Building Solo Practice University
We're building a web-based educational community and networking forum for solo lawyers and entrepreneurial law students.
It's called Solo Practice University and you can follow its construction progress here.
Private Beta of SPU to Start August 1st
It’s been a very interesting two weeks as the ‘bones’ of Solo Practice University ™ get ‘dressed’ for presentation. And private beta will be starting August 1st.
These past two weeks I have:
- Talked to world renowned experts on the best way to meet the needs of the students;
- brought on more teaching rock stars for a total of 45 faculty members ready to ‘teach’ ….really teach…and that’s just the beginning!;
- Been testing the functionality of the site (absolutely incredible!)
- Been putting together my team of private beta testers
Soon, we will start introducing you to the faculty so you can see why I (well, actually everyone) call them rock stars. Quite frankly, I don’t think it would be even possible to create an event or conference where you could get all this faculty to one venue then teach their expertise as well as provide ‘office hours’ where you can visit for extensive Q & A. And if you could, it certainly wouldn’t be affordable for ninety-nine percent of us. As I write this I’m still amazed.
And, no, you’re not dreaming. This will be available to our students. All of it. But sometimes I do have to pinch myself. Why? Because it’s pretty wild to see your dream come to life.
Solo Practice University ™ is my dream.
A successful solo practice is yours.
So, stay tuned. Dave and I will be posting soon about the University Co-Op, Job Board, and much, much more. :-)
Yours truly,
Susan
susan@solopracticeuniversity.com
Who Is Eligible to Attend Solo Practice University - The Students
Many faculty and prospective students are asking me, “who will be eligible to attend Solo Practice University™?”
It’s simple: the only students eligible to attend Solo Practice University™ are lawyers, law students and new grads waiting in angst for their bar results.
This is your educational community and professional networking campus.
It is an educational community for lawyers and law students who currently are or want to be solo/small firm practitioners; lawyers and law students who want to learn how to be the best solo/small firm practitioner they can be. It is not a school for non-lawyers who would like to learn the law or socialize with lawyers.
It is an educational community where faculty have agreed to educate colleagues, not the general public. So, with rare exception (we always have to allow for that rare exception like law school faculty!) all students will be lawyers or law students.
How will we monitor this? Although not finalized, we will ultimately require proof of your status as either a lawyer or law student, proof which is both public record and easily verifiable by us. Plus, we’ll include a gentle reminder at time of signing up that impersonating an attorney could get someone in BIG trouble. :-)
If you have any questions about your eligibility for admission, please drop me a line.
Yours truly,
Susan
The 'Practice of Law' School - The Education
Our mission is simple:
Education combined with community presented to you in a revolutionary new web-based application.
David, my kiteboard-riding, backpack-toting, flip-flop-wearing tech-hero, will continue to update you on the technology we will be using to make your experience at Solo Practice University™ top shelf.
My pleasure is to keep you posted on the incredible education you will be receiving.
This summer we will be introducing you to the faculty. I promise you will be blown away. I still have a hard time imagining all of these professional superstars in one place teaching you on an on-going basis. Finally, a virtual community where you can learn ’how to’ build your solo practice while becoming the best lawyer you can be in your chosen practice area(s).
So, let’s start with the topics (in no particular order) for which we have one or more faculty already in place:
Practice Areas:
- Entertainment Law
- Bankruptcy
- Internet Law
- Criminal Law (Defense/Prosecution)
- DUI
- Immigration
- Family
- Family and Divorce Mediation
- Business
- Forensic Psychology (My client’s crazy. Who Do I Call?)
- Intellectual Property
- Employment
- Appellate Procedure
- Personal Injury
- Product Liability
- Medical Malpractice
- Trusts & Estates
- Contract Lawyering
- Surrogacy/Adoption
- Real Property
Practice Skills:
- Legal Research and Writing
- Jury Selection
- Litigation Strategy
- E-Discovery
- Negotiation
- The Art of the Deposition
- Evidence in the Court Room
The Business:
- Law Practice Management
- Marketing
- Public Relations
- Niche Practice Creation
- Collaboration
- Blogging
- Sales/Networking
- Marketing
- Working with a Virtual Assistant/Paralegal
- How To Use Social Media
- Branding/Copywriting
- Internet Marketing
- Working with a Virtual Assistant
Technology:
- Technology in the Courtroom
- Virtual Law Office
- Web 2.0/Productivity and Organization
- Paperless Office Technology
- Macs in the Law Office
- Trends in Technology
For Law Students & Work/Life Balance:
- “Staying at Home, Staying In the Law”
- Non-Traditional Law Students Entering Solo Practice
- What Happens When You are in the Bottom Third of Your Law Class?
- Mindfullness & Stress Reduction For Lawyers
We also have several incredible professionals lined up as guest lecturers from all walks of business life which really drives home the point…opening a solo practice is a business. We want you to have a true business education.
Solo Practice University™ is not a brick and mortar structure so we can ‘house’ as many faculty as we choose. Therefore, this list of faculty and topics is by no means exhaustive. We will not be limiting the number of faculty in any given area because this will be a place of ideas, opinions, debate, different skills sets, perspectives; a community of peers with a single passion - building their solo practice or helping you to build yours.
Therefore, I am extending an invitation to the more than 750 current subscribers to this construction blog: If you would like to teach at Solo Practice University™ or know of someone who would be an asset to this community of solo/small firm lawyers and professionals, feel free to contact me to discuss the possibilities.
Yours truly,
Susan
Solo Practice University Features -- Private Messaging
Solo Practice University™ will give away free blogs to its students and faculty members in addition to providing customizable profile pages. Today, we’d like to introduce another feature — Private Messaging.
Private Messaging
As we’ve mentioned, building a strong community will be vital to creating an incredible educational experience for lawyers and law students at Solo Practice University™. We believe communication is one of the keys to building a community and, to that end, the Solo Practice University™ platform will enable students and faculty members to communicate with one another in several ways.
Sending private messages will be simple and inituitive. Type in the first letter(s) of another member’s name, and the intended recipient’s name is automagically pulled from the Solo Practice University™ member database.
Each member will be notified of new messages by a new message count on their Messaging tab (see image above) as well as email notifications if enabled.
Some other private messaging highlights include:
- Send/Receive attachments
- Insert images and hyperlinks
- WYSIWG editor to format messages
- Avatars with links to member profiles
- Group messages from administrators
Private Messaging will play an important part in enabling communication at Solo Practice University™. Stay tuned for more updates and sneak-peeks in the coming days.
All the best, Dave
PS — Grab the RSS feed or sign-up for email updates, if you haven’t already.
Solo Practice University Features -- Profiles
We recently launched the wireframe version of Solo Practice University™ for some internal testing. Things are going great and we plan on opening up the platform to more users in the coming weeks for more testing.
In fact, we’ve been having so much fun that we wanted to post some sneak-peeks into Solo Practice University™ over the next few days. (Note: Grab the RSS feed or sign-up for email updates, if you haven’t already.)
Member Profile
We don’t think it’s possible to build an incredible educational experience without a strong community. Creating profile pages for student and faculty members at Solo Practice University™ will be an important community-building feature.
That is why one of the features at Solo Practice University™ that we’re the most excited about is the Member Profile page. Each member at Solo Practice University™ will be given a profile page where any content, whether derived from within the community or around the web, can be put on display. And we can’t wait to see the profiles you all create.
For example, I added my Twitter feed to my profile and Susan added her FriendFeed to hers. But you could just as easily add your blog feed, a link to your website, photos, videos, and anything else you can imagine. =)
Once the community is up and running, your friends, groups and personal activity feeds will be added to your profile page unless, of course, you’d prefer to keep them private.
Stay tuned for more sneak-peeks into Solo Practice University™ in the coming days.
All the best, Dave
Free Blogs at Solo Practice University
Solo Practice University™ is going to be a web-based educational and networking community for lawyers and law students. But did you know we’re also going to give away free blogs to all community members?
Many solo lawyers know they should blog but don’t have a clue about getting started. Because we firmly believe law students should learn about blogging and related technology in law school but don’t, Solo Practice University™ will provide some of the best instruction on legal blogging from recognized experts. But instruction alone isn’t always enough. Sometimes the best way to learn about blogging is through personal experimentation.
To that end, the Solo Practice University™ platform will enable its members to —
- create an unlimited number of blogs within seconds
- control privacy settings for each blog (private/SPU community/public)
- import/export data with a single click
Free blogs for community members is just another way we are going to make starting your solo practice career easier, smarter, and less intimidating.
Keep watching for more exciting news.
Susan and Dave
The Tech Guy
My name is Dave Carson and I am the “uber-geek” helping Susan with Solo Practice University™.
Susan was my professor in law school and I’ll never forget our first meeting. After five semesters as a typical law student (save for a summer in Shanghai!), I had grown weary of school and found myself doubting virtually everything anyone was telling me. I was just going through the motions.
But after listening to Susan introduce her course about starting a solo law practice, I was invigorated and literally chased her into the parking lot to ask whether the administration knew what she was telling us. Blasphemy!
Susan’s passion for solo practice inspired me to start my own practice (with a partner) straight out of school. My practice was limited to a niche within a niche where I had several years of direct experience and I created a website to attract a specific group of clients. Do not pay any attention to those who dismiss this route. They are old, unimaginative, or worse.
Within days of being sworn-in, a reporter found my blog and I was interviewed and quoted in a national human resources publication. My website brought me nearly every one of my clients, including several local individuals and businesses, a corporate client based in New York, and even a couple Californians. Shortly thereafter, I was invited to join a large law firm based in New England and the National Law Journal even wrote about it (Blogging May Be a Ticket to a Job, July 9, 2007).
Life at the large firm was rewarding, but (as Susan noted at our last Solo Practice University™ pow-wow) I am the prototypical millienial — open-minded, information-hungry, and unpretentious (I think). My success using the web enabled me to leave the large firm and start my own web design and consulting business. The large firm became my first client and I have since embarked on a freelance adventure fueled by word-of-mouth marketing.
Things really couldn’t be any better. I am passionate about the projects I’m working on, including Solo Practice University™, and I have complete freedom to create my future. Most days, you’ll find me riding my bicycle to coffee shops around New Haven, learning to kitesurf on Long Island Sound, or building Solo Practice University™.
Over the coming weeks, I’ll be posting more information about the technology behind Solo Practice University™ on our Tumblr blog. If you’d prefer to subscribe to construction updates by email, drop your email over at the Solo Practice University™ holding page.
All the best,
Dave Carson
PS - Get to know me by following @davidtcarson on Twitter or viewing my online profiles.
The Mission of Solo Practice University
Once again, I am both amazed and humbled by the number of subscribers to this construction blog given Solo Practice University is just embryonic in its growth.
I am also flattered by the number of lawyers and other professionals I have invited to teach who simply have said, ‘tell me what you need.’ In a world where time is exceedingly precious, everyone I’ve personally talked with on the telephone, without exception, has the time to get involved with Solo Practice University. To date, more than thirty practitioners from Big Law to Solo, Consultants to Networking Professionals have joined the faculty.
In my opinion, the response is both a tribute to the mission of Solo Practice University and the spirit of those who truly wish to educate and help other attorneys and entrepreneurs in what is proving to be a singularly unique experience. So, to the many who have enthusiastically and graciously committed their time, I thank you.
The story behind the concept of Solo Practice University.
When I started teaching at Quinnipiac University School of Law on How to Hang A Shingle Right Out of Law School it was exhilarating yet frustrating to be limited to 16-30 students per academic year. I tried to find a way to reach more. I discovered blogging. Blogging certainly allowed me to reach a greater audience nationally and internationally. But through the numerous e-mails I received on a near daily basis, I found many questions were practice area specific. The questions ranged on issues unique to starting an immigration practice, family law practice, bankruptcy practice, blogging, best technology, the list was endless. Questions came in such as, ‘Where can I learn ..:
- how to conduct a deposition;
- how to build a mediation practice;
- how to negotiate;
- how to become a contract lawyer;
- how to find a mentor while building an IP practice;
- the anatomy of a criminal trial;
- the steps in a Chapter 7;
I was fielding or referring questions covering all the innumerable variables unique to building a solo practice in a given practice area.
Some would say, ‘that’s why you have to work for another first.‘ Well, those who want to go solo do not accept this premise. Attending Solo Practice University, however, does address the issues - one internet destination where lawyers can learn what they need to learn while being self-employed and staying in charge of their professional future.
There are excellent blogs, listservs and conferences out there.
Blogs: There are numerous excellent blogs and I applaud all those who have generously and diligently dispensed information to their readership. However, readers must find these blogs and these blog authors must find these readers. The reader also hopes the author will address their specific question or the answer to the query is already buried in archives that may or may not surface through a Google search. Blogging is also not live nor meant to provide an in depth, interactive teaching experience.
Listservs: A law student or new lawyer can join well-established highly populated listservs where peers can field questions. However, these same listservs are rightly resistant to answers or questions posed by those who make a living providing their expertise, sometimes the very expertise a new lawyer needs for a definitive answer. And it is totally understandable. These are generally peer discussion groups and collectively there is a strong and justifiable opinion those who service lawyers should not be permitted to participate except on a limited basis, fielding the odd question now and again. These listservs, after all, are designed as a water-cooler gathering for peers, not a trade show for vendors. Those who desire to be ‘taught’ by experts may not get the education they are seeking on listservs.
Conferences, Summits, Retreats: Conferences, summits and retreats are incredible experiences enabling lawyers to meet leaders in the field if one has the time and financial resources to participate. While you will walk away with a wealth of information and potential person-to-person networking opportunities from those you believe can contribute to your education, the experience is generally limited to a moment in time. For a new solo, participation is a less likely option because during start-up financial resources are limited and need to be allocated for initial costs and continued operating expenses until there is steady incoming cash flow.
Therefore, imagine combining all the benefits derived from learning from the authors of your favorites blogs, being part of an educational and networking community not just of peers but recognized experts and experiencing the intense learning of a conference, summit or retreat…. but it’s not limited to a moment in time? It is ongoing. And it doesn’t break the bank.
This is the mission of Solo Practice University - one internet destination where those who are experts in their chosen practice area, business, marketing, blogging, technology and more actually teach you how to create and grow your solo legal practice; where these known and highly regarded experts congregate and willingly give of their time and guide you on how to become the practitioner you always wanted to be.
Scholarships Will Be Awarded At Solo Practice University.
Lack of money is a great inhibitor to many who wish to go solo. This is why one of my greatest desires will be fulfilled through operating Solo Practice University. Although all the logistics have not been worked out, it is our intention to pattern ourselves after a real university, not just in providing the finest teachers but in also providing ‘scholarships’ to several students who wish to open their own practices but feel intimidated because of pressing student loans or other financial considerations. An as yet undetermined number of scholarships will be awarded annually to those who wish to go solo, recipients selected by the faculty. The goal is to either contribute to student loan payments or start up costs or both.
Just another way of giving back.
Yours truly,
Susan Cartier Liebel
You can always reach me at: susan@solopracticeuniversity.com
Our New Solo Practice University Tumblr Blog
First, I want to thank you and the more than 400 other subscribers who have decided to follow the construction of Solo Practice University. These are very exciting times!
Second, in response to your requests, we have created this temporary blog using Tumblr so you can have a site to visit, link to and refer others who may be interested in what we are offering.
We chose Tumblr because we love its clean design and functionality. However, there is no commenting function as this site is just meant for progress updates. If you would like to contact me about SPU you can now e-mail me at susan@solopracticeuniversity.com
Third, and even more exciting, we are in the process of lining up a roster of professional ‘rock stars’ to teach at SPU. As the list of those who make a commitment to join the faculty grows I will post our roster with links to their websites so you can appreciate why we want them on board at SPU.
In future posts we will discuss the philosophy of Solo Practice University and the technology we will be using to make this an amazing experience for you. I will also be introducing you to the wunderkind behind the construction of Solo Practice University, the self-proclaimed uber-geek who is grabbing all the latest and only greatest software five seconds after it is announced. This is why I can state with complete confidence, SPU will be like nothing you have seen.
Till next time,
Susan Cartier Liebel
