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Are You Bound by the Golden Handcuffs? Take a Chance because its a 1099 World, Baby!

http://www.abajournal.com/news/law_grad_32_dont_do_what_i_did.

Its not just lawyers who complain about their position and the profession, nurses do the same and there is a growing percentage of nurses who burn out and leave the field altogether. This article and the comments should be a must read for not only law students but for all college freshman and those entering graduate school.

Why? Some feel a college degree entitles you to a better job, better career, better home, better lifestyle, etc. A college degree and a graduate school or professional school education and degree are TOOLS.

Think of them as a ticket to huge arena and if you want to make it back stage or become the performer on the stage, you have to apply yourself. Unless of course you have the connections for a backstage pass. You decide how much effort you will use to sit at the front near the stage or sit in the back near the doors. You get what you put into it; why would you feel that you are entitled to more or less? I tell my son this weekly.

I have never been a slacker however and I was determined to build my own business after finding out the law practice I wanted, representing nurses and focusing on nursing issues, did not exist.

Its tough starting your own firm but I can't tell you how happy I am that I did it. So many of my colleagues, both attorneys and nurses are miserable and continue to remain in a position because of the golden handcuffs.

Are you shackled in the golden handcuffs?

Well guess what in this economy, there are no golden handcuffs for the average Joe or JoeAnne, especially when you work for someone else and in a business that you don't own. Always have a Plan B and keep your resume or CV polished.

There are worst nightmares in the workplace, than self-employment. I discovered this early in my legal career. Self-employment is seen as curse by some and "the best thing in the world" for others.

Being self-employed, you don't know where your next paycheck is coming; however the same can be paid for those who punch a clock or who are on salary in this economy.

I said it earlier this year and I will say it again; Its a 1099 World, Baby. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-1099-form.htm

Merry Christmas.

Are the Days of Multi-Day CLE and CNE in Vacation Destinations gone?

I am revising my marketing plan and my budget for 2009.

I usually build in two to three thousand dollars a year for CLE and Continuing Nursing Education. I didn't spend the money I allocated for this year and probably won't spend the money I allocate for 2009.

I just can't stomach spending thousands of dollars to attend CLE and CNE in Florida, California, etc. Now, have a program in Las Vegas where I can not only sip champagne and play the slot machines, that's a different story, for me anyway.

I attended several webinars offered by Lorman Education on human resource and employment law topic topics this year. I attended a DUI seminar offered by satellite in Cincinnati by the Ohio State Bar Association. I attended the Center for American Nurses Membership Council Meeting however I didn't stay for the LEAD Summit because of a deposition. 

I like some of the CLE offered by the Indiana Bar Association Foundation but I don't like to drive to Indianapolis unless I am being paid to drive to Indianapolis. 

I have never attended a State Bar Association Convention, for either Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana.

 I always budget for CLE and CNE right along with budgeting to pay my license fees but I personally would like to see my CLE and CNE offered via teleconferences and webinars.

ABA article on Recession Proofing Your Law Practice

See this article:

http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/recession-proof_your_practice/

I don't agree with # 8, keep your old clients. Its easier to get more business from current clients. Yes, maybe for corporations but not if you represent individuals and you have a very specialized niche practice like mine.

The majority of articles I read assume most law firm's and practices represent to businesses and organizations. This is not the case.

My clients are individual nurses who hire me for once for representation (although I have represented a few nurses in two or more disciplinary investigations before a State Nursing Boad).If someone isn't paying you, term them. Don't keep someone around as a client hoping they will pay you. Term them and move on.

Most clients I term are for non-payment although I have had a few clients who were extremely difficult to work and I term'ed them.

I started working on my marketing plan for 2009 in October and I hand write my marketing plans every year since 2002. I am going to recommend an excellent book for developing your marketing plan.

Its Successful Marketing Secrets & Strategies by Rhonda Abrams. See http://www.planningshop.com/products/mss.asp. Its over 400 pages of practical marketing information you can apply to any service business.

If you buy the book, tell me what you think.

Article Pitting Attorneys and Paralegals Against Each Other for Legal Work

Did you see this article available on the ABA journal website. Here is the article, make sure you review the responses and comments from attorneys and paralegals.

http://www.abajournal.com/news/battling_for_scarce_legal_work_associates_vie_for_paralegal_tasks

When one profession has the "full" scope of practice and another has a slice, there will always be this type of banter. Compare and contrast the attorney vs. paralegal arguments with physicians vs. nurses, psychiatrists vs. psychologists, etc.

I functioned somewhere between an associate and a paralegal in a large law firm where I worked as a staff attorney. Was it demeaning? Yes and no, because I was fresh out of law school and I needed the experience and the firm was more interested in my RN training and background than training me as an attorney.

I used the firm to obtain the experience I needed to propel my career forward. I can say this now but I certainly did not feel that way ten years ago. There are all sorts of titles in a law firm, and if you don't like your title, start your own firm. It will be easier to start your own law firm than trying to change someone else's law firm.

ABA Journal article on Contract Attorneys; Thank you Mom for being You

See http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/down_in_the_data_mines/.

I read this article three times. My advice, stop complaining. You have a job and you are an educated professional. You can always start your own law practice and build your own future and destiny.

Its so easy to complain. Who hasn't done scut work as an attorney?

The grass may not be greener on the other side however. You go from contract attorney to associate or staff attorney and find the only thing that changes is your title in some firms.

When I graduated from law school, I worked in a big firm because I had the grades, the money was nice, and this was the norm. But guess what? I was miserable and felt out of place from Day 1. I stayed for the experience and the money but left to do me.

My advice to contract attorney is do you. Find a position and hobbies that allow you to do you or start your own law practice or business or build a book of business that allows you to do you.

There are lot of attorneys that feel the same way contract attorney in the ABA article feels. I felt that way at one time and if I would have listened to my inner circle of friends and family, I would still be miserable. I always do the opposite of what my maternal grandmother who is my mom (I am thankful to have several moms living) tells me and it has served me right to this day.

1. Don't go to nursing school; pre-law is a good field.

2. Why are you working on a BSN when you will make the same amount of money with your two year degree?

3. Why would a nurse want to go to law school? I think you are a professional student.

4. Why would you leave a law firm when you have a secretary, a nice office, and make lots of money?

5. The majority of businesses fail in 5 years.

6. A law firm and a consulting firm. You don't know what you want to do with all that education.

7. Why would you take the Indiana Bar exam when you are already licensed in Ohio and Kentucky? You like to stress.

8. And my favorite, why would you buy a house with a swimming pool and hot tub when you don't like to get your hair wet and the chlorine will strip your relaxer?

Thank you Mom, for being you and for always propeling me forward.

Do You Agree that Solo Attorneys Are Positioned Better or Worse in this Economy?

See this article

http://www.law.com/jsp/law/sfb/lawArticleSFB.jsp?id=1202426427655.

I would argue it depends on your law practice and your clientele. I think it helps to have a few irons in the fire outside of a traditional law practice also and be more diversified.