Solo Practice University® Guest Lectures

As a new lawyer one of the most daunting tasks is setting fees for your services.  Many lawyers won’t tell you why they charge what they charge when asked. Every jurisdiction has a different idea of ‘reasonable and customary’. If too many lawyers discuss their fees the bar will sometimes fear antitrust issues. Seriously.  Plus, […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Ever wonder how a solo can represent like the Big Dogs?  We asked Carolyn Elefant, a sole practitioner who is currently working on a potentially precedent setting case which even she admits would not have been possible just seven or eight years ago.  The reason it’s now doable is the ability of the solo to […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

When I first read and listened to Katie and Amanda’s interview in Crain’s 20 in their 20s I was intrigued.  So, I contacted them and asked them to share their story with Solo Practice University. Here are two exceptional new lawyers committed to representing those charged with or convicted of crimes.  They are also passionate […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

You want to be that remote lawyer, the one who had an office in downtown Boston when the Marathon bombings rocked our world but didn’t have to miss a day of work because she had full access to her entire desktop from a remote location. You want to be that lawyer who can conduct business […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

I first met Tyler Coulson in April, 2013 when we both spoke at Catapult2013 in San Francisco.  He is both smart and funny but most interesting to me is here is a man who went the BigLaw route, left voluntarily after 2 1/2 years and then in March, 2011 embarked on an 8 month walk-a-thon […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Well, it got your attention didn’t it? The broader question is how do you effectively communicate with your clients before, during and after representation.  This is a huge area to cover from a marketing perspective, your ethical obligations, and technological challenges.  It’s even bigger when you consider you are a solo/small firm practitioner. But Jared and […] Written by Susa...

In January of this year while presenting a the Maine Bar Association Mid-Year Meeting, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Nicole Bradick, the founder and President of Custom Counsel, LLC. What struck me about what Nicole is doing is it represents a 100% win for solos.  There is absolutely no downside. Truly, a 100% win for […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Jared receives countless questions from new solo lawyers and solos who have been in practice for decades but need advice on law practice management. We like to ask Jared what’s on lawyers’ minds as we have several times before. In Jared’s newest guest lecture, we follow up on his previous guest lecture, You Know Everything […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Ryan McKeen of the McKeen Law Firm shares his experiences building a 21st century practice. After seven years with his previous law firm, Ryan struck out to take on new challenges. While those seven years at his previous firm were great when it came to learning the law one thing struck Ryan. When he started […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

“Being a wizard on your computer or being able to put together amazing projects on Garage Band does not mean you can ethically or responsibly handle e-discovery.” Every lawyer needs to understand what e-discovery is and the process of e-discovery, or increasingly risk exposure to malpractice for failure to do due diligence for your client. This […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Everyone dies.  Often unexpectedly. But there is power in dead hands.  We are the country with the greatest control of our assets after death.  However, most never consider, let alone manage, their digital legacy.  How do we handle, bequeath (or destroy), our digital immortality from medical information to our life story on facebook?  This is […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Jared receives countless questions from new solo lawyers and solos who have been in practice for decades but need advice on law practice management. We like to ask Jared what’s on lawyers’ minds as we have several times before.  This time, it’s social media.  Yes, I know you think you know everything there IS to […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Jared receives countless questions from new solo lawyers and solos who have been in practice for decades but need advice on law practice management. We like to ask Jared what it is on lawyers’ minds and (no) surprise…it’s technology, cloud securiy, google, and law practice management software. However, you might be very surprised by what […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

New Solo FAQs with Jared Correia Often times new solos are afraid to publicly ask the important questions about starting a solo practice because they are concerned others will mock them for not knowing what is often considered basic. Jared Correia hears these questions all day long, often times two and three times in the […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Social Media is amazing for meeting fascinating people.  Over these past few years I’ve had the opportunity to connect with Omar Ha-Redeye through our mutual blogging and then increasingly through Twitter.  Omar and I recently went from online to offline and got to know each other a little better. It was then I learned of  […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Daniel Gershburg is a bankruptcy and real estate lawyer practicing in New York. He will teach a course about bankruptcy law at Solo Practice University®. SPU’s newest faculty member and I discussed the changes in the bankruptcy laws and how they will be affecting your clients and your practice. If you haven’t met Daniel Gershburg […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

During his 20 years in private practice as a solo, Spencer Aronfeld has enjoyed powerful courtroom victories over Walt Disney World, Wild Oats, P.A.C. Construction, Fedan Tire, and Todel Apartments and has gained international recognition as a lawyer for the people. One of the reasons I LOVE doing these Savvy Solos interviews is I get […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Lurie Daniel-Favors is a consumer rights and bankruptcy attorney in New York. She is the founder of Daniel Favors Law Group P.C. On June 1, 2011 Lurie celebrated her second anniversary as a solo, just 2 1/2 months after enrolling at SPU on the very first day SPU opened (she has said we’ll never get […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Attorney Jennifer Laviano is in private practice in Connecticut. She teaches a course entitled “Introduction to Special Education Law” at Solo Practice University®. Jennifer and I had an animated discussion about the good, the bad, and the ugly of special education law and she identified two trends. The bad: Learn about how the 2004 reauthorization […] Written by Susan Cartier Li...

Ronald J. Baker is an author and speaker with the mission, “To, once and for all, bury the billable hour and timesheets in the professions.” He teaches a course called “Value Pricing for the Legal Profession” at Solo Practice University®. Talking with Ron is like getting a masters class in economics.  With more than eight […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Christopher G. Hill is a construction lawyer in Virginia. He teaches about effective risk management, collection and contract drafting techniques for construction professionals, along with some practice-building advice, at Solo Practice University®. Chris and I talked a couple of months ago about what is new in the construction law practice area so for those interested […] Written by Susan C...

Katherine Frye is a North Carolina attorney and board certified specialist in Family Law. She teaches a course called “Child Custody: Start to finish…is there an end?” at Solo Practice University®. Katherine and I talked at length about the following: Technology and Family Law The impact of Facebook & other social media on the demise […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Judy Young is a talented and accomplished corporate law attorney with tested expertise in commercial transactions, intellectual property contracts, commercial and business litigation, licensing and distribution, labor and employment law, negotiation, arbitration, dispute resolution, and other fields directly relevant to her counsel for the winery and hospitality industries. Judy and I discussed he...

Hollee S. Temple is a journalist-turned-lawyer-turned-professor at West Virginia University College of Law and co-author of the book, Good Enough is the New Perfect. Hollee and I had a terrific conversation about the challenges facing professional women when it comes to working and raising a family. This book is not the same old saw about […] Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

D. Todd Smith is a certified specialist in civil appellate law. He teaches a course about appellate practice and procedure at Solo Practice University®. This interview is approximately 52 minutes. Listen directly below. http://spucdn.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/dtoddsmith-mar11-2011.mp3Download (.MP3) Todd and I enjoyed nearly an hour of discussion on what is new in appellate practice and procedur...