San Diego Bar Foundation Recognizes 12 Prominent Past Members of Its Legal Community

The fantasy of starting your own business can be very tempting -- be your own boss, set your own hours, have plenty of time left over for the family, right? But the reality seems to be a lot different these days.

According to a new survey by Robert Half Legal, some 93 percent of lawyers polled said they would not establish a law firm -- even if they had the necessary capital. This represents a steady increase from similar surveys conducted in 2002 and 1997, when 84 percent and 78 percent of lawyers, respectively, reported no interest in flying solo, said the report.

"We're hearing the same thing in San Diego," said Kristin Kanter, branch manager for Robert Half International Inc. staffing service. "There is a reluctance to hang out a shingle."

While capital does play a role, she said, the skittishness of going it along also has a lot to do with all the other headaches they have to ensure, she said.

"Several years ago, we'd see graduates just out of law schools, right off the bat, taking out loans," she said. "They didn't want to deal with the billable hours, the lack of work/life balance. But opening up your own firm has financial challenges, just getting up and running. It takes time. You have to be a business owner and a lawyer simultaneously, and many of them don't have experience in office management, human resources, billing and collection. There's getting a license, paying fees, contracting help when you have an exceptional case load ... there's more to think about than just being your own boss."

Large firms have more resources, she said, and these days young lawyers tend to be looking for the stability and security that an established firm can offer.

"Then, they can concentrate on being lawyers," she said.

The increasing trend toward mergers and acquisitions also has had an impact, especially on senior-level lawyers.

"The negative impact is the turnover of lawyers," Kanter said. "If there are no senior-level openings, some lawyers either open their own firms or go with somebody else. We're seeing two to five senior level attorneys getting together to open their own firms. They have the capital. It's a lot of liability for one person."

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Distinguished Lawyers: The San Diego Bar Foundation last month recognized 12 prominent past members of its legal community at a special event Downtown.

Each year, the Distinguished Lawyer Memorial Fund gives special recognition to deceased lawyers and judges of the San Diego County bar.

Those honored on May 25: Richard Gerry, founding partner of Casey, Gerry, Schenk, Francavilla, Blatt & Penfield; Darrell D. Bratton; Judge Edward T. Butler; Dan E. Hedin; Judge Judith N. Keep; Judge F.V. Lopardo; John W. Netterblad; Judge Leland C. Nielsen; Judge Paul Overton; Emmanuel "Manny" Savitch; Judge Philip Sharp; and James O. Sullivan.

"The foundation's board of directors reviews numerous nominations, and determines the inductees based on their superior legal skills and high ethical standards throughout careers of significant length," said Briana Wagner, the foundation's executive director. "Distinguished lawyers are those who demonstrated themselves to be honest, fair, civil and gently mannered throughout their careers."

Their plaques will be permanently displayed at the Hall of Justice Downtown.

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Legal Star: Camille Sobrian, director of marketing and business development for Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP in San Diego, and vice president of marketing and senior consultant for Procopio Business Consulting, recently was honored during the 2005 San Diego Performing Arts League Star Awards for work with the La Jolla Music Society.

She serves on the board of the San Diego Telecom Council; the advisory board of UC San Diego Connect's Springboard Program; and the Founder's Circle of UCSD Preuss School, and is active in Biocom, UCSD Athena and the Museum of Contemporary Arts, San Diego.

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Onward and Upward: Andrew Serwin, partner in the general commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation practice groups at Foley & Lardner, has been selected to co-chair the California State Bar's Standing Committee on Cyberspace Law.

The committee monitors and reports on current developments in cyberspace law that impact businesses and commercial transactions in California, making recommendations on legislation, developing programs on how cyberspace law affects the practice of business law, and developing a Web site to air current developments in cyberspace law.

Former administrative law Judge Glenna deCamara Eubank recently opened a special education law practice, exclusively for children with disabilities.

She served as an administrative law judge/senior hearing officer for the California Special Education Hearing Office, helping to establish a local legal program that provides pro bono assistance to special needs children.

Eubank also served as a deputy district attorney in the appellate and juvenile divisions of the San Diego County district attorney's office.

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Lowering The Bar: Several weeks ago, we told you about a zany little contest being sponsored by BeatTheBar.com to find the most "successful unsuccessful bar exam entrant." The results are in.

One Maxcy Siler took the, er, honor. This 74-year-old fellow took the exam 48 times, over 20 years, with an investment of -- get this! -- $100,000, of which his family and friends chipped in. He finally passed on his 48th try in 1991 and plies his trade in Compton.

Why didn't he just give up?

"I just love the law!" he was quoted as saying. "And to be a lawyer, you need to pass the bar.

Belated congrats, counselor.

Contact Pat Broderick at pbroderick@sdbj.com or call her at (858) 277-6359, Ext. 3112.