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Fear of going solo
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:17 PM Author: Crawly marvelous liquid oxygen Is this irrational? Is being successful merely a function of being somewhat outgoing, knowing the law / being a decent atty, and having a good work ethic? Why do people like me always fear falling flat on our asses and not bringing in a single case? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705492) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:20 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set I'm going through the exact same thing as you brother (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705522) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:13 AM Author: exciting light electric furnace My friend from law school is a shitlawyer. He's not a solo because he has built up his firm but he is making over a million a year. The most important aspect is to exude confidence, and to have people skills. He's also a good lawyer, but those are a dime a dozen. You need to like talking to people, get to know them and their needs, and position yourself to satisfy them. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34708795) |
Date: November 16th, 2017 10:19 PM Author: Dashing institution In any case, if you are going to start a business, why not do something that can actually scale without regard for # of hours spent on it. If I were going to start my own business, it's not gonna be a law firm. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705508) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 11:28 PM Author: Exhilarant pale regret sanctuary Why can't you scale a law business? for example. don't most V10 law firms have 10+ offices? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34706209) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 9:00 AM Author: irradiated bat-shit-crazy national security agency area (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34708249) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:19 PM Author: mauve kink-friendly corner goal in life My fear is fucking up. Being completely lost in litigation, research,,etc. filing a lawsuit and missing key claims,etc. not having someone looking over my shoulder. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705510) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:20 PM Author: Dashing institution That's your fear? My fear would be making enough $. If you aren't a completely incompetent lazy POS you are already better than 90% of the type of lawyers that your clients would be hiring anyway. The question is whether your effort is spent in a better way (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705524) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 9:02 AM Author: irradiated bat-shit-crazy national security agency area (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34708255) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 9:43 AM Author: Trip bronze new version shitlib You keep whining about this and I am telling you this is literally the *last* thing to be worried about. You know what you're doing and your boomer bosses are not the ubergeniuses you think they are. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34708562) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:44 AM Author: irradiated bat-shit-crazy national security agency area (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34709052) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 1:23 PM Author: soul-stirring bawdyhouse psychic b-but they are the wind beneath my wings! (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34710211) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:26 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set Everyone here is savaging me for not immediately quitting my job and taking CSLGs offer but here are my concerns:
1. Not having money to pay rent 2. Not having money to finance cases (even filing fees) 3. Never bringing in my own cases. 4. Letting down my family that relies on me to bring income in. 5. Having to pathetically crawl back to an ID job after failure.
I can be social while I'm at work but I'm generally a withdrawn dude at the end of the day. My health insurance benefits (my employer covers me and my wife) are worth a pretty significant amount and I get life insurance dental 401k etc all covered. |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:27 PM Author: Dashing institution Didn't he offer to give you $25k upfront? I didn't read much but I read one thread that claimed that. That should cover your living expenses for a couple months at least. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705613) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:29 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set Yes but in defending these cases I constantly drop 10-20k of my carriers money defending them. I have fear of convincing my client to take less than what the case is worth to avoid paying filing fees and serving the defendants etc. I have fear that I won't be able to bring in any cases outside of referrals from CSLG (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705633) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:32 PM Author: Dashing institution There's always ways to rationalize taking settlements before incurring costs. Just run a cheap ship. I'm sure if you got a legit big $ case you could find a way to handle it (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705685) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:36 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set My #1 fear is not being able to generate my own business (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705718) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:37 PM Author: Dashing institution I thought you said this guy guaranteed a shitload of referrals? If that's the case you could probably make what you are making now but being your own boss just on his referrals (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705732) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:40 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set I'd probably need to make 150k just to break even with expenses (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705764) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:47 PM Author: Salmon Fighting Plaza there’s no way you’d have 150k annual expenses. have you looked at his p&l? his costs run nowhere near that (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705832) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:48 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set I mean I'd need to get 150k in fees just to make the 100k I make now
Including health insurance filing fees bar fees etc |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:52 PM Author: Salmon Fighting Plaza that’s like 5 settlements. he offered to give you 15-20 referrals immediately iirc. or unlimited if you give him 25% of your fees? he didn’t offer to set me up with anything near that good.
seems like your biggest issue is providing for your family for a year or so before those fees hit your checking account. I was in a similarly tough situation |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:54 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set Why won't u tell me what u do brother (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705898) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:56 PM Author: Salmon Fighting Plaza I don’t want to be outted man. that WLMAS freak was building a dossier on me, and the TT fan club also wants to see me ruined (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705913) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:57 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705930) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:58 PM Author: Salmon Fighting Plaza (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705939) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:59 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705946) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:59 PM Author: Salmon Fighting Plaza (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705951) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 11:00 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705956) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 11:08 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set Are you a gamer (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34706022) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 11:09 PM Author: Salmon Fighting Plaza (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34706031) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 11:11 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34706054) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 11:12 PM Author: Salmon Fighting Plaza nah (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34706065) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 11:12 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set Ok then I don't know u irl (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34706074) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 11:19 PM Author: Salmon Fighting Plaza I would never accept that little pay to be a shitlawyer (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34706129) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 11:21 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set Do you work in law (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34706140) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:58 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705936) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 9:14 AM Author: irradiated bat-shit-crazy national security agency area (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34708336) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 1:41 AM Author: Chest-beating lettuce By the time you need to drop any real money on a case you will have settled a ton in pre-lit and built up a warchest. Plus I can help you with costs if the case is a good one. If it is a huge case you can just refer it out to Alder, Panish or CZR. They do 50/50 and pay all costs. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34707084) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:28 PM Author: Salmon Fighting Plaza honestly I wouldn’t go solo if I were you in your shoes. not unless I could moonlight and do it on the side at first. why don’t you just switch sides to a plaintiff’s firm and make more money before trying it solo? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705620) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:31 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set I have complete control of my own cases and handle everything from start to finish without any oversight or micromanaging. Hard to give that up to work for someone. I don't need anymore experience to go solo, I can do a PI case from start to trial without any extra knowledge already.
Why didn't you go solo after meeting CSLG |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:38 PM Author: Salmon Fighting Plaza but you don’t know how to get clients, how to manage a law practice, or have enough $ to comfortably go out on your own. working on the plaintiff’s side, even for an employer, sounds better than defense-side money
I don’t have a network of care providers set up like he does, didn’t understand how the lien thing worked, and was scared of all the upfront costs on filing fees and experts. I also live 50 miles from him and most of his referrals, and I have no clue what I’m doing in PI. if I had your skill set it’d be a lot easier. |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:40 PM Author: Dashing institution He won't learn anything working on P side. Those guys all guard their ways intensely. They'll just make him do bitch work, same as working ID but even less money. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705760) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:42 PM Author: Salmon Fighting Plaza fair enough. the whole PI racket stinks like the dumpster of a Chinese buffet. CSG is the only respectable dude I’ve met in it (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705774) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:43 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705782) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 10:50 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705860) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 12:41 AM Author: Exhilarant pale regret sanctuary What makes you think this? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34706755) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 1:29 PM Author: Talking Big Heaven "Those guys all guard their ways intensely."
What "ways" are they guarding? |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 1:30 PM Author: Trip bronze new version shitlib He spouting bullshit out of his ass as usual. I found solos are much more generous to younger lawyers then the fence guys are (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34710285) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 11:09 PM Author: Vivacious Fluffy Whorehouse Have you put away savings that can cover 6 months of bare bones stuff? In a dire emergency (e.g., you cant afford food), you could probably tap a 401k, no? If decent savings, I wouldn't worry too much.
#4 is legit if you have young kids or relatives who are relying on you, e.g., a kid who needs food, clothes, etc. or an older, sick relative. That you have to evaluate for yourself. If just a wife, seems minor.
#5 is, IMO a lot of people's worry in these kinds of situations. You're basically putting yourself out there to fail (and people will notice) rather than hiding behind a safe, respectable job. But I suspect you can recover eventually if it flops, and you'll have at least tried. |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 11:18 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set I don't have decent savings
26k in credit lines and 10k in the bank and like 5k in 401k |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:32 AM Author: Iridescent Mentally Impaired Stead Seems like you are living far beyond your means unless you just graduated from LS (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34708933) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 1:34 PM Author: Chest-beating lettuce How do you only have 5K in 401K? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34710328) |
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Date: November 18th, 2017 12:23 AM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set I've job hopped a lot look at my LinkedIn (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34714927) |
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Date: November 16th, 2017 11:01 PM Author: brilliant bateful hell pistol Healthy dose of fear is legit. Pro tip: Double your hourly rate for any phone calls outside of normal business hours. Do not let them send emergent business by email at night or on weekends, clients have a duty to communicate with you effectively and you cannot guarantee an email response outside of normal business hours. If the client needs an emergent response (e.g., every freaking domestic kid swap) and they call you, they’re paying double. Remember this and you may keep some sanity. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34705969) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 1:45 AM Author: Chest-beating lettuce Chandler, do you want me to get you a job at a plaintiff's firm? My cousin is going to be the president of CAALA. I can get you a good plaintiff's side job so you can start building up some relationships. If you are actually interested let me know I can put out some feelers. I already have your real info so I can chat with some people over the weekend. Are you married to your geographic area?
You don't want to die doing ID. All the 40 year old + lawyers I know doing it want to murder themselves. |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 8:42 AM Author: Chest-beating lettuce I know you're up early... (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34708172) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:40 AM Author: chartreuse site pocket flask what time do u wake up every day bro (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34709005) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:52 AM Author: Chest-beating lettuce I get up at 5:15 everyday to hit the gym before work. On weekends I get up around 7/8am regardless of when I go to sleep. I usually am up until 11 or 12 on weekdays and weekends 1 or 2. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34709126) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:54 AM Author: chartreuse site pocket flask impressive (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34709137) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 3:30 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set My trial got kicked because the other trial before it went long.
FML |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 3:31 PM Author: mauve kink-friendly corner goal in life that's the worst. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34711356) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 3:58 PM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set Who is your cousin? Is he a solo or in a well known firm?
I'm not sure I could give up my current autonomy to be another cog in a plaintiffs firm.
My #1 concern by far is money however, but I also value autonomy and not being micromanaged. The solo offer is something my heart wants to do but my brain is telling me I don't have financial security to take such a risk.
I like where I live but obviously would never afford a house here working ID.
I agree with you about 40 year old ID attorneys |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:09 AM Author: avocado aromatic market I barely know the law and I'm a shitty attorney. I hate paying attention to detail, have no attention span for reading long, boring documents or cases, and hate arguing. I hate everything about law.
I'm outgoing, smart enough, and work hard.
Going to make around $225k net this year as a solo. Not sure if that counts as successful or not since I could make more in BIGLAW, but when I left biglaw the options were either leave law entirely or try and be a solo. |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:19 AM Author: Trip bronze new version shitlib I would love to know how you do it. Everyone on xo makes running your own firm and making $ look so easy. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34708832) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:44 AM Author: irradiated bat-shit-crazy national security agency area (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34709048) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:35 AM Author: Chest-beating lettuce Congrats man. Sounds like you are killing it. Big law isn't a measure of success. Being a bitch for some at 35 for 300K is not success. How are you enjoying solo life? Practice area? How long have you been solo? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34708959) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:47 AM Author: avocado aromatic market You're really the one killing it. I'm definitely jealous.
I enjoy solo life in that I'm my own boss and don't need to be a bitch for anyone else. I firmly believe that no self-respecting adult man should be subservient to some other man. However I work like 60 hours most weeks because my practice area is a high volume pseudo-litigation area (immigration, BK, disability, etc). The problem is I'm really hitting a ceiling at 225-250k. I really wish I had learned PI and done that instead.
Either way, I'm saving money and hope to invest it well so in 5-6 years I can just practice part-time as a solo, which would be 180000. |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:52 AM Author: Chest-beating lettuce You can always integrate PI into your practice or another contingency area like employment or class actions. There is no reason why you can't take on those cases slowly without hurting your existing practice. I did literally everything under the sun when I started and every month that went by had a higher % of cases in contingency fees.
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Date: November 17th, 2017 1:09 PM Author: Trip bronze new version shitlib Aren't those practices where you can pawn off a lot of paperwork on a paralegal? Or some bill by the hour associate on the Mom track you can lowball. $225k seems past the point where it makes sense to hire someone (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34710084) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:42 AM Author: chartreuse site pocket flask (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34709021) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 10:43 AM Author: pearly love of her life codepig It should only be a fear if you're 1) Not confident in your abilities; 2) Have a family to support and may not make more than $25k the first year. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34709046) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 3:38 PM Author: Sable brethren kitty (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34711430) |
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Date: November 17th, 2017 3:43 PM Author: heady apoplectic foreskin (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34711482) |
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Date: November 18th, 2017 12:18 AM Author: Maroon glittery generalized bond set (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3799949&forum_id=2#34714913) |