"I just need one job. It doesn’t matter what’s out there, it doesn’t matter how many people I’m competing with, it doesn’t matter that it’s a recession - just one job."
Shashi Vijay, SU Law Class of 2008
It's hard to believe we've come to the close of our summer series, Job Talk Tuesdays, but we're ending with adventure! Shashi Vijay, founder of
VJ Law Firm and Chair-Elect of the
Washington State Bar Association's Solo & Small Firm Section, discusses going out and boldly creating her own job as a solo practitioner.
Shashi has found great satisfaction as a solo practitioner, working primarily in the areas of business and real estate – for her it was the one right thing. Whether you aim to work for someone else, or have an entrepreneurial spirit that is calling you to create your own job as a solo, heed Shashi's advice that "persistence pays," and remember that all it takes is "just one job – you’ll find it."
If you're seriously considering solo practice, know that Shashi believes, "it is something you can do. You already have the skills, you do have the knowledge." And you don't have to go it alone. Look for mentors, solo practice associations, and others who can encourage you. The law school's
incubator program is designed to help lawyers pursue their solo dreams surrounded by support and community, so look into that as well.
Thank you for tuning in each week for interviews with alumni with grit – it's been a privilege to feature their stories. Job Talk Tuesdays will return next summer, so if you'd like to be in the lineup, contact
Erin Fullner.
