Taking a Risk in Plain View
Sherrie Sisk’s guest post at Susan Carter Liebel’s blog, Build a Solo Practice, LLC, spoke to me. We’re talking, “Girlfriend, I’m talking to you.”
Sherrie’s conflicted feelings about starting a solo law practice were met by the sound of her own voice beckoning. “Yes, but … I really, really want this.” And Sherrie responded with the courage it takes to say, “Yes, I can do this. Yes, I trust myself.”
I’m on the same journey, but hell, I’m bringing up the rear. We’re talking the dust at the end of the rear. We’re talking layers, nay years of layers, of dust in the neurotransmitters.
Yet in the corners lives Crotchety Old Lady with a bony finger. And she’s poking me in all manner of bodily places, but usually at about rib number seven. “Come on, honey, do it! Whaddya waiting for? Whaddya want, a formal invitation?”
Well, a lot less debt and The Teenagers’ college paid for would be nice. A fully-equipped office with a “serenity” decor would be peachy. As would a full appointment book, intact client list and six months’ worth of overhead in the bank.
The Crotchety One and her bony finger have a good snort and guffaw. And the pokes continue. This is making it increasingly difficult to sleep or have a decent cup of morning java.
The more I resist the risk, the harder the bony finger pokes. If I’m looking for divine guidance, I think it’s been here awhile. Damn, that rib is getting sore.
April 9th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Sandy, you and Sherrie share a terrific writing style and an awesome sense of humor. That being said, isn’t it time you listened to that bony finger?
April 9th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Hang in there Sandy. It is a process and it can take as long as you’d like it to. When the time comes you’ll know and you’ll have the support, resources and opportunity to get back at. Good luck and I’ll be following your journey.
Solo
April 9th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Have you considered going virtual?
The real income question is overhead, not really gross.
I haven’t done this, and probably won’t completely. It doesn’t suit my style, but there there are beginning to be a lot of lawyers who don’t maintain a real office, whose fax machine is an Internet-based fax service, whose files are all electronic.
I’ve done the electronic file thing. I haven’t opened a paper file since August. You buy a fast, scanner with a full-license to Adobe Acrobat. Put two monitors on your desktop or docking station for your laptop, and you can view documents on one monitor and work on the other.
Set up an arrangement with a local executive suite to rent access to their conference room. Go to your clients’ offices whenever feasible. Use your existing cell phone with a high minutes package — still cheaper than an office phone which will be easily twice what you pay for a residential land line.
No rent, no phone, no employees. You don’t have to make a lot. it can work, and there are any number of ways of making it work. I have a physical office and an office phone I would *love* to get rid of, but I have no employees. No payroll to make, no withholding taxes. Just me.
Elaine Dowling
Oklahoma City, OK
April 10th, 2007 at 6:32 am
Thank you all for your wisdom and encouragement! I never cease to be amazed at the angels in the law.
April 11th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
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October 22nd, 2007 at 8:13 am
[…] The Crotchety Old Lady and I have been going at it the past several months about this whole solo law thing. She poked. I ignored. She prodded. I told her she was a few shots shy of a decent mega latte. […]
March 21st, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Suicide with soma….
Soma online sales….