The IndyBar exists to serve members of the legal profession, and through our members we serve the community. Lawyers are problem-solvers, defenders of the rule of law. We spend our days seeking to improve the lives of our clients and our communities. We have an opportunity and a privilege to help. 

This article provides a great overview of some of the many issues solo and/or small firm practitioners are facing right now, beyond just the basic adjustments to working remotely. It also proposes some good practical solutions. 

In his blog entry for Lawyerist, Nine Myths About Solo Attorneys, Randall Ryder dispels the myths and misconceptions that surround solo practitioners. Ryder gives a truthful tour behind the scenes of our show. I recommend this if you are a solo looking for solace or if you are an attorney wondering about the solo life.

Check out this article for practical advice on staffing, financial concerns and marketing forms a great foundation for any solo practitioner.   

Balancing personal lives with professional responsibilities can be challenging. One day, you feel confident you’ve got it ALL under control; the next, you find out you forgot to take your son to his doctor’s appointment.

I am hopeful that something good can and will emerge from our shared ordeal  It is with this in mind that I’m excited to announce a new social media campaign started by the Women and the Law Division Executive Committee – Find the Good. The goal of this campaign is to highlight IndyBar members who are finding good in life during this extraordinary time.

A good friend sent me a link to this article from Harvard Business Review: That Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief. The article references the idea that if we can name what we are feeling we can deal with it. At this point, honestly, I’ll try anything that might work. If any of you are feeling similarly, then this article may be helpful.

For all those that feel “lucky” like me, please know that some of your colleagues are struggling during a difficult time in what is already an emotion-draining profession. We are more connected that ever, so let’s use technology for more than business. Remember that there is always time for empathy. A quick hello or a virtual coffee can help tremendously.

With the end of social distancing, the 2020 Bench Bar Conference will give members an opportunity to stretch their legal (and actual) legs and interact with each other while attending the events, including the Friday morning kick-off presentation by nationally-renowned body language expert Janine Driver, whose entertaining and thought-provoking style will provide insight applicable to all areas of the practice of law.

During this extraordinary time and beyond, the IndyBar is committed to bringing you the information, tools and resources you need to stay informed, stay connected and succeed in the legal profession.