How to Choose the Best Name for Your Solo Law Practice

By Melanie Fischer, Guest Blogger

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
-Wiliam Shakespeare

The above mentioned quote is one of the most famous lines in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. In the quote, Juliet is conveying the message that a name is not important, and that a name does not necessarily define what something actually is.

However, when it comes to what you call your solo law practice, does your firm’s name matter? Will the name of your firm define you as an attorney? When opening a new solo law practice, selecting a name for your firm can be a daunting task, and there are several factors to consider.

When thinking about a name for your firm, it’s important to ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you want to use your own name in the law firm’s name?
• Do you want the name of your law firm to represent the area of law in which your firm will focus?
• Should you choose a name for your law firm that correlates to your website URL?

Using Your Own Name in Your Solo Law Firm’s Name
Many solo attorneys use their own name as the name of their law firm. Using this tactic is undoubtedly a safe and common way to represent your small firm. However, there are a few things to take into consideration before you decide to use your name as your firm’s name. For example, it’s important to consider the fact that you may not remain a solo attorney forever. Years into the future, you may decide to merge your practice with one or more additional solo attorneys. At that time, you may want to change the name of your firm. Keep in mind that changing the name of your firm in the future will take time and effort. While this might not be a concern right now, it’s something to think about.

Incorporating Your Practice Area in Your Firm’s Name
It is not uncommon for solo attorneys to use their practice area in the name of their law firm. For example, a solo attorney who practices personal bankruptcy law might choose to name his or her law firm Get Out of Debt Law Firm Colorado. One downside to using a practice area in your law firm’s name is that you may want to expand your legal practice area(s) in the future, and your law firm’s name will only depict your original legal focus.

Matching Your Law Firm’s Name to Your Website URL
If you are hoping to capture new clients through an internet search, a search engine optimized website and a strategically selected URL is important. A smart website name is essential when it comes to the possibility of potential clients finding you via a random internet search. For example, if you practice is named Get Out of Debt Law Firm Colorado, and your website URL is: www.getoutofdebtcolorado.com, potential clients may find you if they are searching for a way to get out of debt in the state of Colorado. (For more information and guidance on website names, URLs, and search engine optimization, it’s important to seek professional advice from a reputable digital marketing agency.)

As you can see, selecting a name for your solo law firm is not necessarily a simple matter. Remember, you want to choose a name that represents you and your firm. Changing a law firm’s name can be a hassle, so it’s important to select a name that you believe will suit you well for at least several years.