Edward Cohn is a criminal defense attorney who has spent 23 years running his own solo practice across three states. In this episode, he shares why opening his own firm right out of law school gave him the freedom he always wanted, how a background in music shaped his confidence and creativity, and why some lawyers thrive when they build their practice on their own terms.

Lawyer Side Hustles

While Edward doesn’t have a traditional ‘side hustle’, his entire career reflects an entrepreneurial mindset that many lawyers overlook. Instead of building a firm with multiple attorneys, he intentionally crafted a lean practice powered by autonomy, flexibility, and meaningful work. He writes his own pleadings, manages client communication, and supplements his bandwidth by hiring students or contractors when needed.

“You’ve got to be a hustler. You’ve got to have that drive in you… For me, I always had that,” Edward Cohn expresses in Episode 220 of You Are a Lawyer.

Running a solo practice is his entrepreneurial venture, one that lets him control his schedule, spend time with his homeschooled daughter, and avoid the burnout that many lawyers face. His story shows that autonomy itself can be a form of creativity, and that building a practice intentionally can function as the ultimate professional side project: one that supports your life instead of consuming it.

This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.