How ARAG Empowers Attorneys to Build Thriving Solo Practices
Starting your own law practice, what attorneys often call “hanging a shingle,” is both an exciting and daunting leap. The promise of independence comes with a host of new challenges: building a client base from scratch, managing unpredictable cash flow and navigating unfamiliar practice areas, all while trying to deliver excellent legal work. For many new solo and small firm attorneys, these early days are filled with questions and anxieties about how to make it all work.
But you don’t have to go it alone. Across the country, attorneys are finding creative ways to build sustainable practices and steady their footing in those critical first years. One approach that’s quietly making a difference? Joining a legal insurance network like ARAG. While it’s not the only solution, for many attorneys, ARAG has become a powerful tool for attorneys to grow their business and gain exposure to new clients.
How Attorneys Found Their Start
Every attorney’s journey to solo practice is unique, but many share a common thread: the search for stability and growth in those uncertain early days. For Dorothy Paul, Patience Kaysee and Mark Lyda, joining ARAG played a pivotal role in helping them find their footing.
Dorothy’s Story:
Dorothy began working with ARAG shortly after launching her own firm. She was drawn to the network because it offered an additional stream of clients at a time when building a book of business felt daunting. “ARAG clients have referred others to me – it helps expand my business outside of ARAG cases,” she notes. For Dorothy, ARAG wasn’t just a source of cases; it was a springboard for growth and a way to grow her business in specific areas, like surrogacy, without needing to invest time or money in finding clients.
Patience’s Perspective:
Patience discovered ARAG as she transitioned to solo practice after years at another firm. She needed a way to reach clients and quickly realized that ARAG’s structure, where the company pays the attorney directly, offered peace of mind and clients who are more prepared thanks to ARAG’s Customer Care team, and typically ready to move forward with their case. “ARAG has helped me ‘niche down’ the kind of practice areas I want to do,” she explains. The exposure to a variety of cases allowed her to discover her strengths and preferences, while the flexibility of the system let her manage her caseload on her own terms.
Mark’s Experience:
Mark left a large law firm to start his own practice, motivated by a desire to serve moderate-income clients and small businesses. He credits ARAG and legal insurance networks as a key factor in his firm’s growth, especially for younger attorneys building their client base. “It helps, especially younger attorneys who are developing their book of business, have something steady coming in the door,” Mark shares. By integrating ARAG cases into his firm’s workflow and leveraging technology to streamline intake and claims, Mark was able to scale his practice and offer meaningful work to his team.
The Realities of Hanging a Shingle
For attorneys striking out on their own, the early days of solo practice are often a mix of excitement and anxiety. The freedom to build something new comes with a daunting set of challenges – many of which aren’t covered in law school.
Financial Uncertainty and Client Acquisition
For many, the first hurdle is simply building a steady client base, and the pressure to make ends meet can be overwhelming. Dorothy recalls the anxiety of wondering how to pay the bills and where her next client would come from. “I spent so much time being anxious about money and being able to pay the bills.” But when she started working with ARAG, the exposure to new clients helped calm her fears.
Time Management and Burnout
The temptation to take every case that comes along can quickly lead to burnout. Patience emphasizes the importance of time management: “You don’t just want to take a whole lot of cases because you want to build a lot and then the client cases kind of fall on the wayside because you don’t have time to handle everything.” Learning to balance workload and set boundaries is a skill that new solo attorneys must develop quickly.
Administrative Overhead
Mark points out that intake, client communication and administrative tasks can eat up valuable time – especially when working with lower-fee, higher-volume cases. “Don’t let [intake] take too much of your time,” he advises. “You have to be obsessed with preventing time loss.” Automating processes and creating efficient systems are key to making a solo or small firm practice sustainable.
Learning Through Experience
All three attorneys agree: the realities of solo practice are best learned by doing. Whether it’s managing finances, choosing cases or building relationships with clients, the lessons come quickly – and sometimes the hard way. But for those willing to embrace the challenge, the rewards can be significant: professional growth, flexibility and the satisfaction of building something truly their own.