  Another successful solo-preneur has been kind enough to share with us her insights and advice for starting your own law firm. Read on for Michelle Fernandes' tips on what to do (and not to do) when starting out on your own:
1. Tell me a little about your law firm/practice. I love what I do. I practice criminal defence law exclusively and have my entire career. It is the best of all possible worlds; no two cases are the same, nor the clients. I have the chance to delve into constitutional law, trial and appellate advocacy. From bail hearings to jury trials, I have the opportunity to defend all manner of charges and appear in all levels of court. At my firm, my primary focus is on the vigorous defence of charges, but I take a more holistic approach to my clients’ cases. People who walk through my door are facing one of the most stressful periods of their lives. Some are at their lowest. Some struggle with issues that contributed to their case, so I suggest services to address those. It has a positive impact and puts them in a better position to fight their charges. Being able to provide a strong, experienced, and compassionate defence for these individuals…it’s just amazing. 2. Why did you start your own firm? How did you make this decision? I was a partner at Rusonik, O’Connor, Robbins, Ross, Gorham and Angelini L.L.P. (now Rusonik, O’Connor, Robbins, Ross & Angelini, L.L.P.), a large criminal defence trial and appellate firm from 2011 to 2017 in downtown Toronto. In 2017, I left to open my own firm to better serve my clients because I wanted to provide a more holistic approach to criminal law. There are underlying issues and stresses that contribute to people winding up in the justice system. I wasn’t satisfied merely being another part of the revolving door, so I offer external resources to anyone interested. Venturing out on my own took several months of consideration and working on my exit plan. I reviewed materials provided by the Law Society of Ontario and consulted with several lawyers of my vintage, who had already left to start their own practice. I amassed savings to cover business and living expenses for the first two years as well as to provide a psychological poultice against an uncertain income flow. I also established tenancy where there were others practicing criminal law. 3. What are some of the benefits of running your own firm? I experienced all the benefits that would readily spring to mind: a more satisfying work/life balance; the freedom and independence that comes with being your own boss; as well as greater flexibility. What I didn’t expect were the cost savings, increased and upgraded client service offerings and improved quality of life that resulted from abandoning traditional forms of overhead. There are virtual assistants, virtual meetings, shared office spaces and staff that can be obtained for a fraction of the cost and time required to run a traditional brick and mortar style firm. COVID19 has highlighted the weaknesses of the old, outdated modes of practicing the law and forced change that should already have been ushered in a decade ago. I can also cherry pick my colleagues and mentors. While working for a firm, you end up spending a lot of time there and consequently with the people who work there when you’re not in court. As wonderful as the people in your firm may be, to really grow as a lawyer you have to expose yourself to other ways of approaching cases and thinking about the law. Some level of groupthink and resistance to change is inevitable in long established firms and practices. My work is, in part, my legacy, as it is with many other lawyers. At some point you have to ask yourself, what will be your unique footprint in this world? How are you shaping the law and the practice of it? The way “things have always been done” are rarely the best ways to do it and certainly not the only ways. Be brave. Be better. Challenge the status quo. Make your unique contribution. 4. What are some of the challenges of running your own firm? How have you tried to overcome them? Starting out I was terrified I would not be able to make ends meet. That fear was unfounded, but you do have to learn how to effectively market yourself and not just throw money at the problem, or do what you see others doing. One problem I did not anticipate was having new clients banging down your door when you are buried in trial work for weeks on end and unable to assist. I had great lawyers to refer work to, but who weren’t always able to return the favour due to the nature of their practice or other constraints in their lives. I developed a network of lawyers that I respected as colleagues and on a personal level, whom I could refer work and who would refer work back. Just like in your personal life, reciprocity is vital to a healthy, long term business relationship. I approached more senior or established lawyers who had a lot of work, but not the staff to handle it. They used me on a case by case basis when they were too busy to prep their matters themselves, or as co-counsel on large, complex cases. It’s a great way to build relationships and your reputation when starting your own practice. I also developed relationships with lawyers outside of criminal law. Often there are complementary practice areas which overlap with your own. Forging relationships with such lawyers brings needed diversity to your own work, allows you to develop alternative sources for referrals and support when you have queries that are outside your area of expertise. 5. What advice would you give to a lawyer thinking about starting their own firm? Develop a network of lawyers you feel comfortable sending a text, email, or even picking up the phone and calling at the drop of a hat before you go out on your own. Be considerate when you reach out. Select times, days, modes of communication and time durations that work for them. Everyone has their own pressures and commitments, so unless a short deadline has been imposed on you that’s beyond your control, give others a lot of time to respond. Send a gentle reminder to them if they haven’t responded in a reasonable time period and always express gratitude. Appreciation and consideration will take you much further than an attitude of entitlement and indifference. Expect to feel fear, anxiety, and self-doubt. It gets better as you go along, but don’t expect those feelings to ever disappear entirely. Everyone has them, whether or not they will admit to them. Find people in your professional and personal life to share those thoughts with so they don’t overwhelm you. Most importantly be kind to yourself and don’t compare yourself to others. This job is not without its stressors and detractors. Don’t be one of them. ------------------------------------------------------ Thank you Michelle for your honest and helpful advice and guidance. You can reach Michelle at michelle@fernandesdefence.com ICYMI our previous posts featured Laura Chaves Paz, Diane Ulman, Sara Forte, Darielle Teitelbaum Darlene Tonelli, Amy Grubb, Emilia Coto, Karen Kwan Anderson, Shamim Ara, Mitchell Rose, Lisa Feldstein, and Ellen Low. Stay tuned for more profiles coming soon.... Do you have a busy law practice but you are not ready to make your first full-time hire? Let us help. Our freelance lawyers and law clerks assist on an as-needed project basis.
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  Meet this week's talented law firm founder, Laura Chaves Paz of Chaves Paz Legal and read about her advice on how to successfully start your own law firm:
1. Tell me a little about your law firm/practice. Chaves Paz Legal is a boutique law practice based in Ottawa, Canada. We help our clients navigate the challenges of crossing cultures and legal systems with ease. We provide legal advice to professionals, businesses, families and students on all matters relating to the immigration and citizenship process in Canada. We also have expertise in contract law, public and private international law, corporate governance, public procurement and legal research for lawyers. 2. Why did you start your own firm? How did you make this decision? As an immigrant who arrived in Montreal in 2006, I faced several hurdles to establishing my law career in Canada. Overcoming the challenges of going back to law school after having practiced for more than decade in Argentina and in Washington D.C. made me a more resilient, and empathetic, lawyer. Both qualities that are essential in starting your own firm. After finishing my articling and maternity leave, I found that establishing myself in the job market was easier said than done. Not everyone recognized what a Latina lawyer with many years of international experience and an accent could bring to the table. So partly due to these challenges, and my own desire to do something that would give me flexibility and allow me to help others like me, I felt it was best to start my own firm. I’m not afraid to say that at first, it was scary. I was anxious about all the same questions anybody who starts a business is consumed by: Will I have clients? If I have doubts about something, who do I consult? Do I have the experience to be on my own? After several years on my own, I now know that I made the right decision, even though these questions never truly go away. With the experience I’ve gained, I’ve learnt to enjoy being my own boss and to work on files that I like. 3. What are some of the benefits of running your own firm? The biggest benefit is the flexibility. The possibility of working from home—or from Argentina when I visit my parents—really gives me peace of mind. The flexibility in choosing the files that I want, and to be able to focus on the areas that I am most passionate about, is certainly the biggest benefit for me. While I have very busy periods where I work many hours to support my clients, I also have down times where I can focus on my family and my hobbies. 4. What are some of the challenges of running your own firm? How have you tried to overcome them? As a service provider, the biggest challenging is client relationships. As you build a reputation and learn from experience, you can’t be very selective. But over time, it’s important to ensure there is a good right fit with the clients you’re working with. As a sole practitioner, "who is your client and how do you get along with them" is much more important than when you work in-house or for a big firm with many lawyers who contribute to a file. I was fortunate to benefit from the advice of a mentor, who was a senior attorney at one of the largest firms in Canada. Although his reality was different, he helped me define who my clients should be given my personality, experience and way of working. This has helped me build trusted relationships with my clients which is critical to obtaining positive results. Another challenge for independent lawyers is the administration, invoicing, and the numerous obligations we have as members of the Law Society. Paperwork is certainly not my favourite part of my job! Best way to overcome this is building a strong network to share tips about practice management, and even just to share frustrations and fears and how we manage the self-doubt that inevitably pops up. As lawyers, we can tend to be perfectionists, and to set high expectations for ourselves that often don’t match the reality of our daily lives. It is important to be able to talk about these issues with other lawyers. One of the best things I did was to serve on the Board of the Canadian Hispanic Bar Association. It gave me confidence, brought me together with peers who had a similar background and helped me find my place in the Canadian legal world. 5. What advice would you give to a lawyer thinking about starting their own firm? My advice is to take some time to think about whether you understand the pros and cons to be an independent lawyer and practice on your own. Talk to other sole practitioners, build a support network and make conscious efforts to keep in touch. This is more important now as we’re living through a pandemic. And I can’t stress this enough—keep the cost of your practice as low as a you can so you can focus on client relationships. You’ll get so much more return on investment from the time you spend on nurturing your network and going the extra mile for your initial clients, than you will from an office with an expensive address and high overhead. -------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you Laura for taking the time to share some of your valuable advice. ICYMI our previous posts featured Diane Ulman, Sara Forte, Darielle Teitelbaum Darlene Tonelli, Amy Grubb, Emilia Coto, Karen Kwan Anderson, Shamim Ara, Mitchell Rose, Lisa Feldstein, and Ellen Low. Stay tuned for more profiles coming soon.... Do you have a busy law practice but you are not ready to make your first full-time hire? Let us help. Our freelance lawyers and law clerks assist on an as-needed project basis.   Ready for some more tips on how to successfully start your own law firm? Today's post features advice from Diane E. Ulman of Integris Law: 1. Tell me a little about your law firm/practice. Integris Law is a nimble, modern practice that uses technology to make dealing with legal matters simpler and less time consuming for our clients. I co-founded Integris Law with a high school friend, Brandon Lee, after we reconnected a few years ago. We are headquartered in Oakville with additional satellite locations in Mississauga and Waterloo. We provide legal services across the Greater Golden Horseshoe and regularly see clients in Mississauga, Toronto, Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Brampton, Dundas, Hamilton, and Stoney Creek. My primary focus is residential real estate with a secondly focus on wills/POAs. 2. Why did you start your own firm? How did you make this decision? I was at cross-roads in my career. I decided it was time to stop looking for an Associate position at a firm to instead go out on my own with a high school buddy who happened to be looking for his next venture. 3. What are some of the benefits of running your own firm? There is a lot of flexibility in how to structure your new firm. We could have easily gone with tradition of signing up for a 5-year lease or buying a retiring lawyer’s practice. This approach has worked for many, but I was very opposed to starting in debt from day one. Instead we grew organically by cold-calling agents, mortgage brokers, and reached out to friends/acquaintances to develop our client base. 4. What are some of the challenges of running your own firm? How have you tried to overcome them? Becoming an employer/manager is a challenge because I have never done it in the past. It is a welcomed challenge and absolutely necessary to have a team helping with managing real estate files. This allows me to focus on business development and business strategy. 5. What advice would you give to a lawyer thinking about starting their own firm? Do you need to be entrepreneurial? Ask me again in 5 years! I do not consider myself entrepreneurial but have still gone out on my own. I certainly believe there are traits that have helped me so far. Being comfortable being uncomfortable Although I may be stressed, I can manage my way through unknown territory and can figure out a solution. Flexibility is essential It is a fine idea to have a 1-, 3-, 5-year plan to help point the business in the right direction. What I fine much more difficult is sticking to a daily to-do list because urgent matters will pop-up and that daily schedule to tossed out the window. If you have a spouse... They must be on your side. I think Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook is right on point when she said that the most important career choice you will make is choosing your spouse. I lucked out that my spouse is my number one cheerleader. At times he had more confidence in me than I did in myself. If you don’t have a spouse... Instead have a trusted friend or mentor that will help dissect a business problem. Even if they can’t give you precise guidance it helps to hash out a dilemma out loud verse in your head. Any tech you can’t live without? Our requirement is that all programs we used be cloud based. I’m often on the road at meeting with agents, brokerages, and clients and need access to our files at all times. Although we do have bricks and mortar offices now, they are absolutely not necessary. I can’t live without Zoom for client meetings and an online booking platform to schedule them. I can’t live without podcasts about entrepreneurship. I find it invaluable to listen to other founders’ experience, successes, and most importantly struggles. It helps to know you’re not the only one who doesn’t have all the answers when you’re starting out. I habitually listen to How I Built This, The Pitch, and Without Fail. Any advice on how to get clients? Talk. To. Everyone. I find it amazing how chance encounters turned into an opportunity months down the line. It also helps that I am genuinely interested in people’s stories and backgrounds. Several people I have randomly met at events, weddings, coffee shops, etc. have contacted me to help them in the future. My advice for those first starting out, and especially new calls, is as much as you don’t want to turn away business, don’t be afraid to. Use those deductive skills you honed in law school and make sure the deal, situation, and information from the potential client adds up. We had a few cold calls in our early days that were questionable. They may have called us because we were a new firm, but fortunately I am not a new call so had enough experience to politely turn away the potential client. When should you make your first hire? At first, I was closing our real estate files from beginning to end. It was just my partner and I doing everything to get Integris Law off the ground. I was fortunate enough to have worked at a firm in Hamilton where the senior clerk and principle lawyer really took me under their wings and taught me the practical side of the file. Of course, as lawyers we’re trained on the academic side of property law, but if you don’t know how/when to request a postponement, how/when to request a mortgage payout statement, etc. you’re at a great disadvantage. After we grew to a point where I was spending too much time on the admin side of the files, I was introduced to a law clerk service who would bill us per file. Their team was amazing and we had a fantastic experience working with them. This was an ideal relationship when our deal flow was inconsistent. It was a relief to know that if we had a slow month, this was a variable cost and not a fixed cost if we had jumped ahead and hired too early. Eventually, we reached a point where we were consistently closing enough deals per month that it was more economical with hire our first employee. We did a similar calculation in relation to how much time my partner and I spent filtering though emails, following up on document requests, and answering routine questions on the phone, we realized it made sense to also hire a Legal Assistant.  Thank you Diane for taking the time to share some of your valuable wisdom. ICYMI our previous posts featured Sara Forte, Darielle Teitelbaum Darlene Tonelli, Amy Grubb, Emilia Coto, Karen Kwan Anderson, Shamim Ara, Mitchell Rose, Lisa Feldstein, and Ellen Low. Stay tuned for more profiles coming soon.... Do you have a busy law practice but not ready to make your first hire? Let us help. Our freelance lawyers and law clerks assist on an as-needed project basis.
  Welcome back to our blog series with advice on how to successfully start your own law firm. This post features tips from lawyer, entrepreneur and founder of Forte Law, Sara Forte. 1. Tell me a little about your law firm/practice. Forte Law is an employment law boutique firm based in Surrey, BC with a satellite office in Calgary, AB. We help our clients solve legal problems at work. We advise workers, businesses and unions on issues from hiring to firing, and everything in between. Our practice includes human rights, workers’ compensation, employment standards, labour law, employment insurance, and civil matters including wrongful dismissal. We also act as neutrals conducting workplace investigation and offer StandUP Teams™ respectful workplace training. 2. Why did you start your own firm? How did you make this decision? I always had an entrepreneurial streak. I dreamed of opening a florist or a bookstore, and actually did a full business plan for a microbrewery. None of these businesses ever launched because no matter how much research I did, I realized I actually did not know that much about these industries. But law, I knew some things about. The timing had little to do with law, and a lot to do with my family. I had 3 children in my first decade of practice, which was the focus of much of my time and energy. Practicing law and being a mother was a full load. When my youngest son turned 3, I was ready to take on something new. I considered a broad array of options: partnerships, cost sharing arrangements, in-house counsel roles. I got the last push I needed to launch my practice by meeting with another successful sole practitioner for a lunch during which she debunked all my fears, and reading a blog by Tara Mohr. Tara signs off the blog with “clear a path by walking it, boldly.” I have been boldly walking my path every since. 3. What are some of the benefits of running your own firm? I love the creativity and freedom. If I see a gap or something that is not well-addressed in the market, or in society, I can do something about it. I don’t have to consult with any committees or justify a departure from the norm. I can speak and write publicly about whatever issues I think are important. A recent example was the development of our respectful workplace training program StandUP Teams™. The prevalence of workplace sexual harassment and racism has always been front and centre in my practice. These issues have persisted despite decades of workplace harassment training and policies. Academic studies in the US identified some fundamental changes needed to make harassment training effective and relevant, including bystander activation training. The idea of arming all bystanders in the workplace with the skills needed to be allies resonated with me and my team immediately as a critical missing piece. So, we built out and trademarked a proprietary respectful workplace training program. StandUP Teams™ was developed to enable our team to have the greatest positive impact on the world. I am very proud to have built a firm that is founded on respect of people, including clients and those working at the firm, but also opposing counsel and other community members. We offer individualized work arrangements that allow our team to create life-work balance (and not work-life). Diverse team members are valued as assets. 4. What are some of the challenges of running your own firm? How have you tried to overcome them? Growth is the biggest challenge. Our primary office is in the rapidly growing suburb of Surrey, which will soon overtake Vancouver in population. Attracting clients has not been a problem, but convincing lawyers to take a job outside of the big city has been difficult. I have tried several recruiting strategies and eventually realized I just always need to be in a recruiting mindset when I am meeting lawyers. Interestingly, the pandemic seems to have solved my recruiting woes. Remote work has removed geographic limitations and many lawyers are more driven than ever to find a firm that aligns with their principles. 5. What advice would you give to a lawyer thinking about starting their own firm? Talk to lawyers who have done it – talk to a few. We are happy to share our war stories and pass on lessons learned. Watch the video profile that Lawyers Financial did about my firm and others in their Going Solo series. If you want to grow (and maybe you don’t), you will need to work hard and put yourself out there. I have done a lot of self-promotion, in person and online, and grown from a solo practice to 6 lawyers in 4 years. To attract clients, the core skill is to know who you are and what you have to offer and be able to communicate this effectively. My year one marketing campaign was simple – meet as many lawyers as I could in my community and make sure they knew who I am and what I do. There were very few dedicated employment lawyers in my area and I built a large referral network and also made some great new friends. A written business plan has also been a critical piece of my strategy. I started working with a business coach, Jane Iannacone from Jigsaw Performance, very early on and this relationship and the plan we created has been key in reducing stress and ensuring I maintain focus. I have since met some great business coaches who specialize in law practices, but I have found great value in working with a coach who looks at my business like any other. I also retained an accountant from the outset, Jennifer Phipps from Manning Elliot, which relationship has also been very valuable as I have considered business strategies. I am often asked whether I would recommend starting a law firm. I always answer that you have to really want to do it. It takes a massive amount of time, energy and passion. If you didn’t love it, it would be exhausting and miserable. I do love it, so it is exhausting and fun.  Thank you Sara for taking the time to participate in this series and for sharing what you have learned! Congratulations on all of your accomplishments.
ICYMI our previous posts featured Darielle Teitelbaum Darlene Tonelli, Amy Grubb, Emilia Coto, Karen Kwan Anderson, Shamim Ara, Mitchell Rose, Lisa Feldstein, and Ellen Low. Stay tuned for more profiles coming soon....   Today's profile features lawyer, fitness instructor, and entrepreneur, Darielle Teitelbaum. Darielle has created a truly unique and creative law firm: 1. Tell me a little about your law firm/practice. AWE Legal is a business law firm focused on Athletes/Artists, Wellness Professionals and Entrepreneurs (AWE). We offer some intellectual property, but primarily we work to help support and set up solo entrepreneurs and small to medium sized businesses. My goal was to make law accessible and approach legal services in a way that people in these creative spaces would feel comfortable with. Everything is drafted in plain English, I work to brand my client’s agreements and we are paperless. I have worked in these spaces for several years now and know the pain-points and realities within the industries, and so I am able to truly tailor contracts to my clients’ needs. I really want people to feel comfortable speaking with their lawyer, while providing quality service. I also do a lot of education, workshops, podcasts and blogs in order to provide resources to my community. 2. Why did you start your own firm? How did you make this decision? I never thought I’d start my own firm, but I didn’t find a space for me in any traditional law firm. I knew I wanted to work with like-minded people and my clients truly are my community. I’m a fitness instructor, an entrepreneur and a creative, and so it brings me a lot of joy to be able to serve my community knowing the ins and outs of these industries. It was important for me to be authentic and I wanted to create a legal practice that I would want if I needed a lawyer. Since this didn’t exist from what I had seen, I was forced to create my own version. No suits, no confusing legalese, but genuine human connection and professional execution. I also have a background in strategy and marketing and so being able to brand a new law firm was exciting to me, plus the freedom of pursuing my side-passions and being in charge of my schedule. 3. What are some of the benefits of running your own firm? For me, having the freedom to work from anywhere is very appealing along with being able to set my own schedule. Of course, being the boss means you’re always on call, but at least I can set my hours, go for a run mid-day if I need that, and I just love the freedom it’s allowed me. Not having to ask permission about new ideas is also great, but I do have mentors, colleagues and an amazing assistant and do think it’s important to keep some sort of ‘team’ element so that you’re getting feedback from other people too. 4. What are some of the challenges of running your own firm? How have you tried to overcome them? It can be very overwhelming running your own firm because you’re responsible for everything, not just the client work. I’ve found the business-side is that aspect nobody teaches you in law school, and so having proper systems in place has been a game changer. Having client management and accounting in place is hugely important to manage billing, client files, document storage and time tracking to name a few. It can also be lonely to run your own firm if you work from home and don’t have any colleagues, which was my case for the first two years. I would recommend having mentors and colleagues to discuss things with and doing other social activities (if possible) to maintain the social interactions. That’s why for me, teaching fitness classes in the evening was such a great balance. The other challenges are the usual ones that come with running a business; dealing with difficult clients, chasing payments, staying on top of book-keeping, managing your time properly, etc. I’ve definitely learned to set expectations early and having an assistant has been hugely helpful to off-load some of those tasks and administrative work that became so time consuming. 5. What advice would you give to a lawyer thinking about starting their own firm? I would advise them to consider why they want to start their own firm and to get a good understanding of the back-end of running a law firm, so, the business set-up. And I would have systems in place from the get-go in order to keep things running smoothly. I really love Clio, which I just started using last year, for client management and billing. I also rely on a lot of technology to make my life and my clients’ lives easier, such as electronic signature software for my retainers. It’s also been fun to use social media, particularly my Instagram @awelegal, to connect with my community and share tips and blogs and any speaking engagements I’m part of. I would also say be patient and expect highs and lows in business. It definitely takes time to build a reputation and a firm, but just maintain your core values and quality service and it will grow. There’s also no shame in having a few streams of income and taking on other work while your own firm takes off. Don’t give up if you’re offering a unique service because your authenticity will resonate with the right clients! ------------------------------------------------------------ **September 2, 2020 UPDATE*** Darielle has also just started a new business called AWE Contracts. AWE Contracts is "an online shop that makes lawyer-drafted reliable contract templates accessible to entrepreneurs across Canada. It's a simple download and customization process, and there are contracts tailored for many industries (no lawyers involved)." Thank you Darielle for taking the time to participate in this series and for sharing what you have learned! ICYMI our previous posts featured Darlene Tonelli, Amy Grubb, Emilia Coto, Karen Kwan Anderson, Shamim Ara, Mitchell Rose, Lisa Feldstein, and Ellen Low. Stay tuned for more profiles coming soon....    Today's profile features lawyer and lawpreneur Darlene Tonelli. Darlene shares some great advice not only on figuring out "how" to start your own firm, but also on the "why?": 1. Tell me a little about your law firm/practice. Inter Alia Law started as my own solo practice in music and technology in 2013. We’ve expanded over the years into an association of 9 lawyers practicing at the intersection of technology, media and entertainment. All of the lawyers under our banner were trained at large firms and then spent significant time in-house. As a result, I believe we have a different take on what it means to be “business-minded” as a lawyer. We offer a different type of legal advice that is more empathetic, having been inside the companies ourselves and understanding how challenging the intersection of business and law can be. During our years in-house, we also hired lawyers and reviewed bills from external counsel, so we have a different take on the way we provide, price, and value our services. 2. Why did you start your own firm? How did you make this decision? I started my own firm for two main reasons: i) I wanted to create a law firm environment that I wanted to work in. I was considering having children at the time (I have since had 2) and I was aware that traditional law firms and executive positions inside companies would both require a potentially unwinnable battle between my new family and my career during critical early years. ii) I wanted to build a team that offered exactly what I felt I needed to support me when I was in-house counsel at Universal Music for almost 8 years. What I wanted then was a team of seasoned in-house lawyers with subject matter expertise that I could call on to deliver efficient solutions, at reasonable rates, during high volume periods. 3. What are some of the benefits of running your own firm? Having influence over what the culture is among the lawyers at Inter Alia is the main benefit. Although we all work virtually, and have since 2013, we still manage to create an environment where really great lawyers can practice law at a high level while also feeling free to be themselves, having lives and families outside the office that don’t always get the raw end of the deal, and coming up with innovative solutions for clients that might not drive tonnes of billable hours, but which are right for the client. There isn’t a lot of pretense at Inter Alia and I really love that. We’re a pretty flat structure with an “all hands on deck” mentality that we carry over into our client work. I chose to use an association model to keep things fair and equitable and avoid situations where we have to have arguments about who is more important or valuable or higher on the totem pole. To me, that can create a toxic ego stew that is almost impossible for a business model to overcome. Our model facilitates freedom, autonomy, and personal choice about finances. We all have income targets that we set for ourselves, but that’s it. We have to deliver results and build loyal clients – those are the metrics for success at Inter Alia and they shape how we work with our clients. 4. What are some of the challenges of running your own firm? How have you tried to overcome them? In 2013, I was told that I couldn’t run a successful law firm without a physical office. That seems kind of quaint now, in these COVID times, but it is a good example of one of the main challenges – namely the need to find strength to make your way past naysayers to do what you know in your heart is right, when there are not many other examples of people doing it. I try to always orient myself using my own personal compass rather than looking around at what others are doing. When I get too concerned about what other people are doing, I know I’m off course. Some of the things law firms do, which are billed as the “best” or the “right” way, are not good from a long-term business perspective and are also a recipe for poor mental health. Many lawyers working within the existing system know this intuitively, but yet there is massive inertia around changing the fundamentals of our business model. 5. What advice would you give to a lawyer thinking about starting their own firm? My advice would be, if you’re going to do it, there should be a “why” that is driving you. It would be amazing if every lawyer who started his or her own firm took it as a mission to try to improve the delivery of legal services and make clients feel real value. But also, even if your why is just to be more present and accountable to your family than a traditional firm environment allows you to be, that’s an important “why” too. I would also say, when looking at the income risk between a position at a traditional firm or company vs. the uncertainty of the entrepreneurial route, try giving real thought to both potential income and “costs”, which include time spent working, time spent away from family, missed school events and soccer games, mental and physical health, and relationship breakdown. We aren’t socialized to think about things that way – it’s always about the top line income number and the material things it translates into, and never really about what it “costs” a person to earn that income. But to me, both the costs and the revenue have to be considered in business, and it’s helpful to think of them in terms of the life we’re trying to build also. ----------------------------------------------------------- Some more wise words from a successful law firm founder. Thanks Darlene, this was really helpful. ICYMI our previous posts featured Amy Grubb, Emilia Coto, Karen Kwan Anderson, Shamim Ara, Mitchell Rose, Lisa Feldstein, and Ellen Low. Stay tuned for more profiles coming soon....    Welcome back to our blog series where successful lawyers let you in on the secrets of starting your own law firm. Prepare to learn lots! Today we have the pleasure of learning from an amazing lawyer, coach, and lawpreneur Amy Grubb:
1. Tell me a little about your law firm/practice. I wear two hats. First, I am commercial lawyer who works primarily with other lawyers and law firms by taking on their overflow legal work. My expertise is in commercial contracts, specifically for online businesses. Second, I coach lawyers one on one and in group settings to help them build the legal practice of their dreams. I help with their marketing, sales, systems and mindset (but not necessarily in that order). 2. Why did you start your own firm? How did you make this decision? I worked in Big Law for many years before deciding to go solo. I took some time off before starting my firm and during that time I ran an online business that was completely unrelated to the law. While running this business, I met a lot of inspiring entrepreneurs who were making a living doing what lit them up. I was hooked and that is precisely when the entrepreneur in me was born. I decided to run a virtual law firm, doing work I love for clients that inspire me. 3. What are some of the benefits of running your own firm? Ohhh, where do I start? Flexibility and autonomy are likely the two biggest benefits that I have experienced. If I want to take a day off, I can. I do not have to report to anyone (other than my clients). Also, being able to pick and choose my clients and the work that I take on is very satisfying. I truly enjoy working with my clients because they are people that I enjoy spending time with. 4. What are some of the challenges of running your own firm? How have you tried to overcome them? When I was in Big Law, there was always someone down the hall that I could go to with a question about a file. As a solo, I don’t have that same support. I have overcome that by building up my network of lawyers. I have a tribe of other lawyers who are so supportive and encouraging of one another. They are truly the best! 5. What advice would you give to a lawyer thinking about starting their own firm? I think I could write a book on this topic. Who knows, maybe I will one day. First and foremost, determine what you want your life to look like in 5 or 10 years. Where will you live? What will you do in your spare time? How many hours do you want to work? How much vacation time do you want to take? Don’t be afraid to dream and dream BIG! It is amazing what we can achieve when we put our minds to it. Once you have that vision in your mind, set up your practice so that you can achieve that life. Do you want to travel and work virtually? Great! This means you need to have a solid cloud based infrastructure and a practice that leans itself to virtual work (or at least a fantastic team on the ground who can meet with clients and/or attend court). Do you want to be known as the best divorce lawyer in Canada? Fantastic! Get to know journalists who will turn to you for your opinion on high profile cases. Write articles and speak at events. Get to know divorce law inside and out. One of my favourite quotes is “Decide what kind of life you really want…and then, say no to everything that isn’t that”. Going out on your own is intimidating. But it is exciting at the same time. Find a tribe that you can trust and turn to for help. Because you are going to need it. Surround yourself with people who light you up and inspire you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you, Amy, for taking the time to participate in this series and for sharing with us the insights you have learned starting your own firm. ICYMI our previous posts featured Emilia Coto, Karen Kwan Anderson, Shamim Ara, Mitchell Rose, Lisa Feldstein, and Ellen Low. Stay tuned for more profiles coming soon....   Welcome back to our series that focuses on the secrets to successfully open your own law firm. This week we learn from lawyer and lawpreneur, Emilia Coto founder of Sisu Legal:
1. Tell me a little about your law firm/practice. I practice immigration law in Windsor, Ontario and will be expanding into Troy, Michigan soon. As an immigrant from Honduras, I am very attuned to the opportunities created by immigration and love helping others achieve their goals. I am on a mission to provide accessible, innovative, and effective legal services. I am passionate about using technology to increase access to justice. This means that I leverage technology and systems to optimize my services and to lower my costs, where possible. I also offer alternative legal products, such as unbundled services, legal coaching and informational courses. I come from an entrepreneurial family and as small business owners, I saw my parents struggle to find legal representation that was affordable and that could speak their language. For example, when I was in high school, I helped my parents at a landlord and tenant board hearing. It was my first experience as an advocate because I interpreted what they were trying to convey and what the other party was saying. English is their second language, and they did not feel comfortable to navigate the system alone in the circumstances. I hope to make the difference for other immigrant families and small businesses. I am proud to be able to serve my clients in Spanish and Portuguese. Before opening my own firm, I worked at a mid-size regional firm for three years, and I also spent some time at a local legal clinic, Legal Assistance of Windsor. I believe legal clinics do important work and I now sit on the board of directors of Legal Assistance of Windsor. Another passion of mine is finding creative ways to use technology to serve more clients, accelerate impact, and achieve more with less. I love finding ways to practice law without sacrificing lifestyle and I love connecting with other lawyers seeking to do the same. This year, I will be the technology liaison on the executive committee of a few sections of the Ontario Bar Association:
Serving my community is important to me and I do so by getting involved. I am on the Young Advocates Standing Committee of the Advocates’ Society. I also sit on the board of directors of the Essex Law Association. 2. Why did you start your own firm? How did you make this decision? I started my own practice because working at a traditional firm no longer fit my lifestyle. I was commuting for many hours and crossing an international border on a daily basis. I craved more flexibility and autonomy, both in the practice of law and economically. I did not feel ready when I took the leap, but I did not feel like I had a choice at the time. Looking back on it, I am glad that my circumstances pushed me to leap before I felt ready. The thing that inspired me the most to start my own practice, as opposed to seeking an alternative career, is seeing lawyers build the type of firm that I envisioned. I met Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold of CounterTax after listening to their podcast, Building NewLaw, and it changed my perspective on what the practice of law could be. They were generous in so many ways, but one the most helpful things they did for me, is they introduced me to their network. Right when I was about ready to throw in the towel because my situation felt unsustainable, they invited me to the Legal Innovation Summit at Fireside Conference. At that conference, I met a small group of incredibly inspiring small firms. These firms were practicing law differently than the traditional model and making an impact by doing so. For example, I met Megan Cornell of Momentum Legal, a law firm that focuses on entrepreneurs. I also met, Sophie Tremblay of Novalex, a firm that offers one hour of pro bono legal services for every hour of paid legal services it provides. I also met Martha Sullivan, who manages a small firm in Peterborough and is innovating in her community. On my way home from the conference, I decided that I wanted to give myself the freedom to try. I became at peace with the possibility of failure. And, I found comfort in knowing that trying and failing was better than not trying at all. The worst thing that could happen is that I would be in the exact same spot than I was before – looking for a job that fit my desired lifestyle better. I love your idea for this blog series because I think seeing others start their own firm is a powerful way to inspire action. 3. What are some of the benefits of running your own firm? The ability to create your dream career. When you run your own firm, you get to decide the area of law you want to practice, the type of clients you want to have, and how to practice law. The best part of running your own law firm is that you get to decide what kind of life you want to live and build a firm that supports that life. When you run your own firm, you get to build solely around your vision without having to worry about whether it fits into someone else’s mold of what your career trajectory should be. You have more control over your time and economic future. I also think that smaller firms are particularly suited to provide service to traditionally under-served markets (like low to middle-income individuals and small businesses). Small firms tend to have lower overhead costs and have the ability to pivot easier because there are less people that need to approve of decisions. When I think about the benefits of running your own firm, I think of Biz Stone, the co-founder of Twitter who said, “Creativity isn’t limited. Creativity is a renewable resource”. 4. What are some of the challenges of running your own firm? How have you tried to overcome them? Overcoming the fear of failure or success is a challenge. At first, I was afraid to start my firm because I was afraid of failing. I was afraid of not being able to get clients and I was afraid of not generating enough business to pay my bills. Once I started my firm, and started getting clients, I was afraid of getting too many clients. I was afraid of getting too busy. I had a somewhat irrational fear that I would mess the files up and prejudice my clients. Mindset is so important to running a business. I think mindset is always a work in progress, but in order to overcome this challenge, I have sought out mentorship. I have mentors that help me see the possibilities when it comes to the business of law and I also have mentors that I can call on for when I get a particularly challenging file. Being a sole practitioner does not mean you have to practice alone. I am also working on learning how to delegate more so that I can focus on doing the things that I do best. When you are just starting out, it can feel daunting to delegate because it costs money to do so. But once you realize how much more money you can generate by delegating tasks, you will be hooked. 5. What advice would you give to a lawyer thinking about starting their own firm? You can do it! Do a lot of research on what you hope to build and connect with lawyers that have done it for inspiration and so they can help you realize that you can do it too. Starting a law firm is a lot more affordable than I thought. If it is something you want to do, give yourself the freedom to try. I heard from senior lawyers that their biggest regret when starting a firm was not doing it sooner. I always thought that I could not start a firm before paying off my huge student debt bill. However, once I did the numbers, and realized how few clients I needed to make that minimum number, it became doable. Finding good mentors is a must, in my opinion, even if the mentorship is paid. For marketing and for economic reasons, finding a niche is important. Think about the type of clients that would support the kind of firm you want to build and think of ways you can serve that client. Find an entrepreneurial community of lawyers that get what you are trying to build and do not try to do it alone. A few of my favorite things when I need inspiration: Books:
Podcasts:
Technology I can’t live without:
My favorite quote is, “may your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears” – Nelson Mandela. I am always happy to chat with lawyers that are thinking about starting their own firm, particularly newer calls.To get in touch: Email - emilia@sisulegal.com, Website – sisulegal.com Twitter – @em_coto Instagram - @sisulegal Facebook –sisulegal -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WOW! So much great advice in this one blog post. Thank you, Emilia, for taking the time to participate in this series and share with us what makes your law firm so successful. ICYMI our previous posts featured Karen Kwan Anderson, Shamim Ara, Mitchell Rose, Lisa Feldstein, and Ellen Low. Stay tuned for more profiles coming soon....   Meet Karen Kwan Anderson, our latest solo practitioner to be profiled in our new series. Read on for Karen's story of how she turned a difficult situation into a positive and rewarding one and her tips for "going solo":
1. Tell me a little about your law firm/practice. I’m a sole practitioner of 100% immigration law with a passion for helping individual and families come to Canada on a temporary or permanent basis. I serve the Mississauga community and beyond. 2. Why did you start your own law firm? How did you make that decision? The decision was made for me by my previous firm. After 1 year of articling, 3 years as a personal injury lawyer, and 12 years as an immigration lawyer, my previous firm terminated my employment without cause. One door closed and another opened; I knew it was a sign to be my own boss. For about 5 years prior to termination, I wanted to open my own firm but didn’t have the confidence since I didn’t own any of the client files and I had no experience running a business. I had to learn pretty quickly how to manage my law practice while practising law. 3. What are some of the benefits of running your own firm? Autonomy in deciding which clients I take on and how to handle a file, not having to explain myself for decision-making, & not feeling guilty for saying no to work. 4. What are some of the challenges of running your own firm? How have you tried to overcome them? Saving money after paying taxes and expenses of running the firm. I keep a low overhead by paying a low monthly membership fee at Mississauga Law Chambers to meet clients and work from home 95% of the time. Since half my practice is comprised of overseas clients, I do videoconferencing, so no physical meeting space is needed. And over the last 3 months, I apply the same videoconferencing method to clients who I usually see in person. 5. What advice would you give to a lawyer thinking about starting their own firm? It may be counter-intuitive, but I would advise them to work a few years with a firm to learn protocols, politics, client management, research skills, marketing and advertising and staffing needs while learning the substantive aspects of the practice area. While I had some trepidation when I first opened my practice, within 2 weeks clients called me because I had established myself for 15 years as a lawyer. I have to credit my previous firm for teaching me how to run, and how not to run, a business. A new lawyer once asked me if they should work as a self-employed contractor or as an associate of a firm. I advised the former because they would own their client files and if the lawyer left the firm, the files would go with them (subject to any agreement the lawyer may have with the firm). Whether the new lawyer is a budding entrepreneur or an employee, I advise them to always ask questions – there are no stupid questions. I advise the above to participants of the Law Society of Ontario’s Coach and Advisor Network (CAN) of which I’ve been an advisor for 2 years as of July 2020. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in your initiative! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you Karen for your honesty and for taking the time to participate in this series. ICYMI our previous posts featured Shamim Ara, Mitchell Rose, Lisa Feldstein, and Ellen Low. Stay tuned for more profiles coming soon....   Meet today's featured solo lawyer, Shamim Ara. I met Shamim through a Facebook group for Solo and Small Firm Canadian Women Lawyers started by my friend and fellow Flex lawyer Amy Grubb. Shamim's profile will be helpful for newly called lawyers thinking of starting their own law firm early in their legal career. Read on for Shamim's story and advice: 1. Tell me a little about your law firm/practice. My practice, Ara Law Professional Corporation, focuses on real estate, immigration, and wills & estates. I started my solo practice on October 21, 2019, less than a year after being called to the Bar in January of 2019. I currently share space with a more senior lawyer. Prior to opening my own firm, I was a legal assistant and then associate at a small firm that also practiced in these areas. 2. Why did you start your own firm? How did you make this decision? There are so many factors for why I started my own firm. There were many challenges while working with others in association prior to going out on my own. There were different mind sets, systemic discrimination, billable hours, and splitting of fees. Most of all, it was not possible to work independently, and it was stressful as well. I had higher expectations than the position I was in as an associate and I knew I could obtain a better income on my own. The senior lawyer that I share space with approached me and encouraged me to start my own firm. She offered to assist me, not only with offering to share her office, but also as a mentor. This provided me with more confidence as a new sole practitioner. She gave me a lot of guidance on setting up my business, my practice, my trust account, etc. At the beginning I did not have any clients, but day by day I am getting new clients and my practice is slowly building up. I was not able to invest a lot into my firm at first. I’ve purposefully not spent a lot of money. I was not able to buy all the stuff that some people would buy, for example, I didn’t pay a designer for a logo or a website. But now that I have clients coming in the door I can focus on these things. I am still organizing and growing my practice, but after seven months, I know I made the right decision, even though others may think it is a risky one! 3. What are some of the benefits of running your own firm? I like that I can work from anywhere and at anytime. I can also plan my work free of interference. I have more control over my time. I’ve always been entrepreneurial and running my own firms helps to build my confidence. Also, your clients can be inspired by you and have more confidence in you when you are running your firm yourself. 4. What are some of the challenges of running your own firm? How have you tried to overcome them? Sometimes issues come up that I have no prior experience with, and it takes time to figure them out. Also, financial insecurity can be a challenge. I have to carefully track my expenses due to a limited budget. I try to work on a priority basis to secure my client’s interest and need basic expenses. Getting clients can be a challenge. To overcome this challenge, I am working on my marketing strategy so people will get to know me more and refer more clients my way. I try to network in my community. Also, because I focus on real estate I am trying to connect with realtors and keep in touch with them, so they remember me, and hopefully refer clients to me. You have to go to where your clients are. 5. What advice would you give to a lawyer thinking about starting their own firm? I recommend starting with a checklist. Sit down and plan out everything you need to do and set up before you start your practice. Specifically, think about business location, software, accounting, practice management and marketing strategy. I think theses are the basic things one should consider before they can start their own firm. I contacted Practice Management at the Law Society of Ontario and they were able to point me to a lot of resources. You have to be mentally prepared to have no clients and no income at first. But think of it as an investment that will eventually pay off. You will see the fruits of your labour. You will find those paying clients. Just have patience and work relentlessly. Overall, I would recommend going out on your own to any lawyer who is interested. You can explore and discover what area of law you are best suited to. You have flexibility to explore other areas if the ones you choose are not working out. If you work for a firm, you have to do the type of work or files that they give you. On your own you can choose what interests you. You know what you want to do, and you know what you don’t want to do. For example, I tried family law, but I found that to be very stressful for me, so I decided not to practice that in my own firm. Instead I can focus on what I am good at and enjoy, real estate, immigration and wills and estates. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you Shamim for taking the time to participate in this series. While Shamim works on her website, she can be reached at shamim@aralawpc.com or 647.895.7975. ICYMI our previous posts featured Mitchell Rose, Lisa Feldstein, and Ellen Low. Stay tuned for more profiles coming soon.... Want to have these profiles sent directly to you? Sign up for our e-newsletter:  |
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