What does it mean to ‘Hang Your Own Shingle’?

By Jed McKeehan

If you ever speak with an attorney who owns their own law firm, and they talk about how they started their own business, you may hear them say something like this, “After ten years at the big corporate firm I decided to hang my own shingle.” What does that mean exactly? Is this lawyer talking about roofing a house?

While I know a lawyer or two who may be better suited at roofing than lawyering, it has nothing to do with roofing a house. This terminology originated when professionals would paint signs on house shingles on the sides of their house advertising their business.

I will admit, I have only ever heard lawyers use this phrase – doctors and other professionals may use this phrase, too – but essentially it means leaving someone else’s employment and opening your own business.

Does that mean that this lawyer works out of their house? Many lawyers do so, especially in this post-COVID era, but it does not necessarily have to mean that. It may simply mean that someone has opened their own business after previously working as an employee for someone else.

Jedidiah McKeehan is an attorney practicing in Knox County and surrounding counties.  He works in many areas, including family law, criminal, and personal injury. Visit attorney-knoxville.com for more information about this legal issue and other legal issues.