"Secrets of Success: Starting Your Own Law Firm" Featuring KAREN KWAN ANDERSON

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":
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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.
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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!
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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....

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