Althouse: At the Lotus Café...

June 25, 2010

At the Lotus Café...

... you can emerge now.

46 comments:

HKatz said...: Goes with the theme of recent posts here - people's murky selves emerging into the harsh sunlight.; 6/25/10, 9:59 AM
Anonymous said...: Anyone in Althouse land have any experience with setting up shop as a sole practitioner or office sharing attorney? Given the incredible lack of jobs, I'm thinking of doing that, but I feel like I don't know what I need to know, and don't know what questions I need to ask or what to look out for.; 6/25/10, 10:03 AM
sunsong said...: the perils of voice recognition technology; 6/25/10, 10:19 AM
Scott said...: lyssa, good luck!

I'm not an attorney, but if I was, I might be looking for local public speaking engagements among potential clients for your services. IP law? Speak at groups of writers or home recording enthusiasts. Divorces? Get a guest shot at a local radio show and give away a free divorce to anyone who calls in. Establish yourself as a visible local expert.

Apropos of this, check out the books by Jay Conrad Levinson.; 6/25/10, 10:23 AM
Scott said...: I am being crushed by a project today, and posting comments to Althouse is way too tempting a procrastinatory diversion.

Please, if you see me posting any more today, tell me to get back to work. Thank you.; 6/25/10, 10:26 AM
lemondog said...: Green claw clutching the heart of an artichoke.; 6/25/10, 10:33 AM
Big Mike said...: More duckweed!; 6/25/10, 11:25 AM
Big Mike said...: @lyssa. Try going here, entering 'attorney' in the left box and your preferred state or zip code in the right.

The salaries will usually be stated as a 'GS' number. If you go here it will translate the pay grade and geographic location into a dollar figure.

If you have any questions post them here at the "Lotus Cafe."

Good luck.; 6/25/10, 11:33 AM
traditionalguy said...: lyssa...My advice is don't commit to high rents without a cancellation on notice clause. I would also avoid Directory Advertising commitments. Tell the Legal Publishers to leave you alone. The sharing of secretarial expenses can cause over optimism. Go in assuming that you may have to pay it all. And finally, remember that you are worth what you charge and do not accept small fees for lots of responsability. Many cheap folks will seek to use the fresh face in town to dump their legal problems on without paying what you are worth. Get a realistic retainer up front or send them down the road. The clients need you... that is why they are there. Also do not accept a case for Trooper York because he is too hard to please.; 6/25/10, 11:33 AM
ALP said...: Lyssa:

I worked for a sole practitioner attorney for several years. He was very active in an organization called Young Entrepreneurs Organization (YEO). I think they have a mentoring program - you might try looking into that. He said it really helped him as a business owner, and he also got a lot of work from YEO members.; 6/25/10, 11:46 AM
ALP said...: I just saw a news bit about a couple caught trying to sell their baby at WalMart for $25.

Fools! Don't they know they could get a LOT more for their baby from a middle aged professional couple by trying this at Whole Foods?; 6/25/10, 11:49 AM
ALP said...: One more thing, and its back to the green murky water for me:

I was watching Season 3 (1997) of "Mr. Show" last night, and was surprised to see a cartoon image of Mohammad in one of the skits.

Inquiring minds want to know: who is the person in Pakistan or Iran responsible for catching these things? How did this slip by? I lost an entire night's worth of sleep wondering what do Bob Odenkirk and David Cross know that we don't?; 6/25/10, 11:59 AM
Anonymous said...: You guys are awesome, thanks! I'll look into all of the suggestions (except maybe the get a gov't job one; unfortunately, even those are out of reach for lawyers these days- believe me, I've been checking!); 6/25/10, 12:05 PM
Big Mike said...: @lyssa, don't give up that easily.; 6/25/10, 12:10 PM
Anonymous said...: ALP said: I just saw a news bit about a couple caught trying to sell their baby at WalMart for $25.

I saw that, too. So here's the question: you're in Wal-Mart, and someone wants to sell you a baby for $25. There are no cops or anyone to report directly to around. Am I right to say that the best thing to do is to buy the baby (considering the $25 to be a charitable donation toward the welfare of a less fortunate child), and then bring him/her directly to social services/the police?

I'm trying to think of the best way to handle that which completely ensures that the seller is completely separated from the child ASAP.

(Added caveat: Males probably have concerns about being accused of nefarious male things, so I'm asking more from my own female perspective)

- Lyssa; 6/25/10, 12:11 PM
former law student said...: Air rage on Frontier Airlines:
Los Angeles World Airports Police Sgt. Belinda Nettles says the passenger became irate when a flight attendant asked her to check her carry-on bag into the plane's luggage compartment.

Nettles says the woman was in her seat and refused to leave the aircraft. She says airport police were called and an officer was injured while attempting to remove her.

The officer was briefly treated for scratches to his neck and face.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/06/24/state/n200538D48.DTL#ixzz0rsxbaQCZ

Lyssa -- my one friend worked for a solo during law school so he could hit the ground running. He split an office with a married couple, classmates. Even so, he was shelling out more than he was making, for a long time. Basically he lived off his wife for a few years. You don't get repeat business so much as you get word-of-mouth referrals, and it takes a long time to build up a critical mass.

One source of business: He taught a class at the equivalent of the Learning Annex in "Do it yourself (No-Fault) Divorce." After every class, one or more women would come up, tell him what a good instructor he was, and ask if he could handle their divorce.

If I were you I'd try to get overflow work from established soloes. You'd get paid by the hour and wouldn't have to shello out for an office. Get a business license though. Immigration is big where I am -- BK might be a good area where you are.; 6/25/10, 12:14 PM
Anonymous said...: Old Mike, I'm not giving up, exactly, I'm still checking, but if there are no listings (there is one now for my state, which I'm applying to, but it looks like they want a bit more experience than I can offer), there are no listings. I've got one more month of my current job, and I've never been out of work before and don't like the idea very much. But seriously, thanks a lot! Any suggestions are better than what I have right now.; 6/25/10, 12:14 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: I decided to go with the trannysaures rex pop-up card for a friend's birthday early next month (resides in S.F., would appreciate this sort of nonsense). Last night I did two small prototypes. I totally cracked up myself dressing the second one, fitting it out with a tiara, since it's a rex, and carrying a purse that swings freely. It has fake flesh-colored mammalian norks with black lace bra, high heels and bright red lipstick fashioned as human lips and black lace panties. All I have left is work out a Cretaceous background.; 6/25/10, 12:22 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: I've got some new posts up - or, rather, they've emerged.; 6/25/10, 12:22 PM
former law student said...: Lyssa, if you're serious about going out on your own, I'd seriously look for an old experienced attorney that could give you work so that you could learn to do the job. The idea of a professional having a job seems a bit weird. Traditionally professionals all worked for themselves. Even now, dentists buy the practices of retiring dentists, as do optometrists, etc. Maybe you could find a lawyer trying to get out, and buy his practice (so much a year).; 6/25/10, 12:22 PM
Sigivald said...: "It wasn't a distress signal, it was a warning!"

Stupid LV-426.; 6/25/10, 12:50 PM
Irene said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 6/25/10, 12:50 PM
Irene said...: Lyssa, I tried sending you an email about the law stuff on your gmail account. I don't know if it transmitted because there were a few initial bump backs.; 6/25/10, 12:55 PM
Scott said...: $2.50/lb for a baby at Whole Foods is pretty cheap.; 6/25/10, 12:56 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I'm in Santiago de los Caballeros with family and friends.

Its been raining a lot but other than that I'm having a great time.

I've taken some pictures of old buildings and curiosities a la Althouse.. will be assembling them on Flicker sometime in the near future.

Lots of Love Lem; 6/25/10, 12:57 PM
Anonymous said...: FLS, I have a friend who did that about a year ago, and he seems to be doing well at it. He's said that I can join with him, so that's one of my options, but it would be more of an office sharing than employment deal.

Like you, I love the idea of professionals working on their own, but I just don't know if it is right for me.; 6/25/10, 12:59 PM
bagoh20 said...: Ann, Townhall.com published it's "100 Americans the Left Hates Most"

Sorry, no you didn't make it. Probably #101. That Obama vote just keeps dragging you down.; 6/25/10, 1:09 PM
traditionalguy said...: Lyssa...If you have no experience, yet it helps you greatly to have another lawyer in the office just to discuss things with as you travel the learning curve on each new type of case. Have you considered Bankruptcy Law? That is the only practice area that is growing and not shrinking.; 6/25/10, 1:14 PM
bagoh20 said...: I want to see em, Lem. Enjoy.; 6/25/10, 1:22 PM
bagoh20 said...: "All I have left is work out a Cretaceous background."

Just add Harry Reid to any landscape and, voila!; 6/25/10, 1:26 PM
Unknown said...: fls' piece about air rage hit a nerve. We had the same thing happen to us on the jetway. Major pain in the neck getting our stuff back. They'll be seeing more of this.

PS Pic looks like a still from "Creature from the Black Lagoon".; 6/25/10, 1:44 PM
MamaM said...: Life is strange...and potent.

The size difference between the two sets of round leaves amazes me. A thousand tiny living photosynthesis factories floating side by side, next to 2-3 huge dinner plates performing similar functions.

Then this under the Lotus wiki: "under favorable circumstances its seeds may remain viable for many years, with the oldest recorded lotus germination being from that of seeds 1300 years old recovered from a dry lakebed in northeastern China, Vietnam.[1]"

Potent: rooted in Latin, to be able, to have power.; 6/25/10, 2:15 PM
Opus One Media said...: If you look at the pic at a glance it looks like a green human hand grasping at a pea...

so so so republican.; 6/25/10, 2:17 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: It DOES look like a hand creepily emerging from the water/swamp.

Sort of explains some of the old myths about dryads and other water creatures.

Now if it was only holding a sword, we could look for another King Arthur.; 6/25/10, 2:29 PM
Rich said...: Lyssa,

There's lots of pretty good practical advice over at Lawyerist.

I can offer you one bit of advice. You don't want to do ERISA claimant's work.; 6/25/10, 2:39 PM
Opus One Media said...: @dustbunny...

probably a lawyer holding a summons...; 6/25/10, 3:11 PM
Wince said...: I think most bar or CLE associations have "Hanging Your Shingle" programs.; 6/25/10, 3:46 PM
Trooper York said...: What's up with the photo of the carciofi?

Couldn't find any dogs urinating?; 6/25/10, 4:39 PM
Trooper York said...: Good luck with your plan lyssa. Opening up a small business in this economy is a very brave thing to do.

I wish you all the luck in the world.

But still and all, don't close you mind to an alternative career.

All the best,
your pal Trooper.; 6/25/10, 4:49 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: If only our news were produced more like news in Taiwan:

Gore's Massage Reenacted; 6/25/10, 5:06 PM
MadisonMan said...: That is hilarious, but Simu-Gore should be fatter.

wv: hothost (!!); 6/25/10, 6:31 PM
bagoh20 said...: That is funny and so strange to watch that I think I'll never be able to seduce a woman again without feeling dirty.

For the record, I don't do it like the Simugore, I pour the wine right at the beginning...of everything.; 6/25/10, 7:46 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: OMFG. So funny. Is this serious.

Does anyone else think the animi Gore and Massuese look like the aliens in Galaxy Quest?; 6/25/10, 9:18 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: That is hilarious, but Simu-Gore should be fatter.

I like the way at the end when she leaves....the animi still does a little respectful head bow.; 6/25/10, 9:20 PM
Penny said...: Dust Bunny Queen said...

"I like the way at the end"...
"the animi still does a little respectful head bow."

Haha, did he ask for your a/s/l or did she give you her business card?; 6/25/10, 10:24 PM
Ann Althouse said...: And that masseuse didn't look 54.; 6/26/10, 11:13 AM