Hot Take: Starting your own solo practice with less than 5 years experience is malpractice.

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So is letting a 5th year BigLaw associate talk to a client solo, but that still happens…

likefunny

As one of those associates… please don’t make me do all this alone, I need an adult!

likefunny

Look it's cool on paper but most of the time when I encounter these solo practitioners on the other side of a dispute, they have no idea what they are doing. I find myself gently teaching them the law via correspondence.

likehelpful

I have a friend who actually went solo right out of law school. Practiced with a friend for a few months, not even a year and has been doing exceptionally well. Probably doing over $230k a year.

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No doubt it can be lucrative, but that doesn’t make it any less risky.

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Depends.

likefunny

This is the commercial for Depends. Personally, working as solo with under 3 years experience would have resulted in exhaustion/confusion/and likely a malpractice claim. But I have law school colleagues who went solo immediately and have been growing and grievance free since then. I wouldn’t discourage anyone from starting up shop if there is a specific area of law suited to him/her and he/she will be competent and diligent in the matters accepted. Fortune favors the bold (or “brave,” if you are the Matt Damon crypto commercial that’s been running).

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What about making partner after 5.5 years?

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Kirkland, is that you?

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Yes. It’s like letting a baby drive

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Hang a shingle, buy insurance.

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likehelpfulfunny

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