Happy update time!
My solo practice has been growing. Over the past few months, I've paid off four credit cards. I still have a lot to go, but I'm seeing progress. I'm now doing more like 20-25 hearings per month, and some of them are appearance-only hearings, which means that someone else does the case development and pays me to show up. So, I get paid either way on those ones.
I still do more contingency hearings, but I have a good mix. I'm getting enough appearance-only work to replace my doc review income, so I gave my two weeks' notice last week. Next Friday and I'm solely working for myself. No more two job shuffle and 16 hour days. I'll have time to have a personal life again.
It's frankly terrifying to quit the security of a steady(ish) paycheck, but one of the project managers has said that I can come back anytime I want, so I at least have that backup if things fall south.
I'm really excited about this new development. Things are looking up. Maybe I'll have to change the name of the blog to "not so broke urban lawyer" sometime soon!
Four credit cards down, four credit cards, a car loan, and all of my student loans to go!
