Are you a solo practitioner facing down the busy holiday season with its additional demands to your already-packed schedule? Are you starting to think that you could use some extra help around your office? Even solo practitioners who have always cherished their “lone wolf” status can come to the realization that it is time to expand their practice to include an employee or two. Dan Heilman writes about this process in the December 3, 2012 issue of Minnesota Lawyer (“Solo Practice: Now Hiring”).
So when does a solo attorney know that this moment-of-truth has hit them? Typically it is when he or she realizes that they cannot bring in any more revenue because their “plate is full”, i.e. administrative tasks cutting into billable time. It can also hit when an attorney realizes that despite being able to bill many tasks, they could bill more per hour for the more demanding aspects of the practice, and charge a smaller billable hourly fee for simpler tasks that could easily be delegated to someone else.
For this reason, Heilman warns against simply assuming that “I just need a secretary.” A close look at your practice and the major drains on your time might show that you do indeed need someone to handle administrative tasks, in which case an administrative assistant would best serve your needs. Are you being buried with file management and case prep? Perhaps a paralegal could best take these tasks off your plate. Do you spend much time doing research and traveling to routine court appearances? It might be time to take on an associate. (The latter two, of course, would generate their own billable hours at a rate lower than yours.) The end result of your new hire would ideally be more time for you to network your business and to bill for your special expertise.
Some practitioners might believe that hiring an extra person is beyond their financial means, but Heilman also points out that you may not have to pay an employee typical market rates if you can offer them a flexible schedule in return. Indeed, many experienced and highly skilled legal professionals find themselves seeking flexible gigs that combine well with family commitments, school, or another job. Others may simply be burnt out with the “big law” scene, and desire a more intimate work environment closer to home. Not certain about your caseload or business future over the long term? Legal staffing agencies can help you find someone for contract employment. It is true that these agencies charge a placement fee for direct hire placements, but they might be worth the savings in time and effort that posting a job notice and going through resumes entails.
…Or to consider it another way, you could make someone’s holiday a very special one this year by offering them the perfect employment opportunity!
