Behind the Scenes of a Solo/Small Firm Practice – Q1 2024

1/2024 – 7 cases set for trial in 2024. A nice batch of other cases either in the early stages or just finishing up. Looks like a busy 2024! Yay!

2/2024 – 2 of the 7 cases set for a 2024 trial settle out, one quite unexpectedly. New case generation a bit slow. Hmm?

2/15/2024 – Another of the cases set for a 2024 trial settles out, again abruptly, and on the brink of about a half dozen lengthy depositions. Another gets bumped to 2025. Yikes!

3/1/2024 – Another 2024 trial case gets bumped to 2025. 2024 trial calendar down to two late-year cases. Crap! Overdue business development activity commences!

That evening, G&T in hand, I fret to my wife and confidant Jill: “My run is over, my practice is drying up! And I just hired a new associate! I need to hustle for some new cases. What if they don’t come in? I’m too young to retire!” She smiles, chuckles, shakes her head, and says nicely: “Do you know how many times you have said that? Get a grip.”

3/8/2024 – Networking pays off – I pick up a substantial new case set for trial in Summer 2024. Good!

3/12/2024 – Another two new cases come in, also set for a 2024 trials, with a bunch of pending law and motion to address and a chunk of depositions to take. And some other potential referrals are floating around out there. Yes!

That evening, me to Jill: “I might have to work this weekend. I have a lot to do.” She laughs.

Though I have been at it for a long time now, Small/Solo practice is never boring. There’s always something new, despite the familiar struggle of balancing between “way too busy and frazzled” and “not busy enough and worried.” The road is sometimes smooth; sometimes bumpy; often lucrative; sometimes lean; sometimes it’s smooth sailing; other times, a rowdy roller coaster ride. But it’s always challenging, and always interesting. I wouldn’t have it any other way.