I’ve ever filed on behalf of a pro bono, disabled client that the judge in my particular case didn’t allow the fee waiver. The woman has MS and is severely disabled. We only got a three-month fee “delay.” Perhaps I should have filed my Notice of Appeal.

of all? Hmmm…well I don’t know. But it does matter according to a new study entitled Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: The Effect of Time Spent Grooming on Wages. Here’s an overview article. It turns out that particularly w/ men that those who invest time/effort in their appearance earn more.

No guarantees from the management and I don’t know much about this but a free offer to Law Firm, Inc. dropped into my inbox the other day. Granted it can’t replace this blog…but every bit helps and it’s FREE!!

An interesting overview of the workings of a two-income family where both spouses work from the home office (2 separate home offices really). I’m not quite at that level although Mr. Third Wave may be. Some funny interplay over the course of the day…hey but mom meets the bus at 2:30pm everyday.

Here’s a free eBook download available entitled, Litigating International Child Abduction Cases Under the Hague Convention. I know we get the multi-state cases quite regularly…I imagine the international disputes aren’t far behind.

I didn’t until I did a smidgen of research. Saw this where a Milwaukee lawyer almost went to the pokey for violating the court’s neck-tie requirement. An ascot is NOT a neck-tie…at least not in Milwaukee. I for one have appeared in court without a tie or an ascot without much ado.

“I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today…”

Alright, although I do appreciate rhetorical splendor the point of the post isn’t really to celebrate MLK Day. I’m serious I got this glossy, cool card from a Chicago lawyer colleague (and I’m sure I’m not the only one getting it) that has some high-minded quotes celebrating diversity. Then it also lists various diversity-oriented charities that this particular law firm supports. Interesting marketing tool, eh?

I recall Keith Farrazzi in his book Never Eat Alone mentioning that he sent cards/gifts on peoples birthdays.

I think the key is differentiating yourself. Many, many businesses send out holiday cards in December. I couldn’t tell you who we received a holiday card from. I’m going to remember my MLK Day card sender!