Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/79554
Having a law degree and being called to the bar no longer guarantees a job in a law fi rm. According to the results of this year's Canadian Lawyer Compensation Survey, only 45 per cent of law fi rm respondents plan to hire more lawyers next year. With this in mind, you might want to consider hanging up your own shingle. Since the prospect of starting a fi rm can be intimidating, assistant editor Heather Gardiner asked sole practitioners for their tips on how to start off on the right foot. 10 1 14 F A L L 2012 C ANADIAN Lawy er 4STUDENTS EVALUATE YOURSELF TIPS FOR STARTING YOUR OWN FIRM The fi rst thing you need to do is assess whether running a business is right for you, because after all, having your own fi rm is just that — a business. Lisa Ridgedale worked in government and at a large national law fi rm for 16 years before opening her own boutique litigation fi rm in Vancouver last year. "If you do not have an appetite or desire to run a business or learn how to run a business, you shouldn't do it because it's a huge part of it," she says. "You can't just be a good lawyer, you have to be a good businessperson." Michael Jakeman, regional legal careers offi cer of the Canadian Bar Association B.C. branch's Rural Education and Access to Lawyers Initiative, says you should also examine your interests. "Are you pas- sionate about people and want a labour of love in your law practice? Then you may want to consider being your own boss," he says. After law school, Jakeman spent two years running a fi rm with another lawyer in Fort McMurray, Alta., and then his own fi rm in Victoria before taking on his current role at the CBA-BC. Once you've decided that you'd like to have your own practice, don't be afraid to take the plunge! Heather Campbell started her own elder law fi rm in Vancouver after being called to the bar in 2011. She received a lot of encouragement from colleagues, family, and friends but also faced some criticism. She advises listening to their warnings, but "keep your head high and stay confi dent that [you] can do it." MATT DALEY