Solo Practice

Kimberly Alderman - The Virtual Shingle

Without technology, my practice simply wouldn’t be possible.  Four years ago, I built a cabin in remote Alaska, hours from the nearest gas station or corner store.  I didn’t know when, but I knew I would make it back.  Eight months ago, I left my clerkship in the Virgin Islands, boyfriend in tow, and migrated north to the cabin, ready to solo remote living style.

      My infrastructure is completely dependent on technology.  Solar panels, generator, military-built battery bank, satellite internet, satellite phone.  The internet alone was quite the project to set up, as we had to drive 400 miles to pick up a dish that would put most coffee tables to shame.

      Lacking the requisite local population to justify hanging a wooden shingle, I hung my Virtual Shingle. I set up a solo firm dedicated to contract attorney services.  I bought a domain name, put up a website, and got a Skype phone number for my business.  And I started networking online, furiously.  I learned about Solosez, Facebook, DocStoc, LinkedIn, JDSupra, Twitter, and the wild wonderful world of blogs.  I started a blog in my niche interest area, The Cultural Property & Archaeology Law Blog.  I had such an amazing experience that I started a blog on my contract lawyering practice – LawyerOn! The Contract Attorney’s Blog.  And I started reading blogs.  Lord, did I start reading.

      Then I started getting the clients.  Not just for lawyering, but also for writing.  You see, thanks to the vivid education I was getting in the world of soloing I realized that you have to hedge your bets.  So I started freelance writing on the side for when the contract lawyering assignments ran slow.  By way of technology and early mornings drinking coffee (from beans we grind by hand at our nearest neighbor’s house, a half mile away), I’ve managed to set up two related but independent businesses that are earning a profit.  For someone who wanted to “get away from it all,” I sure am plugged in sometimes.

      Thanks to the wonders of online research and email, I can provide my clients with clean, reliable services and products in a short turnaround time.   I can service multiple clients and make them each feel like I’m completely dedicated to them.  I’m easy to reach, and I respond quickly via email or even chat, if they’re into that.  I have a lot of points of contact because that’s essential for the firm that hangs a Virtual Shingle.

      We’ve had just about enough chopping wood and hauling water for the time being (and to be honest, sitting on a toilet seat that’s –20 degrees is romantic for only so long), so we’re headed down to New Mexico to winter over in a few weeks.  And you know what will change about my practice?  Nothing.  And that’s thanks to technology.  Some of my clients might not even notice whether I’ve relocated (some of them never even notice I’m someplace odd!). 

      Carolyn Elefant gave me some excellent advice when I was just getting started.  She told me that I’d be relying on online networking.  “So treat the internet like your cocktail party,” she said.  Well, I may not be drunk yet, but I’m sure having a grand old time.

kimberly@lawyerbird.com, www.kimberlyalderman.com

Full post as published by My Shingle.com on January 22, 2009 (boomark / email).