I Just Refuse To Plan

Do not get me wrong.  It is not that I do not have some goals, some objective or some initiative.  After all, planning in its pure sense is an intended method of getting from one set of circumstances to another.  I am not speaking of ad-hoc or informal plans or planning.  I am mainly speaking about formal or structured plans or planning.  I am all into broad-brush enunciations or loose road maps, but I kissed the five-year written plan away a long time ago.  It was a failure and it made me feel like a failure, and who needs that.

What I am talking about are detailed plans, which are in writing, involve assessments, benchmarks, deadlines, budgets and the like.  You know, the same stuff that George Bush does not want to do.

That is for Big Law and for those attorneys who want to conquer the World.  I want to make a decent living doing what I am doing.  Planning in the law firm context is based upon constant exponential growth.  It involves sub-planning.  We need to bring in so much business, this will require the recruitment of so many more associates, who will have to bill at this particular hourly rate in order to cover costs plus some, who will require more office space, and more support staff, and more computers and tech, and so on and so on and so on.  It is an endless rat race and cycle that diverts you from what you wanted to do in the first place -- practice law.

Is it not the point of the Third Wave practice of law to leave all of this behind?

Planning is for the militarily inclined.  The campaigns, the strategies, the logistics, the tactics to prevail over all others. That is not me and that is not the Third Wave practice.  So who needs planning -- at least formal planning.

In truth we plan every day.  I get a scheduling order in and I must plan to take depositions before a certain date.  I plan to attend a bar meeting to let potential referral sources know I am still around.  But, not in the grand strategy kind of way.  I have been there and done that.  I do not want to do that.

Life does not have to be some big chess game in which you need to have several moves planned in advance and the objective is to checkmate everyone else.

I further think it especially does new lawyers and those wanting to make a jump to solo practice a disservice to suggest that they have to have a grand strategy.  They do not.  I do not.  It leads everyone to think that you need to have grand scheme to succeed and you do not.

I think all you need is a desire to practice law in the most cost effective and least time consuming way possible.

So, if it is all the same to you and yours, I will refuse to plan in this way.

All I can say to those who are thinking of solo practice or the Third Wave practice and you do not have a grand scheme, come on in.  The water is fine.  The practice of law is by faith and not by sight in any event, and sometimes you have to trust everything will be okay.

The beautiful thing about the Third Wave practice of law is that you can keep planning to a minimum.  You do not have to plan for office space or staff or how you are going to pay them.  You limit your concern to providing for you, your family and your loved ones.

Comments

[Sandy Slaga]

Chuck, this is exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you!

[Susan Cartier Liebel]

Chuck. You're breaking my heart. What you are describing, the leap of faith, is absolutely correct...but not having some sort of game plan, an understanding of targeting your potential market, some concept of financial needs and cash flow...not too good. It absolutely does not have to be a majorly structured powerpoint presentation capable of qualifying for a bank loan...but there must be a loosely defined road map and basic understanding of the direction. There are some who can be let loose in the wilds of mountains with bubblegum and a match and survive brilliantly. Others can do so intuitively but feel mor secure with six months of supplies. You have to understand your personality, strengths and weaknesses and create a structure based upon those. I wrote a piece on this here: http://susancartierliebel.typepad.com/build_a_solo_practice/2006/12/dont_try_to_win.html
It all turns on your personality, Chuck..but yes, jump in, the water is fine...but first know if you are the type to surf the waves of a falling glacier or someone who would rather swim in the lake with a life jacket not too far from shore and a working toilet.