You're fresh out of law school and looking to start your own firm, or you've been with your firm for a while and want to try something new.
Either way, if you're thinking of going rogue, you're going to need a good place to do it. And that means it's time for a road trip!
I chose ten states and their best cities for starting a solo law firm using data compiled by Squarefoot, the HuffingtonPost, Zillow, the American Bar Association, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (source links provided at the end of this piece).
A low but positive percentage change year over year for the number of active resident attorneys told me that a given state has a growing market for lawyers, but not as much competition as states with huge positive percentage changes. The included cities were selected based on salaries and rent prices. As a solo lawyer, you'll need a good office space that won't break the bank.
I broke the list of entries out by state, then city, and provided the same statistics for each (presented in descending order of the best places to live). Check out this article for additional resources on how to start your solo law firm.
The Ten Best States for Solo Lawyers
Ready to make your move? Don't do anything before you check out this list.
Let's hit the road!
1. District of Columbia
Average attorney salary: $162,800
Cost of living rank (where #1 is the least expensive state): 49 of 51
Active resident attorney count: 54,692 (2017), up from 52,711 (2016)
% Change: 3.8%
Average annual salary: $99,000
Median home price: $500,300
Salary as a percentage of home price: 19.8%
Median annual rent: $30,300
Rent as a percentage of income: 30.6%
2. Georgia
Average attorney salary: $137,280
Cost of living rank: 19 of 51
Active resident attorney count: 31,672 (2017), up from 31,499 (2016)
% Change: 0.5%
Best city: Atlanta
Average annual salary: $99,000
Median home price: $179,000
Salary as a percentage of home price: 55.3%
Median annual rent: $16,728
Rent as a percentage of income: 16.9%
3. Texas
Average attorney salary: $134,200
Cost of living rank: 15 of 51
Active resident attorney count: 89,361 (2017), up from 87,957 (2016)
% Change: 1.6%
Best city: Houston
Average annual salary: $90,000
Median home price: $141,300
Salary as a percentage of home price: 63.7%
Median annual rent: $16,932
Rent as a percentage of income: 18.8%
4. California
Average attorney salary: $155,750
Cost of living rank: 47 of 51
Active resident attorney count: 168,746 (2017), up from 167,690 (2016)
% Change: 0.6%
Best city: San Francisco
Average annual salary: $107,000
Median home price: $806,300
Salary as a percentage of home price: 13.3%
Median annual rent: $52,248
Rent as a percentage of income: 48.8%
5. Illinois
Average attorney salary: $132,910
Cost of living rank: 23 of 51
Active resident attorney count: 62,782 (2017), down from 63,060 (2016)
% Change: -0.4%
Best city: Chicago
Average annual salary: $95,000
Median home price: $200,200
Salary as a percentage of home price: 47.5%
Median annual rent: $19,920
Rent as a percentage of income: 21%
6. Massachusetts
Average attorney salary: $152,990
Cost of living rank: 46 out of 51
Active resident attorney count: 43,442 (2017), up from 43,221 (2016)
% Change: 0.5%
Best city: Boston
Average annual salary: $100,000
Median home price: $468,000
Salary as a percentage of home price: 19.8%
Median annual rent: $30,036
Rent as a percentage of income: 30%
7. Florida
Average attorney salary: $128,050
Cost of living rank: 26 out of 51
Active resident attorney count: 77,008 (2017), up from 75,697 (2016)
% Change: 1.7%
Best city: Orlando
Average annual salary: $85,960
Median home price: $269,000
Salary as a percentage of home price: 31.9%
Median annual rent: $17,700
Rent as a percentage of income: 20.5%
8. New York
Average attorney salary: $155,050
Cost of living rank: 47 out of 51
Active resident attorney count: 177,035 (2017), up from 175,195 (2016)
% Change: 1.1%
Best city: New York City
Average annual salary: $96,000
Median home price: $599,900
Salary as a percentage of home price: 16%
Median annual rent: $27,540
Rent as a percentage of income: 28.7%
9. Delaware
Average attorney salary: $152,490
Cost of living rank: 36 of 51
Active resident attorney count: 2,978 (2017), up from 2,952 (2016)
% Change: 0.9%
Best city: Wilmington
Average annual salary: 90,000
Median home price: $216,100
Salary as a percentage of home price: 41.6%
Median annual rent: $14,100
Rent as a percentage of income: 15.6%
10. Washington
Average attorney salary: $124,000
Cost of living rank: 37 out of 51
Active resident attorney count: 25,786 (2017), up from 25,577 (2016)
% Change: 0.8%
Best city: Seattle
Average annual salary: $86,000
Median home price: $521,400
Salary as a percentage of home price: 16.5%
Median annual rent: $28,752
Rent as a percentage of income: 33.4%
Where do you want to kick off your solo law firm?
Are you really craving the Houston weather, or are you more of a rainy Seattle person? Are you running a great solo firm somewhere else entirely? Let me know in the comments below, or tweet me @CapterraHalden.
No matter where you end up, you need the best tools to manage your law firm. Check out Capterra's list of free law practice management software to find the best fit for your practice.
Sources for this piece: