I finally did it - Started my own practice
 

Well I finally did it. I resigned from my ever-so-secure job as in-house counsel for a big insurance company and am breaking out on my own. Today was my last day. I worked until 10 pm making sure files were put together enough that my wonderful (former) paralegal doesn't have too much work keeping everything together on Monday.

I'm dreaming of the big Twin Turbo X-50 Cab I'm going to buy with my first big fee. In the mean time I'm reduced to having more time to drive but being a little too anxious about money to break Baby out of mothballs for the season. Don't worry, I promise that she comes out by May 1 or else. She needs a new alternator and the yearly oil change and general tuneup. That will cost just a few bucks, but the missus is a little worried that if I bring Baby in for those little things I'll get all the things she really needs done. Like valves adjusted, a new second gear, new synchros in first, SSIs with a Euro premuf, chasing down that pesky vacuum leak, a new headliner, re-doing the dash in leather, big fat 17 inch tires . . . Oh what the heck, while we're at it, why not a 3.4 kit and Big Red brakes?

Ok, so come May 1 she gets a rebuilt alternator, oil change and maybe a valve adjustment. Next year she gets the rest.

If anyone has any litigation work in Minnesota or Wisconsin, send it to me. I can handle it all, PI, commercial, construction, products, you name it. Representative clients and published cases available upon request.

Congratulations. Fortune favors the daring.

Jan Schlichtmann (played by John Travolta in "A Civil Affair") lost his 911 by representing the plantiff in environmental law. So..stay away from environmental law.

MRM,

Take the bull by the horns and kick 'em in the stones!

Good luck to ya and congrats!

Your now free.

Thanks guys. I have tried to learn something from Jan Schlichtmann's example. Hourly rate cases to pay the bills, contingency fee cases to take home money. I'll try never to bet the farm on one big case.

You think I can sponsor my own car for club racing and write it off as advertising expense?

Do that class action stuff, you know the ones where the lawyer gets millions and the "wrong" class get a 49 cent discount coupon good towards their next purchase. I get 1/2 a dozen of those things a year. I got one recently on a can of chili, or something like that were the manufacturer failed to show a picture of a serving suggestion on the can.

Seriously, good luck. I went out on my own a few years back as an Environmental, Health and Safety consultant, and made pretty good money, but the hours between hustling work, getting work, doing work and billing work, and doing it again and again as a sole practitioner were killing me. I have a corporate job now, and while I don't make as much, I have some security, benefits, etc., that make it worth it.

Congrats! Good luck!!

Congrats Mike...looks like you'll be on more drives this summer. We hope to pick-up the 930 this friday...can't wait.

Mike -- all the best!
I gave notice at my company last week, and the 29th will be my last day as a GC for a large vitamin/nutritional supplement company.

Not wild about litigation, though, so who knows where I'll wind up or what I'll be doing. But I empathize with your motives and decision.

JP

Good Luck. I'm sure there's tons of VISA/MC PCI work out there for you.

any pro bono? could trade counsel for wildly inaccurate advice and poor jokes.

did you go to Marquette? Had a college roomate who gradutaed in 87 from Marquette law.

Good luck

I live in the area and will gladly recommend

E

I hung my shingle 7 years ago. I'm 35 now, and have never once looked back. I'm not a millionaire, but doing fairly well and having fun at the same time. I haven't realistically worked one weekend since. Just be around to answer your phone. If you aren't, they won't leave a message, and will call the next guy.

And, never co-mingle and always return your phone calls, especially the royal pains in the A$$. With that, you'll never get in trouble.

Best of Luck,

Re: I finally did it - Started my own practice
 

Then what are you hanging around here for? Get out there and sue somebody!. :)

Congratulations. (I think)

Congratulations. I opened have my own four lawyer shop down here in FL (outside counsel for large insurance carrier). Lots of freedom and lots of headaches too. Good luck.