Law school teaches you a lot of things. You learn more about torts, contracts, and the Constitution than you ever thought possible. But one thing law school doesn’t teach you about is running a business.
More and more lawyers are deciding to leave the law firm life and become solo practitioners. Or they may begin by being a solo practitioner and then add an associate or two—thereby creating a small firm.
Running your own firm is a liberating experience. You set your own hours, have only yourself to answer to, and you don’t have to worry about making partner because you’re already the boss!
But running a firm presents its own challenges as well.
Helpful Characteristics for an Entrepreneurial Lawyer
To be an entrepreneur, a lawyer needs to understand certain aspects of running a business. Having a great legal mind is helpful, but it’s not the only thing that will help you run your own business.
Below, we’ll go over some of the traits of successful entrepreneurial lawyers.
Self-Starter
There are some people who can get going without any sort of prompting. Others need a boss or coworker to motivate them.
If you struggle with starting tasks without direct external motivation, then you may want to work on this trait a bit before starting your own business.
As a solo practitioner or small firm owner, your success will be dependent on your ability to do what it takes to get clients and complete work.
The good thing is that you can learn to be a self-starter, but it takes discipline and commitment.
Organized
As a solo practitioner or small firm owner, you will likely find yourself juggling multiple cases or projects. Working at a larger firm, you can often delegate some of these responsibilities to paralegals and other attorneys.
When you are on your own, that might not be an option. Being organized will help you stay on top of your work so you can give your clients your best.
Patient
You will probably encounter some setbacks when you start your own practice. You will also come into contact with difficult people.
Patience may be a virtue for most people, but for those who own their own practice, it’s mandatory. The good thing is that with time, your patience will likely pay off.
As your practice grows, you will probably move past the difficult early days and find your stride.
Confident
An entrepreneurial lawyer needs to be confident in their abilities. As a small or solo practice owner, you won’t likely have a senior partner reviewing your work or offering advice.
While mentors can be a valuable asset, they might not always be available to help. As an entrepreneur and attorney, you need to have the confidence to take the initiative when the time comes.
How We Can Help You Be an Entrepreneur & Lawyer
If you have what it takes to be an entrepreneurial lawyer, then it might be time to take the next step and hang your own shingle.
One of the first things you need to do is find an office space. With sky-high leases, traditional offices are not an option for many in your shoes. That’s where we step in.
Mesilla Legal Center offers professional coworking spaces for attorneys in the Las Cruces area. With conference rooms, private offices, and a staffed reception, we have everything you need to work.
Contact us today and jumpstart your solo or small firm career.