Solosez
Encyclopedia
Solosez is an electronic mailing list
of more than 3,300 members. Most of the members are lawyer
s, law students and law-related professionals, although the list welcomes all comers, lawyer and non-lawyer alike. Sponsored and hosted by the American Bar Association
(ABA) and its General Practice Solo and Small Firm Division. The list started in 1996 with just a handful of members. It quickly grew to be the most successful and active listserve sponsored by the ABA. The ABA also maintains a website, Solosez.net, which features among other things a searchable archive of past discussion threads.
and in other countries, including members located in Germany
, Hong Kong
, Israel
, Japan
, Korea, India, China, South Africa, Panama, New Zealand, Mexico, Denmark, France, and Pakistan
.
The list is designed as a forum for lawyers who are solo and small firm practitioners and is intended to help them share and obtain information on a wide array of personal and professional issues. List members refer to themselves as "Sezzers." Lawyers can seek advice and suggestions from fellow lawyers on topics including how to start a law office, litigation strategies, dealing with difficult clients, the newest legal software, recommendations on computers and other law office technology, and any other topic that solo and small firm lawyers face. The list also serves as a virtual "water cooler
", where members located around the world can discuss those topics common to face-to-face discussions around the water cooler or in the lunchroom.
Each October, Solosez members from around the country and around the world attend a group admission to the bar of the United States Supreme Court.
There are few rules. One rule requires that, before posting the first substantive message to the group, new members must first send a message which introduces themselves by disclosing their favorite drink and the names of any pets living in their home or office. Other rules prohibit political discussion and personal attacks. The current administrator is jennifer j. rose, who manages and moderates the list, as well as selects and publishes the most popular discussion threads or topics on a monthly basis going back to January 2005. She has managed this list since 1997 with a hiatus between September 2007 and January 2009. The popular threads link is available to non-subscribers, allowing them to get a sneak preview of recent "hot" discussion items. Reading the popular threads, or searching through the complete archives, often entices "lurkers" — as those who choose to just read the email discussions and not participate are called — to go one step further and begin to post, offering their own tidbits of wisdom or asking about their pressing issue du jour.
Throughout the U.S., Solosez subscribers have organized, on their own and without any support or endorsement from the ABA, periodic lunch and dinner meetings in various cities. Boston, for instance, has four separate Solosez dinner groups.
Several listserves unaffiliated with the ABA have been spun off by list members, including Solomarketing (focusing on the marketing of sole practices and small firms), Solopol (focusing on political discussions which are otherwise prohibited from Solosez), Soloright (focusing on political discussions from a conservative
viewpoint), and Soloprog (focusing on political discussions from a progressive
viewpoint).
Membership in Solosez is free. Membership in the American Bar Association is not a prerequisite.
Electronic mailing list
An electronic mailing list is a special usage of email that allows for widespread distribution of information to many Internet users. It is similar to a traditional mailing list — a list of names and addresses — as might be kept by an organization for sending publications to...
of more than 3,300 members. Most of the members are lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
s, law students and law-related professionals, although the list welcomes all comers, lawyer and non-lawyer alike. Sponsored and hosted by the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
(ABA) and its General Practice Solo and Small Firm Division. The list started in 1996 with just a handful of members. It quickly grew to be the most successful and active listserve sponsored by the ABA. The ABA also maintains a website, Solosez.net, which features among other things a searchable archive of past discussion threads.
Overview
Solosez members are located throughout the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in other countries, including members located in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Korea, India, China, South Africa, Panama, New Zealand, Mexico, Denmark, France, and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
The list is designed as a forum for lawyers who are solo and small firm practitioners and is intended to help them share and obtain information on a wide array of personal and professional issues. List members refer to themselves as "Sezzers." Lawyers can seek advice and suggestions from fellow lawyers on topics including how to start a law office, litigation strategies, dealing with difficult clients, the newest legal software, recommendations on computers and other law office technology, and any other topic that solo and small firm lawyers face. The list also serves as a virtual "water cooler
Water cooler
A water cooler or water dispenser is a device that cools and dispenses water. They are generally broken up in two categories: bottleless and bottled water coolers...
", where members located around the world can discuss those topics common to face-to-face discussions around the water cooler or in the lunchroom.
Each October, Solosez members from around the country and around the world attend a group admission to the bar of the United States Supreme Court.
There are few rules. One rule requires that, before posting the first substantive message to the group, new members must first send a message which introduces themselves by disclosing their favorite drink and the names of any pets living in their home or office. Other rules prohibit political discussion and personal attacks. The current administrator is jennifer j. rose, who manages and moderates the list, as well as selects and publishes the most popular discussion threads or topics on a monthly basis going back to January 2005. She has managed this list since 1997 with a hiatus between September 2007 and January 2009. The popular threads link is available to non-subscribers, allowing them to get a sneak preview of recent "hot" discussion items. Reading the popular threads, or searching through the complete archives, often entices "lurkers" — as those who choose to just read the email discussions and not participate are called — to go one step further and begin to post, offering their own tidbits of wisdom or asking about their pressing issue du jour.
Throughout the U.S., Solosez subscribers have organized, on their own and without any support or endorsement from the ABA, periodic lunch and dinner meetings in various cities. Boston, for instance, has four separate Solosez dinner groups.
Several listserves unaffiliated with the ABA have been spun off by list members, including Solomarketing (focusing on the marketing of sole practices and small firms), Solopol (focusing on political discussions which are otherwise prohibited from Solosez), Soloright (focusing on political discussions from a conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
viewpoint), and Soloprog (focusing on political discussions from a progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
viewpoint).
Membership in Solosez is free. Membership in the American Bar Association is not a prerequisite.
Further reading
- About Solosez at the ABAAmerican Bar AssociationThe American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
- "Go Solo, but Stay Wired to Virtual Partners", article at HotResponse.com
- "Managing Solosez", article at My Shingle
- "Solo Resources from Solosez", article at Jim Calloway's blog Law Practice Tips
- "Solosez Supreme Court Group Admission", article at the ABAAmerican Bar AssociationThe American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
- "Online Communities", administrator's article at the ABAAmerican Bar AssociationThe American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
External links
- Solosez.net – official website
- General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division of the ABAAmerican Bar AssociationThe American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...