A lawyer can practice independently or enter into a partnership with other lawyers. This is the most important decision that a lawyer has to make. A person practicing solely needs consider his/her resources and finances before beginning the practice. Experience is also a very important factor in determining the success rate of a lawyer.
An independent lawyer has to be confident about his/her level of experience. The primary advantage of solo practice is that the practitioner will have the complete decision making power. In a partnership, all partners will have to be consulted to take decision on a matter. A solo practitioner can dedicate complete time to practice whereas in a partnership, management and administration eats up significant amount of a lawyer’s time. Partners of a firm will have to meet frequently for decision making. In solo practice, there is no need for time consuming management meetings. A solo practitioner can work from various locations, but a partnership may need more office space, staff and other facilities.
To practice independently, a lawyer needs to be very confident. In a partnership, even if something goes wrong, the blame or the loss can be shared among partners, whereas in a solo firm, a single person bears responsibility. In a partnership, the burden of work can be shared, so that the firm would be able to take up more and more work and multiply earnings. Feedback from other partners can improve a lawyer’s skills.