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LAW OFFICE MANAGEMENT start-up costs, according to a bare-bones budget that he posted in his blog Solo in Ontario (soloinontario.blogspot.com), along with other tips for new sole practi- tioners, such as how to develop a logo on the cheap and how to look smart while saving money on dry cleaning bills. The recession forces you to be frugal and innovative — and that's a good thing because you'll benefit from hav- ing a more cost-effective practice when the economy picks up, says Michael Carabash, a Toronto business lawyer and lobbyist, who also opened a sole practice after articling last summer. He relies on technology to run and mar- ket his practice, using free applications where possible. He finds many of his clients through DynamicLawyers.com, a web site he launched last November to provide a forum where prospective clients can describe legal matters they need help with and get quotes from law- yers interested in taking on the work. "You don't have to have a posh office and a huge staff. You can walk around with a BlackBerry and a laptop and that's your entire practice. And you can earn a good income, even in today's economy," says Carabash. Nevertheless, Arfai — like many, if not most, sole practitioners — would rather have a physical presence for meet- ing clients. So, as soon as his finances allowed, he went looking for an office. That was in February of this year and, by then, the recession was having a huge impact on the rental property market in Toronto. He had 20 or more excellent possibilities to choose from, many at reduced rents with favourable leasing arrangements, and settled on space in a downtown Toronto law chambers suite, with a full-time receptionist, a "dirt cheap" phone line, and photocopying at two cents per page. Savings on the cost of photocopy- ing and phone lines may seem like petty things for a lawyer to have to think about, let alone get excited about, as Arfai clearly does. But those who feel that way may want to think again about whether to launch a solo practice, particularly in today's tight economy. You must have a strong desire to be a business owner and possess an entre- preneurial spirit, says David Bilinsky, practice management adviser and staff lawyer for the Law Society of British Columbia. "If they are looking to start their own practice as they don't see any other alternative, I would take a step back and encourage them to really think about whether dealing with all the minutia of running a legal business is for them," says Bilinsky. If you do enjoy the business side of running a law practice, however, it cer- tainly makes sense to launch a solo practice today, Bilinsky adds. "Part of the joy of being a solo is having the abil- ity to adjust your sails and be agile in response to the market." Freelance journalist and business writer Kevin Marron can be reached at kevin@ kevinmarron.com Untitled-4 1 www. mag.com APRIL 2009 19 3/17/09 10:36:52 AM