Practice Management

Birds Do It, Bees Do It, Even Educated Fleas To It

By chucknewton

Rick Georges at Future Lawyer has an interesting post about legal specialization based upon questions raised by Michael Wade over at Execupundit.  Quoting from science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein we are told that specialization is for insects.  But, I say if it is good enough for insects then it is good enough for us attorneys.

Maybe I am a bit more mechanical than other lawyers, but I have limited my practice to about 6 pages of the Bankruptcy Code.  I know 6 pages well.  Sure other areas come into play, but I do feel more comfortable being able to master a smaller area (a niche) than to always wonder if I am over my head doing many other things.  I have a gut feel for the law in my area.  I can narrow facts and determine quickly if a case is both feasible and profitable.  Okay, I might not know a the difference between divorce law and antitrust law, but I am happy going about my routine tasks each day.

I disagree to some extent that solo lawyers work against the trend of being insects.  Oh sure we are the chief cook and bottle washers of the firm.  From a office management bases we need to do some more peripheral tasks than maybe an associate in a large firm.  But, as far as legal analysis and practice, I believe it is the benefit of the niche practice or specialization that allows us as solos to be on our own.  Try covering the spectrum of criminal law and civil law, take whatever comes into the door, and see how pleasant it  really is not.

So, the real story of the birds and the bees is that we as lawyers (and especially solo lawyers) should specialize.  Maybe I am just an educated flea, but I am happy being an educated flea.

Full post as published by Chuck Newton on January 15, 2008 (boomark / email).