One area where practice-management costs are actually falling is technology. This is great news for fledgling solo practitioners, who face challenges enough as they hang out those shiny new shingles.

"As more and more attorneys, whether recent graduates or those leaving firms, open new solo offices, can they obtain the necessary technology on a reasonable budget?" So asks Nerino Petro of ISBA's Standing Committee on Legal Technology. "Can it be done for $1,000? What happens if you have a slightly larger budget of $2,500 or even $5,000?"

To help find answers, he turned to fellow COLT member and Illinois lawyer Bryan Sims. The result? An article in the COLT newsletter that names product names and gives solos a blueprint for meeting their tech needs on a budget they can afford. Read their recommendations.