Rita and I both graduated from law school this May. Law school taught us many things, but did we learn how to be fully operational solo practitioners? We’re about to find out.

I am opening my own solo law practice in Minneapolis. D-day is October 31, 2011. I will focus on family law (hopefully building an adoption practice), ERISA/employee benefits, and appellate practice (which is something I hope to grow over the course of the next few years).

I am sharing an office with Rita, and we decided to write this blog to let other new practitioners learn from our successes and pitfalls, and see that it really is possible to open a solo practice out of law school and be successful.

We invite you to come along with us as we struggle through the tough learning process we know is about to occur. I have been told by multiple people that opening a solo practice out of law school is doomed to fail, because I lack the experience to both run be a lawyer and operate a business. Most of the resources available to those of us brave enough to start a solo law practice also tell me that it would be best to join a small or mid-sized firm for a few years in order to get the guidance and experience of writing someone else’s memos, briefs, and motions, pay down my law school debts, and find out what areas of law I am really interested in.

However, I have the same education and license as other lawyers, and am fully competent to perform my duties as a lawyer. As a solo practitioner I will decide every aspect of my practice, from what cases to take and what strategy to use, to what color my Post-It notes will be (multi-colored, for variety). I plan on jumping in the deep end, and am nervous and excited. Wish us luck, and check in to see how we’re doing!