Day in the life of
Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney – Lyle David Solomon
I am an attorney licensed to practice in California since 2003.
For me, it is the fulfillment of a lifelong goal, not only to become a licensed attorney but to also achieve the independence of being self-employed.
At times it can be a lot of work, but it also provides me flexibility and independence I never experienced when I was an employee. Two things are certain, no two days are alike, and my work day rarely ends at 5 PM.
What is your work life like?
My practice is limited to civil cases, no criminal or family law cases, this is a conscious choice. For the last fifteen years (15) my practice has focused on consumer debt issues. I am a sole practitioner working with no support staff so I wear many hats throughout my workday, including running copies, sorting and sending out mail, and even running to the store for office supplies to finish a project.
While my work days may vary wildly, some days can be described as typical. Most mornings, the first thing I do is check my emails and make sure I have everything I need for any court hearings that day. I am usually in court in the mornings Monday through Friday. Most days I am done with court before noon and I then return to my desk to check emails again, answer or return phone calls while at the same time working on different tasks for my different clients. While some tasks may appear rote or routine there is always the possibility of something unusual happening.
My typical day ends with a review of the calendar in preparation for the next day.
Pros
As might be expected the biggest pro as a self-employed attorney is the freedom and flexibility to control your work-life balance. Also, the skill and knowledge that has allowed me to continue working as I get older and have experienced some physical ailments. I often say that as long as I have my mental faculties I know I can keep working despite physical limitations as I grow older.
Cons
Cons include numerous variables that are not within my control, such as adversaries, judges, or jury pools not being favorable to you or your client. I have more than once reminded a jury that
their decision should not be based on a popularity contest but on the law and evidence. While it does not happen often cons also include clients that are or become difficult or do not want to pay for the services you have provided to them.
