Going Solo – Some Issues to Consider
Much has been written about the opportunities and the challenges of
going solo. This tip sheet is intended to identify some of the issues to
consider and to get you started on a path to success.
General
Compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct
http://www.lsuc.on.ca/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=214748615
9
Obtaining a business and H.S.T. number
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/gst-tps/rgstrng/menu-eng.html
416.657.0222
Resource Materials
phoenix-legal.com
“Harmonized Sales Tax”, LSUC Law Practice Topics
http://www.lsuc.on.ca/with.aspx?id=2147490126
LSUC Guide to Opening Your Practice
http://www.lsuc.on.ca/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=214749116
6
“Independence Day: Starting Your Own Law Firm”, Arlene Reid
http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/SO/independenceday.aspx
“Field Notes for the Suddenly Solo”, Bev Cline
http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/solosmall_people/fieldnotes.aspx
“Starting a New Firm: Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid and Top 10 Tips for
Success”, Edward Poll
http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/SO/starting10tips.aspx
Type of Practice Arrangement
Sole Proprietorship or Professional Corporation?
Law Society Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L.8, ss. 61.0.1 – 61.0.9, Professional
Corporations
Professional Liability Insurance
Consider whether you should purchase:

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Toronto Board of Trade Tower
Toronto, Ontario
M5X 1C1
Optional Innocent Party Sublimit Buy-Up Coverage, if
practising as a sole practitioner
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http://www.lawpro.ca/insurance/insurance_type/Optional_inno
cent_Party.asp

Innocent Party Sublimit Buy-Up, if practising as a Professional
Corporation
http://www.lawpro.ca/insurance/insurance_type/innocent_party
_sublimit.asp

Excess Insurance Coverage
http://www.lawpro.ca/insurance/insurance_type/excess.asp
350 - 1 First Canadian Place
Toronto Board of Trade Tower
Toronto, Ontario
M5X 1C1
Life, Health and LTD Insurance
Don’t forget to protect yourself and your family by seeking advice
from your personal insurance agent or by contacting:
416.657.0222
phoenix-legal.com

Canadian Bar Insurance Association
http://www.barinsurance.com/
Business and Other Plans
Resource materials:
“Secrets of the Business of Law – Opening Your Own Office: What
Will It Cost?”, Ed Poll, More Secrets of the Business of Law
http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/mf/secrets2.aspx
“Don’t throw in the towel yet: seven points for a struggling solo to
consider”, Carolyn Elefant, Solo by Choice: How to be the Lawyer
You Always Wanted To Be
http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/solosmall_finances/strugglingsol
os.aspx
“Not If, But When: Prepare a Disaster Recovery Plan Today”, Edward
Poll
http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/mf/disaster.aspx
“Contingency Planning for Your Practice”, LSUC Law Practice
Topics
http://www.lsuc.on.ca/with.aspx?id=2147490122
Office and Support
How might you work most effectively and efficiently? Do you have
the space for a home office and the self-discipline to make that work
for you? Do you need the structure and energy of going to an office?
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Options to consider:





home office
purchase or lease individual office space
lease an office within another firm
lease an office at a business centre, executive office suite or
from a law chambers
practise “in association with” one or more other lawyers or a
firm
350 - 1 First Canadian Place
Toronto Board of Trade Tower
Toronto, Ontario
M5X 1C1
If sharing space, consider your needs first and then seek them out e.g.
reception services, IT services, administrative support.
Resource materials:
416.657.0222
“Hiring and Working with Support Staff: A Guide for Solo and Small
Firm Lawyers”, Janice Mucalov
http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/wwp/supportstaff.aspx
phoenix-legal.com
“Outsource Administrative Tasks by Hiring a Virtual Assistant”,
Edward Poll
http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/wwp/va.aspx
“Sharing Office Space”, Lorraine Mallinder
http://www.lawyersweekly.ca/index.php?section=article&articleid=11
04
“Sharing Office Space: Tips for Solo Practitioners”, Bev Kline
http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/solosmall_finances/sharedspace.a
spx
Fees
Resource materials:
“Name your Price: How to set and discuss fees in a solo or small firm
practice”
http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/solosmall_finances/nameprice.as
px
Bookkeeping and Trust Account Requirements
Resource materials:
LSUC Bookkeeping Guide
http://www.lsuc.on.ca/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=214749053
7
“Trust Accounts”, LSUC Law Practice Topics
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http://www.lsuc.on.ca/with.aspx?id=2147490140
“How to Open and Manage a Trust Account”, LSUC Practice Area
Resources
http://www.lsuc.on.ca/For-Lawyers/Manage-Your-Practice/FinancialManagement/Billing/Collections/Trust-Accounts/How-to-Open-andOperate-a-Trust-Account/
“How to Reconcile a Trust Account”, LSUC Practice Area Resources
http://www.lsuc.on.ca/For-Lawyers/Manage-Your-Practice/FinancialManagement/Billing/Collections/Trust-Accounts/How-to-Reconcile-aTrust-Account/
Marketing
350 - 1 First Canadian Place
Toronto Board of Trade Tower
Toronto, Ontario
M5X 1C1
416.657.0222
Resource materials:
phoenix-legal.com
“Marketing Strategy for the Sole or Small-Firm Practice”, Ed Poll
http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/solosmall_marketing/mstrtgy.as
px
“Without a trace: the perils of not having a website”, Debra Bruce
http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/solosmall_marketing/webperils.a
spx
“Solos Who Blog”, Cynthia Kirkby
http://www.cba.org/CBA/PracticeLink/tips/soloblog.aspx
Technology
You may want to consider using the services of a technology
consultant for assistance with tasks like selecting, installing,
configuring and training you in hardware (e.g. PCs, printers, scanners,
smart phones and tablets), software (e.g. practice management,
accounting, time tracking and voice recognition) and services in the
cloud (e.g. Hosted Exchange email accounts, document syncing across
devices and automated data backups).
An example of such services is Adavius Inc. at www.adavius.com.
Resource materials:
“Technology for the Solo, Home or Mobile Office:
Networking and Data Protection”, Christopher Pike
http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/SO/smallfirmnetworks.aspx
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“Technology for the Solo, Home or Mobile Office: Mobile
Computing”, Christopher Pike
http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/tayp/mobilecomputing.aspx
“An Office Can Be Virtual, but Client Service Can’t”, Edward Poll
http://www.cba.org/CBA/PracticeLink/CS/virtual.aspx
“Technology Practice Guideline”, LSUC Law Practice Topics
http://www.lsuc.on.ca/For-Lawyers/Manage-YourPractice/Technology/Technology-Practice-Management-Guideline/
350 - 1 First Canadian Place
Toronto Board of Trade Tower
Toronto, Ontario
M5X 1C1
416.657.0222
phoenix-legal.com
This tip sheet was created by
Janine Denney-Lightfoot,
Consultant,
Phoenix Legal Inc.
Copyright © 2013
March 18, 2013
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