New lawyers ordinarily follow the traditional lawyer flowchart:

1. Intern at a law firm or other legal office while you desperately wait for your bar exam results.
2. Promote from intern to associate as a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, aspiring attorney.
3. Get a reality check as you put in 50 to 60 hours a week (minimum).
4. Pull a couple all-nighters at your desk.
5. Grind away at the office until your hairline recedes or turns grey—or both—at the ripe old age of 35.
6. 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.

Many of us would not have made it to where we are today without the guidance and advice of our mentors. Whether they be a teacher early on in our education, a law professor, a coworker or supervisor at our first job, or just a strong friend, these mentors left behind a strong impression.

We asked ISBA members to share which mentors left the biggest impressions on them. This is what they had to say.

“I have had many wonderful mentors. In junior high school, I had an American History teacher, Mr. Matecun, who was the first teacher who inspired me to love learning. He made it fun to learn by telling personal things about historic figures. I remember (sad that this is the one I remember) he told us that the carpet in the White House had to be replaced after President Buchanan left because he regularly missed the spittoon when he spit out his chewing tobacco! Mr. Matecun remained a mentor and friend until his death.”

- Hon. Martha Wentworth, Judge, Indiana Tax Court

“Gail Bederman, one of my favorite history professors at Notre Dame, was one of my biggest influences. She loved teaching and made learning interactive for us. Professor Bederman helped me consider the world differently and think critically, yet she also wasn’t afraid to challenge me to be a better student and writer. I wouldn’t be the same person or the same attorney without her.”

- Courtney Endwright, Partner, Betz + Blevins

“My tennis coach growing up was the biggest influence. He taught me at a very, very young age what it meant to work hard, be organized, and act with integrity."

- Kent Winingham, Attorney, Wilson Kehoe Winingham

“The mentor who left the biggest impact on me is Ryan Waggoner, a former partner at Ice Miller. Before I even went to law school, I connected with him because I was nervous about going to law school as a first-gen college student from rural Indiana. He taught me that being a first-generation student is an asset, not an obstacle, and I’ve been able to leverage my work ethic and resourcefulness in new ways thanks to him. Now I know how to market my differences and uniqueness in my work and professional development, and it has been immensely helpful. Thanks, Ryan!”

- Libby Moyer, Litigation Associate, Ice Miller LLP

“Judge Charles D. O'Connor, Shelby County, has been a mentor of mine since practically birth. Judge O'Connor was a good friend of my father's which in turn provided opportunity for me to grow up and become close friends with one of his sons. The first time I ever envisioned going into law was when I job shadowed Judge O'Connor in high school. A high school acquaintance was in court that day. I knew the student on a personal level and knew that he was not a stellar student and got in quite a lot of trouble in school. Judge O'Connor only knew the student as a juvenile who was drag racing in the middle of his town putting everyone on the road in danger. Judge O'Connor somehow sensed that this student who was in front of the judge for the very first time needed more than just a reprimand. Judge O'Connor's insight and fair temperament reviewed the case and implemented a sentence accurately appropriate for this individual. Throughout my legal career Judge O'Connor has been a mentor and friend. Even in retirement, Judge O'Connor is always my first call when I need an experienced and knowledgeable ear to listen and guide me through my new solo venture.”

- Martha Showers, Attorney, Showers Legal

Our Member Roundtable series is a series of articles looking at ISBA members from both a professional and personal lens, telling their stories and painting a picture of what makes Indiana’s legal profession the community it is. Each month, we’ll share responses gathered from ISBA members on a different topic, and we encourage you to participate. Share your own responses in the comments, or get ahead of the game and be featured in the next article. You can submit responses at inbar.org/MemberSpotlight.

Previously published roundtables:

• How We Do Pro Bono

Written by J. Gregory Shelley, Bose McKinney & Evans LLP

The last time I was in Washington D.C., I was 13 years old with my father attempting to impress upon me the importance of the monuments and institutions we were visiting.  Who could have imagined the next time I was in our nation’s capital, some 50 years later, I would be standing in the front row of the galley of the United States Supreme Court, with 8 of my Indiana colleagues, our right arms raised, being sworn in before all 9 Justices? A day no lawyer expects or could ever forget.  For me, it was made particularly special when my partner and friend, George T. Patton, Jr., approached the podium and moved the Court to admit each of the 9 Indiana attorneys. (We were relieved when Chief Justice Roberts approved his motion!)

Treated as honored guests from the moment we arrived and faced the imposing statue of Chief Justice John Marshall (remember to rub his toe for good luck!), we waited in an elegant conference room before portraits of John Jay and others to be addressed by the Clerk of the Court as to the day’s protocol and procedure. Once the entire galley of the Supreme Court was seated for the day’s oral argument, we were led in to our special seats – just feet from the Justices.

To be honest, I was initially disappointed to learn we would be hearing about the Indian Child Welfare Act, rather than a hot political topic, like gun rights, abortion or election issues. How short-sighted I was! It was an epic states’ rights versus federal interests battle that engaged the Court for over 3 hours, with every Justice grilling counsel. Justice Thomas demanding each counsel justify standing before proceeding; Justices Barrett and Kavanaugh tag-teaming counsel, Justice Sotomayor eliciting a wry smile from Chief Roberts when she scolded him to “allow counsel to finish his response”! Most memorable was Justice Gorsuch’s laser wit calmly dissecting and challenging counsel to focus his argument (“OK, so we’re back to that now, are we?”). One can only be impressed at the depth and breadth of required preparation for the honor of appearing in this forum. Every day there, is an important day in American history. And now we await the fate of the ICWA.

My sincere thanks to the ISBA for making this a possibility, and I encourage all attorneys to take advantage of this opportunity at some point in their career.