Your Pedigree -- What It's Good for, and What It Isn't

I like to make fun of lawyers who went to big-time law schools, mostly because (1) I did not, and therefore probably have a chip on my shoulder I am unwilling to admit, and (2) from what I can gather from my friends who went to schools like Cal (Boalt), Michigan, Stanford, etc., their education prepared them more for running a political campaign than practicing law. I had one colleague in a BigLaw firm who used to joke that I taught him torts, but he really wasn't stretching it too far.

Anyway, let's run down my pedigree first, so you can see that it has little to do with success or failure as a solo; at least, little to do with my success or failure as a solo. Perhaps it has greater impact for others.

In any event, this is me (again, deliberately vague to preserve my anonymity):

• Graduated from an elite undergraduate institution in the early 80s with an engineering degree.
• Took my degree and became an officer in the Marine Corps for several years.
• Got out of the USMC and did a few jobs while I applied to law school.
• Finished in the top 3% at a highly-regarded regional law school. (I don't think "highly regarded regional law school" is an oxymoron.)
• Went to work out of law school at a huge international firm (1000+ lawyers), then left for a "small" 400-lawyer firm after a few years.
• In-house general counsel for a privately held company. Then . . .
• Starving Solo.

Note that the prestigious undergrad education, top 3%, prestigious "ticket punching" law firms, and responsibility for all legal matters of a substantial privately held company all amounted to a hill of beans when it came time to go solo, because (1) none of these things taught me anything about how to do it, and (2) there was no way for me to I couldn't figure out how to parlay these credentials in the solo world.

As far as using this background in my marketing, it may have actually hurt me. You see, I was in BigLaw in some big cities. I now live in a much less urban area about an hour and a half outside the nearest large city, and I don't think the lawyers around here think too much of those kind of firms. Which doesn't exactly increase the odds of referrals. And clients -- at least real people -- really couldn't care less where you went to school.

This is Harder than I Thought

I'm not talking about launching and sustaining a solo practice. I'm talking about blogging about my turnaround efforts while still maintaining my anonymity.

To describe my efforts with any specificity would probably give away my area of practice. Combined with the fact that I have a professional blog addressing that area of practice, finding out my area of practice would allow one to substantially narrow the field of who The Starving Solo really is.

As if you care. As if there are thousands of people are out there figuring out how to unmask me.

Anyway, I badly want to blog about some recent efforts that may bear fruit, but the actual posts have to wait until I figure the best way to post without risking my unmasking.

Thanks for the Well Wishes

This blog hasn't attracted many readers, but I have received very nice comments and/or e-mails from several people, including a few bloggers on my "Solos Doing It Right" blogroll. All have wished me well in turning around my practice, and I am very grateful for their thoughts.

I had been a little worried that people who saw this blog might think it is satire or write it off as the rantings of a bitter failure, but these comments tell me it is being received as I intended: serious reflections from a solo who has tried hard yet finds himself on the brink of failure.

So thanks for the well wishes, everyone, and know that you have mine, as well.

This is obviously not the job for me.

I'm not talking about the one I have now. I'm talking about the one that San Diego law firm Scholefield & Associates, a boutique construction law firm, is trying to fill.

They're looking for an associate to do client development, and just client development. They're not even looking for an experienced attorney. A brand new lawyer who might have more fun schmoozing potential clients instead of actually practicing law is just what they're looking for.

An excerpt from their website:

You will join and actively participate in client trade groups. This may involve securing speaking engagements for firm attorneys. You can expect to represent the firm in client events such as

• Monthly meetings
• Fundraisers
• Golf tournaments
• Trade group dinners
• Trade group social functions
• Skeet and trap shooting events
• Educational seminars, etc.

A good golf game is a plus, as is an interest in outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting or motorcycles. You will be spending some time outside of the office, including some evenings and weekends attending and participating in client and trade group events. No extended out of the area travel is expected. Unlike a conventional associate position, your job performance will NOT be based on billable hours. You will be measured on your ability to effectively introduce our firm's services to key clients. This is a challenging opportunity for the right person. You will find that this position is unique to the law firm business model. [My emphasis.]

Unique, indeed! Leave it to California, eh?

Oh, and that $100,000 you spent on law school? Well, it won't go to waste. Again, from their website:

You will not let your law school education go to waste as you must be admitted to practice in California, and may be expected to advise clients and attend hearings.

Cool.

Hey, you know, I could use one of these guys. If I had money to hire one, I'd consider it!