New lawyers today face challenges unimagined to their more experienced professional peers. As Annie Lowrey put it recently at Slate.com, "The job market for lawyers is terrible, full stop -- and that hits young lawyers, without professional track records and in need of training, worst." Even with unpaid internships under your belt, it can take over a year for a new lawyer to find work, and there are still no guarantees. The longer you're out of practice, some people think, the harder it is to be hired. Many young attorneys take work doing something other than practicing law, to cover the gaps. But those jobs are getting harder to find too. If you can't afford to sit and wait, or if you want to practice law even without the support of a big firm or government institution, you still have a choice. Law is unique among the professions in that it allows you to open your own practice, without extensive equipment. You do, however, have other needs: a robust organizational system for files, client conflicts checks, and confidentiality; templates for pleadings and other documents; access to the court database and other online utilities; phone and fax lines, business cards, a website, and an office where you can meet clients and conduct depositions and receive mail without giving out your home address. For over three years, I've had the pleasure and privilege of helping new attorneys establish themselves in their own practices. The Northwest Law Office started in 2008 running out of my apartment in NW Portland; now, we have a downtown office with nine attorneys and support staff as well. We provide new attorneys with much more than office space -- we make available all of our organizational tools, templates, sample pleadings, an OJIN Online account, technical support, and, most importantly, our shared knowledge and experience, in a collegial and compassionate environment. We mostly work in separate fields, from domestic relations and bankruptcy to immigration law to criminal defense, but we are united in our passion for social justice -- both as a subject of philosophical debate, and in real, practical, effective advocacy. As the senior attorney in the office, I regularly provide advice to other lawyers on ethics, strategy, and court procedure, but really, we all advise each other, checking ideas back and forth. Running your own practice isn't for everyone. It requires special independence, initiative, and austerity. It can be a hard life, but it's a uniquely responsible and dignified position. If you're interested in opening your own practice, or if you're already in solo practice and want to connect with other practitioners who share and understand your concerns, please call (503-227-0965) or email. I'd be glad to discuss the process, what you need to do, and what you ought to know. Contact information: Jay Bodzin, Attorney at Law - 2075 SW First Avenue, Suite 2J, Portland, OR, 97201 Telephone: 503-227-0965 | Fax: 503-345-0926 | Email: jay@northwestlawoffice.com Note: Nothing on this page is intended to create an attorney-client relationship or to constitute legal advice for any situation. Every case is unique. If you have any questions, you should consult with an attorney.