Happy 1st Birthday Power Law!
Happy First Birthday to Power Law!!!!
The last year has been filled with huge personal and professional growth. I cannot express how much I appreciate my family, friends, and network for all they have done and the support they have offered.
Mostly, though, I am so grateful to my clients. Each client has taught me something new, shared their story with me, and trusted me to be there during some of the most difficult times in their lives.
To celebrate this milestone, I wanted to reflect on some of the lessons I have learned the past year.
Five DON’Ts When Starting a Law Firm
1. DON’T start your law firm contemporaneously with a global pandemic! March 2020 had early quarantine, learning a completely new way to practice law virtually, and so much uncertainly. It was not an ideal time to be launching a new business. In some ways, though, it was perfect timing. I was already planning to run the firm out of my house and having my own firm meant that I had the flexibility to attend to both my business and the physical and mental health of myself and family.
2. DON’T say “Yes” to everything. When you are just starting out, the opportunities fly at you fast and the fear of not having enough business means that it is so easy to take on too much too soon. You don’t need to attend every networking event, take on every client, or pick up every case. Doing the work well and meeting your existing obligations with care and expertise is much more important than having more or making money.
3. DON’T be afraid to say “Yes.” Some of the most remarkable growth and opportunity this past year has come by just saying “Yes” when my heart told me to. You will know the can’t miss opportunities when they show up - all you have to do is say ‘heck yes!’
4. DON’T be afraid to do things yourself. In my entire legal career, I never did billing, or website design, or even answered a phone call to the office directly. Even at the public defender, many of the administrative tasks were done for me. At Power Law, I have learned to do it all. Part of this is learning to work smarter (I’m finally all virtual), and part of it was just picking something up and trying it out. Whatever the new skill is, it is almost always easier (and more interesting) than I think it is going to be!
5. DON’T rush through the client consultation process. Sometimes I get this call, “Hi, I have a class 5 felony in Arapahoe, I’m set next week, how much will you charge me?” My response is always, can we set a time to sit down for an hour and chat? I try to learn as much about a client as I can up front to make sure we are a good fit for each other and that we understand how I would bring value to their case. Buying legal services is not like picking out your favorite product on Amazon, it is the beginning of a relationship that may last quite awhile and will have a big impact – both sides need to feel comfortable and informed. When I try to short cut that process, it’s often hard to get started on the right track.
Five DOs When Starting a Law Firm
1. DO research software thoroughly and only buy what you need, and only when you need it. There are so many legal software solutions out there that it can be tempting to think that you need to try and buy them all. Almost everything you need can be done with Clio and a Gmail account. I resisted paying for Zoom for quite a while, but then I realized that having my own paid account gave me more freedom to host events and schedule meetings on my terms. Subscription fees and up-front costs add up – don’t jump until it makes sense for your firm’s needs.
2. DO treat yourself! I knew that I wanted to replace my computer a few months in because it was getting very slow, but I hated spending business capital when I did not really “need” a new computer. In the end, I researched all of my options and what would be both long lasting and give me great performance, and then I waited for it to go on sale. It’s great to see your work turning into improvements in your business. And the best part? Tax deductible!
3. DO get a separate office space (if that is important to your work style). I worked out of my house for five months and it had a lot of advantages, like, my house being very clean (haha!). However, when the kids started back to school, I knew I needed my own space and could give them more room as well. I am currently renting an office in an executive suite building and I have access to mail, a receptionist, and kitchen, and several conference rooms. I come into the office almost every day and I like being able to keep “home” and “office” separate at an efficient cost.
4. DO ask for help (sometimes in unexpected places). Do you have a friend from middle school who does SEO now? Do you have a friend from law school who just made partner in a big firm? Maybe a distant cousin that is a tax guru? Your primary network will always be there to help you with legal issues in your field or how they run their firms . . . but think bigger! Who do you know that can help you with the stuff that lawyers are not always good at.
5. DO what makes sense for YOU. Law school is very good at instilling in lawyers a fiercely competitive spirit (thanks curved grading), which makes us check out what our peers are doing and thinking we need to do that too. Part of the past year has been showing me that my firm and my practice is its own unique and special take on criminal defense. I take it as a compliment when my clients say, “You are not like other lawyers!”
The next year promises to come with more lessons, and I cannot wait to keep on this journey! If you are thinking of starting your own firm, I cannot encourage you more to take the leap. Please let me know if there is any way I can help!