When Is It Time to Hire An Associate?

Susan Cartier Liebel has written a couple of posts in response to a solo lawyer struggling with the decision about whether to hire an associate. The first post, "You Ask - I Answer" - I'm a Solo Growing By Leaps and Bounds. Should I Hire An Associate? includes not only the solo's circumstances, but some expert advice from the perspective of other lawyers, including Lisa Solomon and Carolyn Elefant, as well as from Susan herself.

The post generated a number of comments, and rather than keeping them as comments, Susan created a second post, entitled, Follow Up to 'I'm a Solo Growing By Leaps and Bounds. Should I Hire An Associate?'

The two posts are a good read for those trying to decide whether hiring an associate makes sense - economically and otherwise. Here is an excerpt from my response, contained in Susan's second post:

Before jumping to the conclusion that you need to hire another attorney, ask yourself the following questions:

• How much legal work is actually being performed during the day, and how much time is spent on other endeavors, particularly administrative and non-billable tasks?
• Are my processes and systems such that I am not 'reinventing the wheel' every time I create a document, write a letter, or perform a specific task within the practice?
• Am I re-using or modifying the work I've already done (whether legal work, forms, or business development) for other clients/matters, rather than starting from scratch each time?
• Are there billable tasks within the office that can be performed (either fully or partially) by someone other than an attorney?
• Do I have set procedures for how I perform specific tasks or handle certain types of matters within my practice? Is my practice structured in such a way that repetitive tasks are performed 'automatically' (by the use of technology or otherwise)?
• Do I have the people and management skills to be a boss and a leader?
• Do I have a vision for the future of my firm for my clients and my employees?
• Do I know how an associate would fit in to that vision?
• Am I making the best use of the available technology (hardware and software) at my disposal?
• Am I working with the clients and matters I most want to work with?
• Are my clients loyal clients who refer business to me and pay their bills in full and on time?
• Can I alter my fee structure or the fees themselves to bring in more revenue without hiring another lawyer? (In other words, can I continue to work at the same level but make more money?)

Of course, there are other issues to consider as well, and many of them are covered in Susan's two posts.