SanDiegoAttorney: Hello World

My notes on how to start one's own practice. I have loose plans to open a solo practice in San Diego CA in 2013. I'm currently a government attorney (prosecutor) with heavy trial experience (45 jury trials). I don't want to stay in the city I practice -- and, this is exacerbated by the new arrival of our son in late October 2011. So, unless I get a government job I've lusted after for 8 years in San Diego, I expect to leave LA and start a practice.

As for my interests, I'd say I would like to develop a practice in:

1) Civil litigation / personal injury;

2) Family law (paternity, child support, divorce, etc.);

3) Consumer law (advertising claims) (with a class action bent);

4) Construction/Renovation/Real Estate law. I have a generic interest in this. And, I'm going to get my RE broker's license too.

5) Appellate law (I've done tons of brief writing and always had some interest in appellate work. A career goal includes arguing a case in front of the US Supreme Court);

6) Criminal law. I'd do it only because I'm trained in this area of law, and the money is upfront. Much of the other work I'd want to do -- particularly PI and Consumer -- are back end fees. So, the criminal payment up front could give me fees in the near and far term.

If I could avoid criminal defense all together I would -- but, it makes little sense to avoid it, given my skill and experience at doing it.

Here are a few of the areas of law, I'd avoid:

1) Patent/IP

2) Immigration;

3) Bankruptcy;

4) Business formation / litigation / contract disputes;

5) unlawful detainers (I'm actually sort of on the fence for this).

This is sort of my online folder of what sites I've found, learned from -- and perhaps a book review or two.

http://inspiredsolo.wordpress.com/ This guy apparently wrote about his experience as being a realtor and bankruptcy lawyer. Apparently the key to a bankruptcy practice is large numbers of people (a business of numbers).

This is the CMS blog

http://startingalawfirm.blogspot.com/

I really like his story. Moreover, I enjoy his "can-do" attitude and online marketing ferocity and acumen.

An author of a go solo book -- arguing about Feinberg saying you must have your own office space rather than a home office.

http://myshingle.com/

A solo in Minneapolis here:

http://soloinminneapolis.com/

solo in colorado

http://soloincolo.com/

Here's a law marketing blog

http://blog.larrybodine.com/

here's a video on starting your own law practice