What kind of $ are solo practitioners making?

[FS]

My brother is a PI attorney, and he is very vague about the kind of $ he is making, but has a huge house in north dallas, university park.

If you put out your own shingle, what kind of money is to be made. I do know that for the first two years he made less than $20,000, but then his practice took off, and is killing now.

thanks

[QUAKER OATS]

Like you said; you will make nothing for a few year but you can BANK after that.  I worked for a small firm (6 attorneys) and the owner NETTED about $40k/month!!

Somethings to consider:  You better love marketing, b/c you will have to schmooze people all the time to get your name out there; you will have to deal with business BS, like accounting/bookkeeping, etc.

I'm thinking about it too, but there are some definite drawbacks.

[bobbykurva]

tag

[ApproachTheBench]

You will make somewhere between $5,000 and $5 million a year.

[LegalLatin78]

HAHA that last post is hilarious/ridiculous. 

I have worked in BIGLAW and boutique law.  I can honestly say that a successful sole practitioner makes just as much if not more than many attorneys at BIGLAW firms.  On the other hand, Learned Hand is correct in saying that the business side/BS is a headache.  Accounting, people quitting on you, firing people, hiring people, marketing yourself, etc.  It is tough being your own boss, but if you can hack it, the rewards can have unlimited potential.
 

[nonamesleftforme]

Hey great, I'm glad we're talking about this.  I agree that marketing has got to be a number 1 priority, and managing people, etc.  But I think if you can make it the rewards certainly outlive the costs.  Hat's off to your rich family member in Texas.

I worked for an attorney who went to school at night and kept his day job then worked part time as a sole practitioner at first to see if he could make it.  His field is so specialized, that he make 80K his first year part-time.  Not too shabby for part time.