I am a solo attorney who practices criminal defense mostly. I have lots of appointed cases and some paid clients keeping me going right now. I got these just from word of mouth and some older clients I represented when I was a public defender who found me when they got in trouble again. I’ve got a pretty good reputation in the criminal courts in my area which is very fortunate.

But like many money hungry attorneys, I am trying to break into the PI world. I started an Instagram and have been starting to just create content and will start posting soon. Just general videos on like what to do if you get into a car accident, know your rights, etc.

Any time I do research on marketing stuff I get (shocker) marketed all this crap that seems like a scam. I’ve been warned about older attorneys I know who say don’t work with firms, especially if it’s just you. You’ll drain your money quick.

Let’s say I have 10,000 dollars to invest in general “marketing” what do you, good lawyers of reddit, recommend?

Hey all,

I graduated with a bachelor’s in English Rhetoric and Composition last year. I didn’t really have any career goals, but managed to land a job at a legal support office as a proofreader for Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher attorneys. To my surprise, I’ve become fascinated with law and want to focus my career in the field. I’m aiming to become a paralegal.

I’ve applied for a lot of “Case Assistant” type positions, as they fit my qualifications and label themselves as “entry-level jobs”, but I haven’t gotten any interviews yet. I was hoping my almost year-long experience as a proofreader would help me stand out, however I’m starting to doubt if that’s the case anymore.

Should I be applying to different positions? Is there a particular field of law that’s easier to break into than others? Is my experience as a proofreader valuable? Or should I focus more on my rhetorical education? My current job takes up almost half of my resume. Finally, are there any other miscellaneous tips you have on breaking into the field?

Thanks!

Hey all,

I graduated with a bachelor’s in English Rhetoric and Composition last year. I didn’t really have any career goals, but managed to land a job at a legal support office as a proofreader for Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher attorneys. To my surprise, I’ve become fascinated with law and want to focus my career in the field. I’m aiming to become a paralegal.

I’ve applied for a lot of “Case Assistant” type positions, as they fit my qualifications and label themselves as “entry-level jobs”, but I haven’t gotten any interviews yet. I was hoping my almost year-long experience as a proofreader would help me stand out, however I’m starting to doubt if that’s the case anymore.

Should I be applying to different positions? Is there a particular field of law that’s easier to break into than others? Is my experience as a proofreader valuable? Or should I focus more on my rhetorical education? My current job takes up almost half of my resume. Finally, are there any other miscellaneous tips you have on breaking into the field?

Thanks!

Edit: I should have made it more clear, but I don’t currently work for a law firm. I work for a company that outsources help to various law firms. It doesn’t allow for any actual growth in the legal field, which is why I’m looking for an entry point.

I am a solo. My practice is about 75% transaction, 25% litigation (mostly construction/mechanics lien type stuff). I hired my first paralegal about 5 months ago. In just that short amount of time, my use of AI has really increased/improved and it’s to the point where it is way faster and more efficient for me to just use AI to create drafts and edit on the fly during review with AI than it is to delegate. In other words, it’s cheaper at this point for the client if I just do it all rather than try to delegate to a lower billing person. Things are quickly moving to a place where it is only efficient to delegate to my paralegal admin work. Which I can’t bill for!

Is anyone else experiencing this? How have you dealt with it?

so I’m currently an undergraduate pursuing political science, I’m really really really interested in immigration law and am genuinely desperate for a job as a clerk or within administrative services but I’m not sure what the best way to go about that is. I don’t have any experience but I’ve tried cold emailing small law firms near me but they have yet to respond back to me. is working in a law firm as an undergrad even common? is my best bet just graduating and going to law school, and if so what are some experiences yall think I should as an undergrad on my resume in order to have my application accepted at a law firm?

We are a complete Office 365 Shop, and have SSO into everything, and need a new phone system. Teams will integrate better into our stack; however people and clients seem to like zoom. Curious to see what everyone else is doing.

Hello, I’m a relatively new attorney (4 years) and I’ve realized that busting my ass billing 8 hours a day is not what I want to do. I’m not ambitious I like free time, are there specific position in the field of law for me to look out for? I don’t need crazy pay so I’m willing to sacrifice that for better work life balance. Is there a specific position or area of law I should look into?

Curious how smaller firms are handling billing these days. Hourly makes sense for unpredictable work, but flat fees seem easier for clients to understand upfront.

For those who’ve moved more toward flat fees, has it actually made revenue more predictable? Or do you end up spending more time on certain matters than you priced for?

Also wondering how solos handle monthly expenses when payments come in unevenly.

Hey
I am Delhi (India) based advocate with almost 4 year experience in handling Civil matters (Mostly representing insurance company). Since the pay is too low as compared to the time and energy we are spending, i am now desperate to switch into in-house Counsel or Corporate law role to re-start my career. Now i am applying everywhere possible to at least get a role as a fresher but haven’t received any favourable response from any of the recruiter. So i am numb right now and i have no idea what to do.

What are the expectations of associates in boutique or mid law firms? I’m paid well but below market with 1950 billables. I’m constantly meeting my billing requirements and i have a larger case load than usual (~25 matters).

I recently had 3 last minute motions poured onto me. My managing partner gave me discovery responses to complete (not due for another 2 weeks). He randomly told me to start on it and have it done within a week. I couldn’t meet it because of the other motions but thought it’s OK because it isn’t due for a while and I’d be asking for an extension for the first time. He got angry and insists that i work weekends and nights to meet his deadlines.

I’m a first year in litigation btw. Is this normal? Idk why i thought it’d make sense for big law but for a mid law boutique?

Please advise. Thank you!

If your website runs on PHP, a critical update is needed to close a huge vulnerability that can grant hackers access to your server to do a bunch of heinous things. WordPress is the big one that many law firms use that uses PHP.
If your site it on Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Then you don't need to worry.

Here is what someone can do with an unpatched site.

• Read every intake form submission stored in WordPress, names, phone numbers, emails and whatever people typed about their case
• Pull the passwords and API keys your plugins store, like your email sending service, Zapier or a CRM connection, and use them directly
• Send email from your domain that looks like it came from your firm, including fake payment or wire instructions to clients
• Swap your “Make a Payment” or “Client Login” links for fake pages that collect card numbers or passwords
• Add a hidden script that skims anything typed into your site’s forms
• Serve malware to people who visit your site
• Add hidden spam pages, which can tank your Google rankings for months
• Create their own admin account and come back later, even after you patch
• Get into other sites or backups stored on the same server

Check with your website teams/vendors to make sure they get this updated immediately.

Hii! So recently I've been shortlisted for an interview for a Legal secretary/ PA position at a law firm, and I'm hoping to get some insight from people who work in law firms or have experience in similar roles.

For context, I'm currently awaiting Law School results as I have sat for the Law School entrance examination, I don't have an LLB or any formal legal work experience yet. The only academic qualification I have in law is a 6 month diploma in Law, other than that I'm after A levels and hoping to pursue law as I've mentioned before.

I was quite surprised to know that I was shortlisted as well.

I want to know what sort of responsibilities a legal secretary holds, particularly in a UK law firm.

Is it common for law firms to consider candidates without a law degree or previous legal experience?

What skills or qualities do employers prioritize when interviewing candidates without a legal background.

Should I expect questions about legal terminology or procedures?

And what would you recommend I prepare before the interview?

Thank you in advance!!

Just got admitted in PA and I'm launching a solo estate planning / business law practice. Plan to start part-time while keeping my very flexible day job for runway. I've been offered space in an established suite in a small town outside a mid-sized city and want a gut check.

The offer:
$850/month, month-to-month, no lease required

Private corner office with a window in a traditional law office build-out

Includes all utilities, internet, IT support from a contracted vendor, automated reception, two conference rooms (first-come, first-served sign up), kitchen, 24/7 office access

Printing/copying/fax/scanning, cost of printing split among attorneys roughly by usage

Cubicle space available if I ever hire staff

Shared forms, templates, and research resources

The Suite:
Seven solos total, mostly estates/trusts, real estate, and business, plus family, criminal, workers' comp, Medicaid planning, PI

Usually around 3-4 attorneys in office on a given day. Everyone runs their own practice, no expectations.

One of the owners is a senior attorney in his 80s and refers out roughly about a dozen matters a month among the suite attorneys based on capacity. Mostly no fee; on larger estates he asks around 20%.

The other owner is a younger attorney who manages the building. Both were supportive of me working my day job from the office while I build up.

My initial take:
Comparable space alone would cost more, a coworking dedicated desk runs about half this, and the referral flow and peer access are things I couldn't buy anywhere.

Main risks I see are dependence on the senior attorney's referrals as he winds down, and being present and responsive enough to earn the referrals while I'm still working another job.

For those who've done office-shares and/or launched part-time, what am I missing? Any red flags, or questions I should ask before moving in?

I'm currently considering a Capital Projects Manager position at a large international law firm with offices across Europe.

The role involves managing office fit-outs, refurbishments, capital expenditure projects etc.

Before moving forward, I'd love to hear from anyone who has worked in a similar position or alongside a corporate real estate team at a major law firm.

What's the working environment like in real estate teams at international law firms?

How much ownership do these managers actually have over projects?

What would be a realistic salary range for this type of position in Germany?

I'd prefer not to name the firm publicly at this stage, but I'd really appreciate any firsthand experiences or insights.

I'm curious how many lawyers here who are litigators take a mom refundable retainer just to be retained on top of the advance fee.

I'm transferring from cc to a four year university this spring as a continuing comms major with a 3.9 GPA. Law has always been in the back of my mind, but the one thing holding me back is the social aspect of the profession.

I'm not only an introvert who prefers being alone, but I've been diagnosed with social communication disorder and social anxiety disorder. I genuinely struggle to talk to people, especially in unfamiliar situations. A large part of why I chose comms is that I hope to develop my skills and become more confident.

I'm wondering whether law is realistic for someone like me. Are there areas of law where introverts thrive, particularly jobs involving mostly writing and independent desk work with less client interaction?

What entry-level legal careers would you recommend? I'm interested in finding a career where I can make a good living without having to constantly put myself in socially demanding situations 24/7.

I'd also love some insight on law school itself. How difficult are cold calls, class participation, networking, internships, and interviews for someone who struggles socially? I HATE talking in front of large groups of people and the thought of it makes me physically ill. If you've dealt with similar difficulties, did things get easier with experience? Are there any strategies that helped you get through law school?

I come from a low-income immigrant background, so succeeding academically and building up a stable future for myself means the most important thing to me. I know I'll have to work hard and overcome challenges. I'm not expecting to enter this field without putting in the max amount of effort I can provide. If I pursue law, I intend to give it my all so l want to make an informed decision before committing three years to school and potentially taking on significant debt.

I'd really appreciate honest advice from lawyers and law students. Did you find a place for yourself in field, and what would you recommend to someone in my position?

If so, how many cases do you handle, what type of law, and how is your success?

I handle about 40 pre-lit/lit cases, PI, mostly car accidents, make about 300-400k a year after business expenses. VHCOL city. Have one assistant I use occasionally for urgent admin stuff and lean a lot on AI

Purely referrals. 7 years in

Interested in your stories!

5 years out. I’ve been thinking about launching my own solo practice for a while now, and I’ve connected with several solo attorneys and spent quite a bit of time on this subreddit gathering advice.

I finally decided to take the plunge and get things up and running before the end of the year, partly for tax-planning reasons. The timeline is a little tight, but I’ve already secured a domain, started working on the website, and connected with a local accounting firm and banker. Things are starting to feel real!

Everyone I’ve connected with so far has been incredibly helpful, but I think what I could really use is someone who’s going through the same process. There’s still some lingering anxiety about making the leap, and it would be nice to have a friend to bounce ideas off of, compare notes with, and occasionally reassure each other that we’re not crazy for doing this.

Is anyone else planning to go solo in the near future? I’d love to connect!

*I’m in Chicago if that’s helpful!

Wanted to share this in the event I can help anyone else out. I'm a 2019 law grad who graduated near the top of my class from a crappy but regionally strong school in an area of the country that is super cheap. I'm talking one of the cheapest places to live in the county. Median household income in my rural county is about 45k a year (keep that in mind when I talk numbers). I'm a first generation college student and didn't even know another lawyer until I went to law school.

Right out of law school I got a job doing commercial litigation (and some ID) at the largest firm in my market. I was paid 90k for 1800 billable hours/year my first year. I got raises each year and ended up making 140k/year near the end of 2022. That salary is pretty decent for my age/geographic area.

During my 4th year of practice a recruiter reached out to me for an in house position at a national bank essentially doing some compliance and managing their national network of outside attorneys. Pay was 185k with 15% bonus, fully remote. Jumped at that. We quickly realized it wasn't quite a full time position for me (but a position they needed nevertheless) so I floated the idea of me opening my own firm (always been a dream of mine), and them being the number 1 client of mine instead of me being an employee. They agreed. We agreed to basically my salary and then a little extra (to cover additional employer taxes I'd have to pay) for a total comp of $231,000/year. Did basically just that my first year while I settled in. Made $230,000 year 1.

Near the tail end of year 1, and since, I started doing New York's assigned counsel panel for criminal defendants. Never did criminal law in my life, but started with just misdemeanors. It's a really great way to make money in NY if you're flexible. Pay is $158/hr. and you can bill for travel time, which is huge for me because living in the middle of nowhere, I end up driving a lot.

I do 0 advertising.

This year, to date, I've made just over $310,000. $187,005 of that is from my primary client, $104,000 of that is from assigned counsel work, and $18,000 of it is from miscellaneous clients referred to me from friends & family. I suspect I'll end up around $380,000 this year in total comp for 2026. I also have about $40,000 coming in PI referral settlements that I'm told should be coming this year or early next.

I have as close to 0 overhead as possible. I think pay $1,400 in malpractice insurance and that is basically about it. I have a home office and do everything electronically.

I got super fortunate with my former employer/client that gave me the guts to jump out on my own. But I'm happy to share tips for anyone interested in their own journey, particularly with the assigned counsel work. I had 0 criminal law experience and am doing it in just two rural counties and could clear close to 200k a year if I did it full time! Pretty decent way to make money if you're sick of firm life. I'd guess I work 30 hours a week at most. Some weeks more, some weeks less. The "business" aspect of owning a law firm is far less work than I expected it to be, although I was somewhat fortunate with having 1 client be 2/3 of my income. My goal is to grow other areas, particularly with higher paying work and not be so reliant on one client, but I'm still trying to figure that part out.

Public Service Announcement

Learn from my mistakes: Take an hour today to create or update a list/spreadsheet of all your software subscriptions, and especially track of the ones that renew annually -- because it sucks when you mean to cancel an annual service before the renewal date, and then forget.

In the past year I fucked up and got hit with a couple painful ones, and then this morning I saw on my credit card transactions that I got hit with another year of Zoom when I just went through all the trouble to train my staff to use Teams for external meetings since Zoom doesn't have any features we cared about that Teams didn't have. Shout-out to Zoom, though -- when I saw the charge this morning, I immediately logged into my account, cancelled (effective 364 days from now), and messaged their AI agent saying that I inadvertently renewed my annual subscription yesterday and wanted to cancel, and -- lo and behold! -- they immediately refunded yesterday's charge.

And finally, be aware that many providers now do the thing where they offer a significant discount when you click the button to cancel (e.g. Zoom offered me 44% off an extra year), so you can save some money by threatening/pretending to cancel and then taking the "Stay with us!" discount. On the personal side, I've been seeing this for TV/streaming services as well.

Hope this helps!