We must be. How else can you explain perfectly rational, intelligent individuals constantly referring to themselves in the third person and plural on their websites. You’ve seen the websites – “Attorney John Doe graduated from the University of East Dakota Law School. Attorney Doe, who started his practice in 2007, now limits his law practice solely to Estate Planning. Attorney Doe welcomes your inquiry, and offers a free 30 min. consultation.” Or similarly, “We welcome your inquiry and offer a free 30 min. consultation.”

Can you imagine if everyone went through life like this? How strange would it be to have a conversation like the following:

Waiter: Can I take your order sir?

Attorney Doe: Yes, Attorney Doe would like to have a salad and a bowl of soup.

Waiter: Will Attorney Doe be joining you soon?

Attorney Doe: I am Attorney Doe!

Waiter: I apologize. Is there anything else that Attorney Doe would like?

Attorney Doe: Yes, we will also have a Diet Coke.

I raise this point jokingly, but it is a legitimate issue that most solo attorneys grapple with as they design their websites. When I first started to practice, I designed my website to be in the third person and plural. Why? I’m not quite sure, other than I saw other attorneys doing it. The more I added to the website or changed it, though, the more uncomfortable I felt referring to myself in the third person or plural.

After much struggling with the approach of the web site, I finally decided to change it to be first person and singular.  I started to realize that one way or the other, the client is going to find out that I am a solo practitioner. Why try to hide it?  I decided that my best approach was to take advantage of being in practice on my own. Let the potential clients find out as soon as possible that I’m a solo attorney, that I understand their area of the law, that I’m easy to communicate with, and that they will be dealing one-to-one directly with me.

I will close by saying that there is no right or wrong with this issue. I have taken both approaches, and have decided that I feel more comfortable talking about myself and my practice in the first person and singular. That is just Attorney Baron’s opinion, though. He welcomes your comments.  You can find out more about Attorney Baron by visiting his web site at: http://www.lawbaron.com.  🙂