OTLA Trial Lawyer Winter 2021

19 Trial Lawyer • Winter 2021 want to be in places where you are the only lawyer, or if you are not the only lawyer, you are the only lawyer who does what you do. Remember that most “net- working” is just “friendship” by another name. Finally, sacralize (make sacred). Set aside time in your schedule every single week devoted solely to case gen- eration tasks, e.g. setting lunch meetings with referral sources, reviewing website analytics or brainstorming future promo- tions. Conclusions Growing up, I never knew I wanted to be a lawyer. Even after law school, I never knew I wanted to practice civil law. I never knew I wanted to be a personal injury lawyer until I already was one. I did not fully appreciate how well being a solo lawyer suited me until long after I had taken the plunge. What I have always been aware of is I prize independence. I prize being in charge. And I prize experiencing the re- wards (and even the risks and stresses) of running a small business while being ultimately responsible for the success or failure of my clients’ legal cases. With hindsight, I see now that before I became a lawyer and a solo, the people in my life who seemed to have the lives most worth emulating were small busi- ness owners. While I experience from time to time the same drawbacks of solo practice discussed above, I am extremely satisfied with my current career. If my experience appeals to your goals a n d v a l u e s , t h e n y o u s h o u l d consider making the leap from associate to solo practice. Whenever the mechan- ics seem too daunting, remember: You can do this. Ben Cox specializes in personal injury and insurance law. He contributes to the OTLA Guardians of Civil Justice at the Guardians Club level. His solo practice is located at 3723 N. Williams Ave., Portland, OR 97227. Cox can be reached at 503-224- 1787 or [email protected].