Member Spotlight: Troy W. Poole Inspires by Building Up Other Solos
April 26, 2021
Twenty years after graduating from Howard University School of Law and more than 15 years after hanging out his own shingle, Troy W. Poole has made good on his promise to stay close to his roots and give back to his community.
In 2020 he bought his own office building in the White Oak section of Silver Spring, Maryland, where he has built a reputation as the “solos’ solo.” “This will ensure that I will remain in the community. I was born and raised here. I have been able to help and represent people who watched me grow up, and that means everything to me,” says Poole, who specializes in personal injury cases.
Practicing law, Poole says, fits his personality. “I thought that I could help people and make an impact on my community. It was also a way to run my own business and be my own boss.”
In the early days of his solo career, Poole reached out to his now-mentor A. Scott Bolden at Reed Smith LLP but made clear he was not looking for a position at the firm. Bolden is the first African American full equity partner at Reed Smith, specializing in civil/commercial litigation, white collar criminal defense litigation, and congressional investigations.
During his first meeting with Bolden, Poole told him he was looking for opportunities for his own firm. “Scott told me, ‘You know how many people don’t do what you’ve done? They don’t come and ask for the business,’ remembers Poole. “He called me one Friday afternoon and told me, ‘I have a case for you, get here in an hour.’”
From there, The Poole Law Firm’s clientele began to steadily increase, cementing Poole’s place as one of the go-to litigators in the Washington, D.C., area, with an enviable roster of clients, from politicians to athletes. Yet, Poole has not forgotten to lend a helping hand to those in need.
Poole offers low bono services for modest-means clients and, despite his busy schedule, he makes himself available to speak to students at his former high school interested in a similar career path. His approachable demeanor, coupled with his passion to serve his community, sets him apart from countless other attorneys in the area.
Poole is also known for his open-door policy and willingness to mentor newly minted attorneys, knowing firsthand the challenges of starting a solo practice from the ground up. “Everything in solo practice is about relationships,” says Poole.
Poole creates opportunities for others by connecting solos to his network of legal movers and shakers, provides professional advice, and creates strategic partnerships to help anxious attorneys build up the confidence they need to establish their own practices.
“When people call me, I try to be as helpful as possible. I give it out because there is enough for everybody. If you ask anyone who has called me, they will tell you I tell everything, and as a result, they are successful solos right now. I want to see people happy in what they are doing,” Poole says.
June S. Phillips is a D.C. Bar member and founder of TrueBliss Television.
