The Independent Practice Initiative

The Solo and Small Practice Incubator is now The Independent Practice Initiative.

The Independent Practice Initiative (IPI), formerly the Solo & Small Practice Incubator (SSPI), is a twelve- to eighteen-month bespoke program tailored to offer a select group of entrepreneurial IIT Chicago-Kent alumni with valuable experience and ongoing training to help build their professional careers as solo or small firm legal practitioners. The program is intended to accelerate the successful development of admitted lawyers in an "incubator" environment. The program primarily caters to IIT Chicago-Kent alumni who have gained bar admission within the past seven years. 

The IPI empowers practitioners by providing:

• substantive and skills training workshops
• coaching in marketing and business development
• mentoring support and networking opportunities
• access to CLE opportunities
• access to services like LexisNexis and Clio to subsidize startup costs

There is no fee to participate in the program. The IPI is housed within the Conviser Law Center, offering private workspace and conference space. The program also has partnerships offering additional external resources like conference rooms, paralegal services, and printing. 

Is Independent Practice right for me?

Independent Practice may not be for everyone. Characteristics of successful candidates may include the following:

You prefer workplace autonomy. You want to be able to take full ownership of your work and crave professional independence. You want control over with whom you work, and how you work with them.

You are ready for the challenge and excitement of independent practice. The thought of maintaining your own practice can be intimidating, but it's exhilarating at the same time. You understand that, starting out, you will not only be the attorney, but the marketing director, business development manager, the accountant, and paralegal . . . all rolled into one. Through our various workshops, you’ll not only learn from seasoned lawyers but from other professionals in the industry — from legal marketers to accountants.

You are curious! Since 2012 the program has helped individuals jump-start their own practices. The program has also helped those who are unsure of their next career steps and want to explore options. Relationships built through the program have opened up referral networks, increased participants’ knowledge and skills and, for some, have opened up new career pathways.

The 2025 Cohort Orientation Will Take Place on December 2, 3, 9, and 10, 2024. 

Applications for the 2025 Cohort are due by November 1, 2024. 

Apply here

Contact Us

For more information about the Independent Practice Initiative, contact William Reynolds at wreynold@kentlaw.iit.edu.