Dec. 2-8, 2005A s S e e n I n

The solo attorney leads a hec-tic life, running from courthouseto courthouse, attending trialsaround the region. On nights andweekends the solo preparescases. And in this shuffle, manyfind little time to hone the coredetails of their businesses. Ifonly someone could help them.

Allison Shields, a formeradministrative partner anddefense litigator at Melville-based Lewis, Johs Avallone,Aviles & Kaufman, gets “firedup” about law firm strategy. Inher career, she’s helped her firm,as well as attorney friends, fine-tune their practices. That meantrecommending ways to improveaccounts receivables, developtime management skills, createand implement mission state-ments and plan marketing strategies.

In September, Shields, 37, openedLegal Ease Consulting, a law firm con-sultancy she runs from her home officein Port Jefferson Station. The companyhelps firms with strategic planning, mar-keting, performance evaluations, com-pensation plans and office management.

“Most lawyers are not natural busi-ness people,” she said. Practice manage-ment is not “taught in law school. It’s ahuge flaw. Lawyers don’t like doing it. Ishow them what they can do, and leadthem through the implementation.”

Her current clients are a solo attor-ney with a family practice, and a smalllitigation firm.

Each firm has different goals andspecific needs, with owners who havetheir own work styles and personalstrengths.

For instance, depending on the areaof practice, a firm seeking to improve itsoffice efficiencies may have to follow aparticular set of guidelines for filing andstoring documents, Shields said.

And when it comes to a marketingstrategy, an attorney who doesn’t favorpublic speaking may garner betterresults by publishing articles in a trademagazine than pursuing speaking oppor-tunities, Shields said.

This is a period of transition forShields. She’s switched from advisingpartners in-house at Lewis, Johs, a firm

with 50 attorneys and 100employees, to finding clients ofher own. But Shields isn’t dis-suaded. “I like to meet new peo-ple,” she said.

Shields stepped down fromLewis, Johs before the summer.She then tried to determine ifentrepreneurship was her bestchoice, or if what she really need-ed was some sort of sabbatical.

While researching the mar-ketplace, she found no localattorneys devoted to helpinglaw firms improve the manage-ment of their practices. Thesabbatical idea was out, andshe formed her business.

Shields is working out anagreement with two consultantsin Atlanta who need a partnerwith a legal background. Thearrangement could help her

build a clientele nationwide.She’s spreading the word about her

business by attending bar associationevents. She hopes to write trade maga-zine articles and newsletters to helpeducate her target market about herservices. In November, she started ablog, www.legaleaseconsulting.com, inwhich she addresses various issues fac-ing the solo practitioner business.

Shields is setting up free roundtablediscussions with solo attorneys to dis-cuss their current challenges. She willserve as facilitator, leaning on her prac-tice management skills. The insightsfrom the group will help Shields “stay ontop of the market.”

For some lawyers, biz is a tough language

©2005, All rights reserved

Shields: Many solo practitioners have little time to manage their businesses.

S t a r t u p s

By ADINA GENN

Allison C. ShieldsLegal Ease Consulting, Inc.

631.642.0221Allison@LegalEaseConsulting.com

www.LegalEaseConsulting.com

Bob

Gigl

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