Again With the Management Software

I don't know a lot about other practice management programs, since I'm relatively satisfied with PracticeMaster from Tabs3.

However, I'm grateful to have the software because of its robust ability to control finite aspects of my law practice. I've already extolled the virtues of practice management software, and would encourage you to implement some program into your law practice.

Here's some of the benefits I find with my software:

1. Ability to integrate with calendaring & email programs (Outlook)

2. Ability to docket and schedule tasks, chores and meetings for cases

3. Ability to control and manage cases and case flow

4. Ability to manage massive amounts of information

I was talking to a colleague today about PM, and I showed him some of the benefits. He was impressed by the grand options PM gives.

If you're not using a practice management system, it's time to invest.

Check this Out

One of the great things about blogging is being able to help others out with meaningful links, this includes other bloggers.

Recently, I came across a blog called Student 2 Solo. The blog is published by a young (time, not age) attorney named Joseph Brown. I've never met Joseph, nor have I received compensation to talk about him.

What I have received, is an enjoyable, albeit small, number of blog posts, about starting and running a solo law practice. I would suggest you add his blog to your reader.

Kudos to Joseph for his work, and I wish him success in the virtual and real worlds.

Why Don't Law Schools Care About Solos?

The Legal Skills Prof Blog has two (here and here) great stories updating the world on programs that two law schools are implementing/have implemented to help students and new grads wishing to enter solo practice. These are great projects, and should receive tremendous support from alumni and the schools.

My first question then after reading about these programs, is why don't more schools have these types of programs for their students. After all, by some estimates, 26 percent of lawyers are either employed in solo or small firm practice. That's a pretty significant number of the graduating class that's working alone or in another small firm (i.e. 1 in 4 gradutates).

So, why don't schools do more?

First, I know believe schools cater to BigLaw. All Most of the professors and law school deans "practiced" in BigLaw firms. There's the "cultivate" BigLaw lawyers mentality that is permeating through the law schools. Law schools like their alumnae pedigree to read like a "who's who" of law firms, rather than a smattering of "Law offices of John Doe, esq."

Second, many, if not all, older lawyers believe that you cannot or should not, start your own law firm straight out of law school. "With so many 'pitfalls' to cause you problems" they'll tell you, "you must gain experience at a firm." The simple truth is, lawyering isn't rocket science with traumatic consequences for minor miscalculations. The problem is, many young lawyers, especially those entering solo/small firm practice, have to juggle business management and legal management requirements without substantial training in either field. 

Note too, the first and second reasons also contain the often thought, but rarely quoted reason of, "why would anybody really want to open their own law firm?"

Third, there's rarely faculty in the law school who have access/knowledge to supervise/mentor graduates in these particular programs. That means that you must dedicate funds to the solo/small firm incubator projects, and not to faculty salaries or the new law school wing. Unfortunately, too many graduates leave their schools lacking fundamental skills that will make them effective attorneys (e.g. what a Complaint looks like, and how to file it in District Court). When schools attempt to "teach" legal practice skills, they often screw it up.

For instance, in my third year of Tier 3 law school, I took a course designed to introduce students to "legal practice" in a small firm, taught by two professors, one of which is a partner of one of the biggest firms in OKC, and the other is a federal court law clerk. My first thought was "what will these two teach me about solo/small firm practice?" From day 1, I set my expectations low.

The problem with my law school's philosophy was that these individuals would have a pulse on the small firm/solo concerns. Clearly, neither professor did, and that drastically affected the outcome and negated any benefits of the class. Other classmates expressed a similar disappointment.

One counterpoint many schools offer is that they provide legal clinics to help "cultivate" and "enrich" their students' learning. These clinics give students hands-on experience with representing and assisting under-served portions of the community. In truth however, these courses are limited to a minor amount of students.

Fourth, money is the root of all "evil." Unfortunately for many solo/small firms, the amounts their owners and members contribute back to their schools pales in comparison to their BigLaw counterparts (I guess we're too busy providing reasonably priced legal services than exorbitant hourly rates). It's easy to feed the BigLaw beast where the little mouse barely squeaks. Perhaps is solo and small firm attorneys put more pressure on their law schools to provide "incubator" programs, the schools would more reasonably respond.

Fifth, state bar associations often fail to address these similar needs. With so many additional needs of the state bar, addressing particular concerns like these on a single, case-by-case basis is too much. While many bar associations, including Oklahoma, have commendable practice assistance programs, there's still too great of a disconnect between the legal education and actual legal practice.

Solo and small firm practices provide a great resource to communities to help provide individual and low-cost legal representation. It's important to provide these lawyers and firms with the skills and resources necessary to tackle their problems.