Why Sometimes Lawyers Should Work Alone

It wasn't necessarily a compliment if somebody once said: "You should become a lawyer."

That's because being good at argumentation is not the same as being argumentative. It's the difference between being a good talker and being an annoying chatterbox.

It's also a reason why sometimes lawyers should work alone. It's hard to get into an argument when nobody is talking to you.

Fewer Conflicts

You can't offend a co-worker in a solo operation, but that's not the main reason attorneys often work better by themselves. 

Some lawyers were born to be solo practitioners. They have different lifestyles, and solo practice gives them the freedom to do things their way.

But every lawyer needs personal space sometimes, like when doing legal research, filing motions on deadline, or preparing for a trial. It could also be that moment after a courtroom defeat -- that "need to get away" feeling.

It's not just the litigators; corporate counsel need "me time," too. General counsel often go it alone, especially when they are the only person in the company with a law degree.

More Money

Some lawyers make more money on their own. If you have a legal niche, you may be the only game in town.

Morra Aarons-Mele, writing for Entrepreneur, says you can make more money "when the pool is smaller and your expertise is greater."

"You can control your category with less effort, and your clients will come to you for exactly what you offer," she says. "That's less selling for you -- and clear-cut expectations from them."

Basically, it's about focus -- and billable hours not spent chatting around the water cooler.

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