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Posted By Hayden C. T. Parsons,
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
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New lawyers ordinarily follow the traditional lawyer flowchart:
- Intern at a law firm or other legal office while you desperately wait for your bar exam results.
- Promote from intern to associate as a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, aspiring attorney.
- Get a reality check as you put in 50 to 60 hours a week (minimum).
- Pull a couple all-nighters at your desk.
- Grind away at the office until your hairline recedes or turns grey—or both—at the ripe old age of 35.
- Watch as the next generation of lawyers do the exact same thing.
But this isn’t always the case—well, at least not for me.
Roughly one year after starting my first job as an associate attorney I unexpectedly found myself at a crossroads in my professional career. As much as I wanted to catch my breath and
take my time looking for new opportunities for work, I knew that time was limited. I initially had difficulty finding a position right after being admitted, so the prospect of finding a new job was nerve-wracking. With only a single year of experience
under my belt, finding a firm who would hire me felt like an uphill battle—my main concern being that many associate positions are generally filled by interning graduates waiting for bar exam results. After a few days of discussing different options
with my wife, my choice was clear: I would have to bet on myself.
Starting your own solo practice is a challenge for any lawyer. Doing so with one year under your belt is borderline reckless, but not impossible. The instant transition
from an associate attorney to running your own practice is like jumping into Lake Michigan in March. If you’re a young attorney looking at breaking the mold, here’s three traits you should have and three challenges you will encounter, which I’ve learned
after completing my first full year as a solo practicing attorney.
“The instant transition from an associate attorney to running your own practice is like jumping into Lake Michigan in March.”
Trait #1: You Must Learn and Adapt Quickly
Let’s face it—what you learn in law school is only the tip of the iceberg. When you open a private practice early in your career, you are forced to learn every aspect of business management at the same time you are trying to learn the law, providing chaos at every corner. Fortunately, we live in an age where anyone can access the world’s knowledge in seconds, so use that to your advantage.
Use
free and readily available resources for your practice such as the ISBA’s legal research tools and the Indiana General Assembly’s online Indiana Code.
Additionally, you can use the Indiana Courts' MyCase to find examples of pleadings and motions filed by other lawyers when you’re unsure how to properly draft one.
For understanding the business management side of your practice, there are plenty of online guides that will walk you through website construction, domain maintenance, bookkeeping, and marketing. YouTube is full of educational content that
can help you learn these skills. Additionally, software providers like QuickBooks and Clio have guides that answer many questions that first time users may have.
Using artificial intelligence tools can assist in creative endeavors like
website design and creating a brand identity, but be cautious when using them for legal work. AI, such as ChatGPT, is prone to using algorithms that use outdated or imitated information—such as using the 2021 Indiana Code instead of the most current
version or making up citations that mirror appellate cases from other jurisdictions. However, using well-drafted prompts can help avoid this, such as requiring the AI to “exclusively use external resources and provide links from the websites that
the information was gathered from,” forcing it to use more recent information than its older self-contained data model. Regardless, you should always verify all AI generated citations.
Trait #2: You Must Be Procedurally Organized
Note that I didn’t specify “physically” organized. More likely than not your workspace will be a jumbled mess of papers and boxes. Establishing a method to organize the way you want to run your practice is essential, otherwise you risk spiraling
into disorganization once you begin to bring in clients. Creating a uniform document naming system is a powerful organization tool allowing you to quickly access your files. Quickly accessing your documents is as important as the content within them.
You can’t use what you can’t find.
There is no correct way to organize, but having a system that is easy to teach to future staff or attorneys is an important foresight.
Trait #3: You Must Be Flexible with Clients
Flexibility can be very advantageous for a new attorney. There are people who need legal assistance but can’t find time to meet with an attorney. Not everyone can simply take a day off—often due to work or personal scheduling conflicts. Others,
particularly the elderly, have difficulty leaving their homes. By opening yourself up to flexible scheduling, you’re showing dedication to your client by prioritizing their accessibility instead of asking them to disrupt their lives for your convenience.
Just remember to set limits on your availability. Your job may seem like your entire life at the onset, but you must care for yourself as well.
“Just remember to set limits on your availability. Your job may seem like your entire life at the onset, but you must care for yourself as well.”
Challenge #1: Overcoming Perceived “Inexperience”
One of the most soul crushing experiences occurred a month into my practice. I was attending an event where I had an information table. During the event, a couple in their early 60s stopped at my table. After learning that I was in the legal field,
they curiously asked, “Who is the attorney?”I have been told before that I have a babyface when I am clean shaven, so I chuckled and informed them that I am the attorney. They were visibly surprised by my answer and asked for my age. Thinking nothing
of it, I told them that I had just turned 28 and was proud to say that I started my own practice. Their next words hit me like a freight train: “Call us when you’re in your thirties.”
As much as it hurt to hear, I understand their
hesitation. But remember that there is a reason that bar exam scores aren’t published—a new lawyer is just as much as a lawyer as one with fifty years of experience. Be aware of your current experience, which may limit which cases you can reasonably
take, while recognizing that your abilities will inevitably grow. Appreciate your clients who come to you for their legal needs in the early stages of your practice.
Challenge #2: Isolation
One of the greatest challenges, particularly for extroverts, is the substantial amount of time spent alone.
Being on my own required that I sacrifice everyday social interactions that you would ordinarily have at a firm. Additionally,
you will have to deal with professional isolation. A solo practitioner’s opportunities to discuss legal questions with co-workers are essentially nonexistent. I discovered very quickly that cordial connections are critical to a successful practice.
Even as a solo practitioner, you can’t do it alone, so find experienced attorneys who will mentor you. Although I don’t have a peer down the hall, I’m extremely thankful for the handful of lawyers who have helped me work through several challenges
I’ve faced.
If you are looking to find a mentor, a great place to is your local/county bar association. Reach out to different attorneys and find an hour to have coffee. You may find that some lawyers are involved in volunteer organizations
like Lions, Kiwanis, or Rotary. The most important step is taking the initiative to interact, even if it seems awkward at first. There are experienced lawyers who would be glad to help develop the skills of green lawyers.
Challenge #3: Overcoming Financial Pressures
Managing finances is a necessity for any business. What is more challenging is meeting your personal financial needs. You will likely not have enough revenue to pay yourself for months. However, underneath the balance sheet is a more concerning
issue: Zealous advocacy can easily become milquetoast when you don’t know if you can meet your own needs. Overcoming this obstacle is not just a test of professional ethics, but evidence of a lawyer’s true character. This is perhaps the greatest obstacle
you may face, and there are no easy solutions.
Conclusion
Not everyone can be on their own, and being newly admitted is challenging enough. Neither are easy, but both are possible. You will lose sleep. Your relationships will be challenged. Your self-confidence will falter, and feelings of imposter syndrome
will occur. However, the experience and knowledge you gain are unlike any traditional career path, shaping you into the most authentic attorney you could ever hope to be.
 Hayden C.T. Parsons is the founding attorney of HCTP Law—a general practice law firm based in Noblesville,
Indiana—practicing primarily in the areas of probate, estate planning, business law, and contracts. Since opening his practice in June 2024, Hayden has met the legal needs of individuals and small businesses throughout Indiana and in other states.
Hayden earned his J.D. from the Michigan State University College of Law in 2022, and a B.S. in Political Science from Ball State University in 2019. He was admitted to the Indiana Bar in 2023. Hayden has a passion for helping military
veterans and servicemembers, having proudly served in the United States Army Reserve for six years as a Paralegal Specialist, achieving the rank of Sergeant/E-5. Outside of his legal career, Hayden has served on the board of directors for a variety
of non-profit organizations, and holds membership in his local Lions Club and Kiwanis Club.
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Leadership and Professional Development
Member Stories
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Posted By Abigail Hopf,
Monday, April 24, 2023
Updated: Thursday, April 27, 2023
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Pro bono is an important part of an attorney’s responsibility, and a key structure impacting access to justice and equity across the state. But it can also be a pain to put into practice—from trying to carve away time from your other responsibilities
to dealing with questions or types of law that you don’t typically practice.
We sat down with attorneys and ‘pro bono doers’ across the state to learn their secrets, get an inside look at their experiences, and see what it takes to make
pro bono a key part of your practice. This is what they had to say.
Our Contributors:
Their Insights:
Tell us about the pro bono work you typically do.
Pablo Svirsky (PB): Most of my pro bono work is in immigration and one-off clinic opportunities. As a non-litigator, I found early in
my career that doing litigation-based pro bono was not a great use of my time. I spent more time trying to re-learn my law school training on cases, briefs, etc., instead of doing actual pro bono work. Immigration work, and citizen applications in
particular, have been especially rewarding, given that my family went through that same process when I was a kid.
Marc Matheny (MM): I handle pro bono on a case-by-case basis. I am often referred pro bono clients by the Indianapolis Bar
Association and the Indiana Legal Aid Society. Most of these referrals are one-time consultations.
Daniel Reuter (DR): I do three kinds of pro bono service regularly and two others occasionally. I regularly assist in the biweekly telephone
clinics sponsored by River Valley Legal Aid and in the local in-person clinics River Valley sponsors here in Brown County. I also answer questions via “Free Legal Answers” with some regularity. Occasionally, I help someone who directly asks for my
help and either cannot pay for it or the service is such that I can’t figure out how to charge them. Still more occasionally, I represent a client in a case referred to me by River Valley.
Tarah Baldwin (TB): I establish law clinics. I
also volunteer at self-help clinics that assist pro se litigants.
Anonymous (AA): Generally, I field a few calls per month that I know will not result in a case I take, just to see if I can walk the caller through their predicament. The
legal system is rather opaque for anyone that has not waded in it for a while, and often a phone call can get someone in the right direction. Or at least give them some direction. I also participate in the ABA’s “Ask a Lawyer” program. Same
thing. There are often questions that can be answered in a short email or two. It does not take a big time commitment as long as you are staying in your area of knowledge. A few times a year I will take on a small matter, if they seem to really need
the help and it looks like it’s something I can help them with. I tend to avoid this, though.
Why do you do pro bono?
PS: To sleep better at night 😊
MM: I
was told by my father (my mentor-lawyer) that everyone has an obligation to occasionally perform free services for those who cannot afford a lawyer.
AA: It only helps everyone and the system when you help out where you can. The legal process
is both opaque and scary for the uninitiated. Just explaining to someone how to show up for court and what they can expect helps.
TB: It brings me joy and fulfillment, and part of my approach to legal practice is servant leadership and
a deep-rooted belief in access to justice. It may seem naïve, but I believe that you get what you give.
Tell us about your first or most memorable pro bono experience.
TB:
It was a Saturday morning law clinic on 10th and Rural Street, assisting with intake for Indiana Legal Services, where I was introduced to issues on everything from landlord/tenant to consumer protection. It was a fantastic introduction on how the
legal system can work holistically with medical practice and social work (as was interning with the public defender agency for years, where I represented the indigent as a certified legal intern).
PS: My first experience included interviewing
a client in prison, so that was certainly memorable. But my most meaningful pro bono experience was helping a client get citizenship as his wife was succumbing to a serious illness. She was so worried about what would happen to him after she passed,
and giving her that peace of mind was really powerful.
AA: My most memorable experience is easy. It was with the ABA. I’m a big ‘dog guy,’ and I helped a lady who was locked out of her house, with her dog still inside. She simply didn’t
know what to do and was frozen, unable to act. I put her in contact with the right authorities and I got an update from her the next morning with a picture of her and her dog happy and reunited. The picture is still on my bulletin board. On the other
side, I’ve had a couple tell me I was wrong, that I did not help them, and the like. You’ve got to let that go.
For most attorneys, pro bono is done outside of their expected billable hours or on top of a full day’s work. How do you make time for pro bono in addition to your other responsibilities?
AA: Frankly, it isn’t my top priority. We have intake sheets, and as I review them a few will pop out as something that can be dealt with via a phone call alone. Or staff will put on the intake sheet that “they just need someone to explain
the situation.” As for the ABA, I often work on the weekends and I will start each morning off by handling a couple questions before diving into other things. I generally don’t spend more than 15 minutes on any question—often much less.
MM: I don’t label pro bono cases as “free”—either in my books or in my head. All my clients, whether pro bono or regular, are treated the same and I keep my hours the same for pro bono and regular hourly clients.
TB: I schedule it.
PS: You just have to prioritize it. We all have a lot of things competing for our time (I say as my 2-year-old eats breakfast next to me right now), and if we don’t make something a priority, it won’t happen.
Having the right information and knowledge to take on a pro bono case can also be challenging or a fear for attorneys going in. How do you prepare for your pro bono work—whatever form or field that may be?
DR: For telephone clinics, I make sure that I have the Indianapolis Bar Association manual “Commonly Asked Questions” handy, since I may be asked about areas of law in which I have never practiced. The telephone clinics do provide a short
summary of each inquirer’s concern, and I sometimes look at what I think will be the relevant law before calling the inquirer back. It frequently turns out, however, that the actual question is something quite different.
TB: I work with
stakeholders in the community to identify current legal issues or trends facing members of that community. And then I create collaborations with non-profits, bar associations, and businesses within the local community (in legal deserts) to address
those issues.
MM: Most of my pro bono referrals are typically for a one-hour free consultation. Only rarely do I end up with pro bono clients who require hours and hours of my time and research.
What other challenges have you faced doing pro bono work? How did you address or overcome those challenges?
TB: There is never going to be enough resources or time in the day to provide representation for all those in need of it. To overcome this challenge, I work in collaboration with the Indiana State Bar Association to develop law clinics
that empower the pro se litigant.
MM: The biggest challenge to pro bono work is that potential clients have to be told, right up front, that the attorney time is free, but there are expenses still involved (depositions, court filing fees,
witness fees, document protection fees, and so forth). Many times, you cannot provide equal services to the client because they cannot afford the upfront expenses necessary to proceed with a case.
DR: The only serious challenge I warn
against is to avoid being manipulated into a situation you never intended. When I used to do in-person clinics in another county, I once allowed myself to be manipulated into representing someone in a case in which, for a number of reasons, I did
not wish to appear. Once in a great while it is important to be tough-minded and insist that no means no.
AA: It can be frustrating when someone abuses the situation. I’ve had that happen a couple times over the years—even to the extent
that one time I withdrew from the case. Or when a situation is a loser, like when someone blows a response time on the MSJ or the like. However, letting them know to stop spinning their wheels is a benefit to them, even if you know that they may have
had a defense and they just blew all the deadlines. The other thing is knowing that you cannot help everyone. Do what you can and do no more. It is not good for you, your clients, or the people around you to take on too much. You have to be able to
say no.
Any parting advice to give to someone interested in doing pro bono?
PS: Just do it. Rip the Band-Aid off, make the jump, whichever metaphor works. It’s really not
that hard or intimidating once you start, and it will only get easier. But the longer you let yourself stay intimidated, the harder it will be to get started.
AA: You cannot save everyone. You have to be able to say no. Just like the rest
of your clients, be skeptical of their story. A story is about emotion. Look past the story and figure out what is going on. One more time: You cannot save everyone. You just can’t. Accept that. Do what you can and someone else will pick
up the slack.
TB: Know your commitment level from the beginning. Know the time and resources you are willing to devote in advance and stick to that. Practice with your mind and not with your heart strings. There are a lot of opportunities
to utilize your legal education and law license. If you are looking for pro bono opportunities, contact the Indiana State Bar Association or go to IndianaLegalHelp.org to find volunteer opportunities
for legal professionals.
DR: One difference between a profession and a job is that a professional person is required by that calling to do things for which she or he is not paid. The people we assist are often frightened and bewildered.
It is not necessary to claim omniscience in order to help them. It is okay to admit areas of ignorance, to confess that you cannot provide some information that they need, and to refer them to someone or some organization that can help further. You
will have, at least, provided a start and a path for them to follow.
MM: There’s always something you can do to help.
If you're interested in doing pro bono but don't know where to start, visit Indiana Legal Help's Pro Bono Opportunity Guide to access more resources and find pro bono opportunities
across the state. You can also check out the Indiana Pro Bono Academy and Resource Center, a one-stop shop for Indiana attorneys, paralegals, and staff who provide or who want to provide pro bono or civil legal aid to low-income Hoosiers.
The ISBA is putting together a series of digital “roundtable” articles spotlighting our members and we’d love for you to participate. Every few weeks, we’ll share a new question designed to get to know our members a little better and compile the responses
we receive into an article. Want to participate? Submit your response by visiting inbar.org/memberspotlight and filling out the form, and you may be featured in one of our upcoming
articles. Submit a response »
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