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The 30-day solo attorney setup checklist

From "I just got bar admit" to "I have my first paying client" in 30 days. Week-by-week, with the things that actually slow people down (and how to skip them).

Disclosure: a few items recommend tools where we earn a referral commission. Recommendations are based on what most newly-solo attorneys actually use, not payout. Free alternatives are noted where they exist.

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Week 1: Legal foundation5-8 hours total
Form an LLC or PLLC in your state
PLLC is required in most states for licensed professions. File directly with your secretary of state ($50-300) or use a service if you want EIN, registered agent, and operating agreement bundled.
Apply for an EIN from the IRS
Free, takes 10 minutes online at irs.gov. You'll need this before opening any business or trust account.
Buy malpractice (lawyer's professional liability) insurance
Required by most state bars before you take a client. Quotes range $500-$3,000/year for $1M coverage. Get quotes from ALPS, AON, and your state bar's preferred carrier.
Register for your state bar's solo/small firm section
Usually free or cheap. Worth it just for the listserv: every weird ethics question you have for the next year, someone has already answered there.
Read your state's IOLTA / trust account rules
Trust accounting is the #1 way solo attorneys get disciplined. Spend 90 minutes on your state bar's trust accounting handbook before you touch a client retainer.
Week 2: Bank accounts + practice management software4-6 hours total
Open a business operating account (separate from personal)
Any business bank works. Don't comingle — that's the fastest way to get a bar grievance.
Open an IOLTA / client trust account
Must be at a bank approved by your state's IOLTA program. Confirm the bank reports interest correctly to the state bar foundation. Most state bars publish a list of approved banks.
Pick a practice management (PM) tool
PM software handles matters, time tracking, billing, document storage, and trust accounting in one place. The big three solo-friendly choices: Clio (most full-featured, 20%+ market share), MyCase (popular for personal injury / insurance), Smokeball (best for doc-heavy practices like estate, family, or transactional).
Most newly-solo attorneys pick Clio Manage as the default. Free 7-day trial, $49–$129/mo per user.
Set up an e-signature tool
You'll send engagement letters, fee agreements, and (depending on practice area) contracts daily. Don't email PDFs and ask clients to print and scan — you'll lose deals.
Default pick: DocuSign (most clients have used it before, so zero training needed). $15–$45/mo plans for solos.
Set up time tracking inside your PM tool
If you bill hourly, track from day one or you'll permanently underbill. Most PM tools have built-in timers; turn them on and use them as a habit.
Configure your trust account inside your PM tool
Three-way reconciliation (bank, ledger, individual client balances) is much easier when the PM software does it. This is what saves you the most time long-term.
Week 3: Client acquisition pipeline5-7 hours total
Set up a basic website (single landing page is fine)
Solo-friendly options: Squarespace (~$20/mo), WordPress.com, or your PM tool's bundled website (Clio Grow, MyCase Website). Don't over-engineer — one clear page with phone, email, and intake form converts better than a complex site.
Write your intake form (5-10 questions max)
Fewer is better. Name, phone, email, jurisdiction, opposing party, brief description. Anything beyond that filters out leads who would otherwise call.
Build your conflict-check process
Even as a solo, run a conflict check before every consult. The first time you accidentally take a case against a former client's relative, you'll wish you had this in writing. Most PM tools have a built-in conflict checker that runs against your matter and contacts databases.
Draft your engagement letter template
One per practice area is enough. Include: scope, fee structure, retainer amount, billing frequency, withdrawal terms, dispute clause. Most state bars publish sample agreements.
Set up a Google Business Profile
Free and the single highest-ROI marketing move for most solo attorneys. Local search is where ~40% of solo client leads come from.
Pick a dedicated business phone number
Don't give out your cell. Options: Google Voice (free), OpenPhone, your PM tool's built-in phone (Clio Phone). Whatever you pick, it should NOT ring at midnight.
Week 4: First client + ongoing systems3-5 hours total + your first paying matter
Run your first conflict check on a real prospect
Confirm the process works end-to-end. Document the result in your PM tool.
Send your first engagement letter via e-signature
Confirm the signed copy auto-files to the client's matter folder. If it doesn't, fix the integration before client #2.
Deposit your first retainer into IOLTA
Confirm: (1) deposited to TRUST not operating, (2) ledger entry created in PM tool, (3) you have not yet "earned" any of it (don't transfer to operating until you've billed for the work).
Set up monthly trust account reconciliation reminder
Most state bars require monthly three-way reconciliation. Calendar reminder + checklist = no surprises at audit.
Schedule a quarterly review of fees, costs, and processes
First year solo, you'll discover something about your fees, processes, or client mix every quarter that needs adjustment. Pre-schedule the review.
Add malpractice insurance + bar dues + business license to a renewal calendar
Lapsed insurance = unable to practice. Lapsed bar = unable to practice + fine. Lapsed business license varies. All three need calendar reminders 60 days out.
Pick a CLE (continuing legal education) tracker
Most state bars require 12-15 CLE hours/year. Track them as you go — scrambling at year-end to find recordings is miserable.

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The 4 most common things that delay solo launches past 30 days

  1. Waiting on malpractice insurance. Get quotes in week 1, not week 3. Underwriting can take 2 weeks for first-time policies.
  2. State bar trust account approval queue. Some state bars require pre-approval of your IOLTA bank choice. Check this in week 1.
  3. "I'll figure out the PM software when I have a client." You will not. Set it up before client #1 or you'll waste 2 weeks of billable time.
  4. Building a 12-page website. One page with phone + intake form is enough. The rest can wait until year 2.
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