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The Struggle for Diversity in Law Firms is Real. These Legal Experts Share Their Stories and Strides

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Leslie Davis

What People Aren’t Addressing About Diversity in Law Firms

The statistics are harsh. According to the ABA National Lawyer Population Survey, lawyers of color represented just 14% of all lawyers in 2020. And that percentage has grown less than 3% over the past decade. 

While the legal industry has further emphasized diversity and inclusion, it’s still branded as one of the least diverse professions. Specifically, only 5% of lawyers are Black; 5% are Hispanic; 2% are Asian; and 0.4% are Native American. 

“It makes me recognize that there’s a lot of work to be done,” said Leslie Davis, CEO of the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF).

The industry may need an overhaul when it comes to diversity, but resources are available. Founded in 2001, NAMWOLF works to promote diversity within the legal profession by advancing successful relationships among its roughly 200 member firms. In 2010, NAMWOLF launched the Inclusion Initiative, an effort that aims to increase corporations’ retention of minority- and women-owned law firms. By 2014, 30 corporations were involved in the initiative and spent $212 million with diverse firms.

Davis joined the NAMWOLF community earlier this month after spending more than 25 years as a lawyer and litigator in the Chicago area. In 2014, she was honored at the Chicago POW! Awards for showing “game-changing leadership in business and their communities.” Davis represented the 5% of Black U.S. lawyers as well as another bleak statistic. As a partner, she represented one of the less than 2% of Black partners in Big Law.

“It wasn’t easy, but I was fortunate and blessed to have great mentors, sponsors and people who cared about my trajectory,” Davis said.

Some attorneys have cited a lack of mentorship and cultural isolation as reasons why they left their firms. Davis said she always tried to make herself available to lawyers of color, acknowledging that she was often one of few Black women in her positions who could provide the insight and guidance that fellow Black lawyers needed.

Why Promoting Diversity in Law Firms Matters

For entertainment law attorney Odell Mitchell III of Thirdinline Legal LLC, incorporating diverse voices into law firms is very important. During his time as a solo practitioner, he said clients have expressed comfort in working with him, and some have admitted that he’s the first young, Black lawyer to whom they have spoken.

“The level of representation that I get to provide directly for people, especially young Black men, is something I don’t take lightly,” Mitchell III said. “People appreciate me being who I am.”

Family law and criminal defense attorney Chelsey Robinson of Owens & Robinson can also speak firsthand on the importance of representation. 

“I have had situations where opposing counsel referred to me as ‘sweetie’ or ‘honey,’” she said. “I find that very degrading. It shows that we need more diversity training. Because a lot of times, we’re not aware of biases.”

While training is important, Circuit Court of Cook County Judge Erika Orr thinks the answer is simpler than implementing various initiatives.

“The only way you get diversity and inclusion is to have a diverse and inclusive workplace,” she said. “The key is to recruit from everywhere, not just from select schools.”

Before becoming an Illinois judge, Orr operated her own firm from Amata Law Office Suites, Chicago’s first legal community of more than 700 attorneys and six Class-A downtown offices. Mitchell III and Robinson call Amata home as well. 

Amata’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Amata offers premier legal support, including live receptionists and an experienced paralegal team. Orr, Mitchell III and Robinson commend Amata for filling these roles with diverse individuals and for highlighting diverse voices through its various communication channels. Amata’s CEO, Ron Bockstahler, also sits on the board of directors of the Justice Renewal Initiative, a program geared toward helping young men and women transition out of the criminal justice system.

“When you have groups like Amata, who interact with lawyers and law firms on a daily basis and see the need for change, … it’s impactful when they decide to get in the fight and make a difference too,” Davis said.

During her time as NAMWOLF CEO, Davis wants to see the statistics improve. She hopes to provide more opportunities for minority- and women-owned law firms to work with corporations as well as public and private companies.

“It’s a great responsibility and honor to be doing work on a daily basis that’s been so important and meaningful to me throughout my whole career.”

At Amata, we know there’s more work to be done to empower lawyers of color. Call us or visit our website and take an online or in-person tour of one of our six Class-A law firm office spaces and consider joining the Amata community to learn how we can help. Or keep the conversation going by contacting us at [email protected].

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Lori Levin: From Gov. Prosecution Work to Running a Solo Practice | THE 1958 LAWYER Podcast

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We’re going to use the phrase ‘from this to that’ a lot because Criminal Defense attorney Lori Levin’s experience is expansive. She started as a prosecutor in the state’s attorney’s office and in 2009 decided to go private and open her own firm. Running a solo practice meant learning lessons about how to operate both as an attorney and a business owner.

Now Lori calls her criminal defense solo work the most fulfilling stage in her career to date, and she sees the positive changes the courts are making for her clients.

Lori’s amazing experiences in her career and insights from running a solo practice in Criminal Defense:

  • From Prosecution to creating a new court in Illinois (03:49)
  • Running a solo practice: From business acumen to mental health (20:53)
  • State of the criminal system today (31:25)
  • What Lori Levin wants to see changed in the business of law (38:33)

Follow “The 1958 Lawyer” on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

Learning your worth as a solo practice attorney…even when you’re already an experienced lawyer.

“I was in the planning group to help start the first felony mental health court, diversion court, in Cook County, at 26th Street – it’s now spread out throughout the county and throughout the state…. It was really amazing how, the help with drugs…the people who had co-occurring disorders wound up getting on the right path and how their lives were turned around. And these were folks to 30 years ago, might have gotten locked up or the criminal justice system might have thrown them away. And now they wind up getting jobs getting help. And it really was rewarding.”

“I was lucky that I was an experienced lawyer, [that] when I opened up my own practice that I knew how to practice law. So, then the issue was learning how to operate a business…. I had another experienced defense attorney pulled me aside and say ‘Lori, we’re in a business and you need to bill,’ and the first time that I quoted somebody what I was worth and they said yes it was refreshing.”

“I’ve been doing this for a long time. And I think I’ve learned from that that I need to put a premium on my mental health. I think that when I was just prosecuting murder cases it got to me in a way that I didn’t appreciate until I stopped prosecuting murder cases…. I try to make sure that I’m grounded, that I do things that will take me away from the law, at times, and I’m very lucky that I have a really good support network.”

LORI LEVIN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE SOLO PRACTICE ATTORNEY

Lori G. Levin is a forceful advocate for people facing charges in Criminal and Juvenile Court as well as those being investigated by the Department of Children and Family Services and/or appealing DCFS findings. After a long career in public service, Lori opened her private practice in 2009. She has successfully defended persons in Criminal and Juvenile Court as well as in DCFS administrative appeals, not only in the Circuit Court of Cook County but also in the collar counties.

Lori spent many years as a prosecutor and supervisor with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, positions that have given her substantial insight into the inner workings of the criminal justice system and valuable knowledge to shape her clients’ defense tactics.  The Governor of Illinois appointed Lori to be the Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, an agency dedicated to improving the Illinois criminal justice system. Today, as a Chicago and North Shore criminal defense attorney, Lori Levin passionately fights to secure justice for her clients.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/criminaldefense1/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chicagodefense
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoriLevin

Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

“The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” still defines the business of law…
It’s time for a change.

If you’re a lawyer, you’re familiar with the ABA article “The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” which gives our podcast its title, and its inspiration. That article was the start of the billable hour for law firms…And the last major change to the business of law, 70+ years ago now. Well, it’s past time for another change.

This podcast is all about bucking the status quo of the business of law. Your hosts Ron Bockstahler and Kirsten Mayfield run Amata Law Office Suites, providing law firms an alternative to the traditional fixed-cost business model that places unwanted stress on attorneys to work long hours that often-times lead to burn out, broken relationships and in many cases substance abuse. Each week they’ll discuss alternatives to the 12 hours days, endless rotation of clerks and paralegals, and the expensive offices leased to impress clients who rarely show up in person anymore. They’ll interview successful lawyers who are doing law differently, and finding a work-life balance while still running a successful firm.

Do you want to find a better way to run your law firm? It’s time for the next big change in the business of law, and you’ll get it here on The 1958 Lawyer.

More episodes of The 1958 Lawyer podcast

Discover our paralegal services in Chicago.

Legaltech News: Flexing Their Market Muscles, ALSPs Can Elicit Tech Discounts For Small Firms

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Read the full piece here or below:

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Jamie Rubin: Running a ‘Lean & Mean’ Boutique Law Firm | THE 1958 LAWYER Podcast

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InfoLawGroup LLP has offices across the U.S. and covers three major areas of law – advertising, privacy, and technology – but they aren’t a huge firm. They are a boutique law firm and practice in a niche market, where those three practice areas overlap. Jamie explains how their niche powerhouse of firm was built and how they optimize their team’s broad and specialized knowledge.

Finding the ‘sweet-spot’ at your boutique law firm:

  • The intersection of 3 practice areas (01:51)
  • Optimizing firm IP and building a forward thinking law practice (22:02)
  • BBQ & Jamie’s team “Silence of the Hams” (35:30)
  • What Jamie Rubin wants to see changed in the business of law (43:53)

Follow “The 1958 Lawyer” on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

The power of a boutique law firm in the modern day.

“Everyone in our firm, can do advertising law, and do privacy law and can do technology law, as siloed practices—some of us have a little bit more focused in one area than the other….And a lot of our clients need us to meet in the middle. The sweet-spot, everything that we do today for our clients, combines all three of those elements….It’s still a niche practice, a boutique practice. But to be able to provide that advice, all three of those areas at the same time, [comes] as a real benefit to our clients.”

“We spent a lot of time and energy, making a decision to use cloud based services for our system. And that was the first thing we had to do to help eliminate some overhead when it came to physical office space and fostering the ability to generally be on the road, and still work seamlessly. Because we travel a lot. I mean, this is not so much about working from home, as it is being able to work seamlessly everywhere.”

“We kind of took a big firm practice and turned it into a boutique. And our firm is primarily comprised of former Big Law attorneys, plus a number of executive level associate general counsels at companies, some retailers, and so we bring a perspective…that’s both Big Law trained plus in-house lawyer, to provide…down and dirty, practical advice.”

JAMIE RUBIN, Partner at Boutique Law Firm InfoLawGroup LLP

Jamie Rubin is an advertising, technology and privacy lawyer who works with clients to bring their advertising, promotional and entertainment campaigns from concept to execution. Jamie’s practice covers the spectrum of traditional and emerging advertising and entertainment issues.

He works on national and digital advertising campaigns, celebrity spokesperson agreements, sweepstakes and user-generated content promotions, social networking and viral marketing matters, claim substantiation, mobile applications and beyond. Jamie is a frequent speaker and author on new media topics and is recognized as a Leader in the Field for Media & Entertainment by Chambers Partners.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/infolawgroup-llp
Website: www.infolawgroup.com

 

Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

“The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” still defines the business of law…
It’s time for a change.

If you’re a lawyer, you’re familiar with the ABA article “The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” which gives our podcast its title, and its inspiration. That article was the start of the billable hour for law firms…And the last major change to the business of law, 70+ years ago now. Well, it’s past time for another change.

This podcast is all about bucking the status quo of the business of law. Your hosts Ron Bockstahler and Kirsten Mayfield run Amata Law Office Suites, providing law firms an alternative to the traditional fixed-cost business model that places unwanted stress on attorneys to work long hours that often-times lead to burn out, broken relationships and in many cases substance abuse. Each week they’ll discuss alternatives to the 12 hours days, endless rotation of clerks and paralegals, and the expensive offices leased to impress clients who rarely show up in person anymore. They’ll interview successful lawyers who are doing law differently, and finding a work-life balance while still running a successful firm.

Do you want to find a better way to run your law firm? It’s time for the next big change in the business of law, and you’ll get it here on The 1958 Lawyer.

More episodes of The 1958 Lawyer podcast

Discover our legal support staff for lawyers in Chicago.

Change is Hard. Finding a Stable Space for Your Law Firm Shouldn’t Be.

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It’s no secret that the legal industry is slow to change. Lawyers have billed clients by the hour since the concept was first introduced in 1958. Long working hours and lavish office space have been industry standards for decades. And since updating laws and the legal system can be a yearslong process, it’s fitting that the business of law changes at a similar pace.

But quality office space, in particular, is often necessary for attorneys.

“The whole thing with lawyers, unfortunately, is how people look at us,” said attorney Mary Fahey of Fahey & Associates. 

Cost-effective office options have been available since the 1980s, but they’re not always appropriate for attorneys’ needs. If lawyers have shabby offices, she said clients will also view their counsel as subpar.

In 2010, Fahey had three offices across the city, but juggling appointments at all locations culminated in a hectic schedule. When she decided to consolidate to a single office, she wanted to make the best move for her practice. Overhead costs and other expenses were “top of mind” for Fahey, a former accountant, but the space also needed to be visually appealing.

“When you start your own business, you wear all these hats,” she said. “One hat that I had to wear was marketing my firm.”

A Stable Space for Your Law Firm Needs to Be Adaptive

Marketing is especially important when choosing a new office, and one Chicago provider answered all of Fahey’s needs. Amata Law Office Suites — already a decade old and simply called Amata back then — offered scalable, affordable shared workspaces in the downtown area and began growing a dedicated following among Chicago lawyers. Fahey joined the community of now 700-plus attorneys in 2011 and has stayed ever since.

Fellow attorney John S. Kendall of the Law Office of John S. Kendall, P.C., joined Amata in 2004 and says Amata has been a good partner for his intellectual property firm over the past 16 years. Since Kendall frequently travels to visit clients, he’s pleased with how Amata’s “courteous and professional” staff keeps him up to speed, even when he’s out of the country.

“One of the things I appreciate is they’re technologically current in terms of providing the tools to help someone like me,” he said.

Chelsey Robinson of Owens & Robinson has watched Amata’s changes since she joined the community in 2005. She enjoys the services that Amata has added over the years, such as live receptionists and an experienced legal support team, to better support its attorney clientele.

“They help me get more work done,” Robinson said. “They help me take on more clients and grow more efficiently.”

Fahey, Robinson and Kendall represent Amata’s longest tenured clients, but they aren’t alone. At least a dozen private practice firms have operated and grown their firms out of Amata for more than a decade. Even more have called Amata home for nearly 10 years. For these attorneys, choosing stable office space is key to their success.

That’s because relocating a law firm is no easy task. Various entities must be notified, including current and former clients; local courts; state and local bar associations; insurance companies; and financial institutions to prevent service disruptions. The extra work also takes attorneys away from their cases. Finding a stable place is more than comfort. It’s a good business decision.

“If you have the nicest space, a great, affordable location and great people that are servicing your needs, why go elsewhere?” Fahey said.

The best part? She eliminated the work of managing bills and taxes across multiple Chicago offices. 

“That’s when I truly started enjoying practicing law,” she said. 

Want success and longevity for your law firm? Consider joining the Amata community. Call us or visit our website and take an online or in-person tour of one of our six Class-A law firm office spaces. Amata runs the office so you can focus on running your practice.

Discover our offices for lawyers in Chicago.

Amy Gardner: Law Firm Partner Turned Law Practice Development Expert | THE 1958 LAWYER Podcast

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The secret to law practice development? Successful attorneys are using coaches; experts like Amy who know the legal industry inside and out. From law practice partner, to legal educator, to Apochromatik, over a cup of coffee Amy can offer her fellow attorneys expertise it’d take decades for them to learn from books. Which is why her lawyer clients call her their ‘secret weapon.’

Developing Your Law Practice with Actionable Goals:

  • Driving employee engagement without a traditional office setup (5:44)
  • Goals you can measure and where attorneys trip up (14:34)
  • Where do you want to end up? (21:24)
  • What Amy Gardner wants to see changed in the business of law (35:23)

Follow “The 1958 Lawyer” on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

For a long-term career, take control with purpose and develop a law practice you love.

“One law firm partner told us not too long ago, ‘My team needs more than just another happy hour.’ And so it really is about making sure that teams have the time to spend together. And that [this time is spent] building relationships, rather than just getting things done.”

“I see lawyers all the time will say things like I want to bring in more business. Well, that’s a great aspiration. But that’s not really a goal, right? You got to have measurements so that you know whether or not you’ve achieved your goal.”

“The people who work for [a law firm] really want feedback, and they want mentoring….They feel like the maybe the firm will teach them how to write a brief. But that doesn’t mean that they feel like they’re always getting as much guidance as they want in terms of how to present arguments and things like that.”

CONNECT WITH AMY GARDNER, Law Practice Development Coach

Amy Gardner

Amy M. Gardner is a certified Career and Career Transitions Coach and Team Development and Leadership Consultant with Apochromatik. She coaches attorneys and other professionals one-on-one, in small group “Future in Focus” attorney masterminds, and delivers workshops for law firms and other employers.

Her work draws on her unique experience as dean of students at the University of Chicago Law School and a successful career practicing law, first as a Skadden litigation associate and later as an associate and then partner at a mid-size Chicago firm. Her career and goal achievement advice has been featured in media including ABA publications, Bustle, Corporette, Glassdoor, Health, Monster, NBC, and Women’s Running magazine.

Amy’s LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/amygardner

Apochromatik: www.apochromatik.com
Blog: https://www.apochromatik.com/blog
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/apochromatik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apochromatik
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_apochromatik/

More Law Practice Development Blogs

Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

“The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” still defines the business of law…
It’s time for a change.

If you’re a lawyer, you’re familiar with the ABA article “The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” which gives our podcast its title, and its inspiration. That article was the start of the billable hour for law firms…And the last major change to the business of law, 70+ years ago now. Well, it’s past time for another change.

This podcast is all about bucking the status quo of the business of law. Your hosts Ron Bockstahler and Kirsten Mayfield run Amata Law Office Suites, providing law firms an alternative to the traditional fixed-cost business model that places unwanted stress on attorneys to work long hours that often-times lead to burn out, broken relationships and in many cases substance abuse. Each week they’ll discuss alternatives to the 12 hours days, endless rotation of clerks and paralegals, and the expensive offices leased to impress clients who rarely show up in person anymore. They’ll interview successful lawyers who are doing law differently, and finding a work-life balance while still running a successful firm.

Do you want to find a better way to run your law firm? It’s time for the next big change in the business of law, and you’ll get it here on The 1958 Lawyer.

More episodes of The 1958 Lawyer podcast

Need marketing support? Discover our legal support staff for lawyers in Chicago.

What are Contract Paralegals? Can They Benefit My Law Firm?

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Business man working on documents, close up, lawyer accountant concept

Paralegals serve a critical function in larger law firms, providing client work at a billable hour but lower rate for clients, and freeing up the attorney’s time to work on more complex matters. But can contract paralegals offer the same benefits to solo and partner practice law firms?

Billable Hours & Paralegals Explained

Billable hours are the foundation for revenue for many law firms and attorneys. To increase your potential revenue, then, you have to increase the amount of billable hours in any given year. Extending the day cycle and adjusting the turn of the Earth is not an option, so many firm hire paralegals, who can perform client work and be billed back to the client. Yet recruiting full-time paralegals is costly, particularly for private practice law firms with fluctuating needs.

Many solo and partner practice law firms choose to forgo the assistance, but doing the work of a paralegal by yourself can cut into the firm’s bottom line. Additionally, other firms may be offering the same services at a lower cost because they are using the paralegals with lower billable rates on part of the casework.

While larger firms have the resources to take on a full-time staff member, and use them to their full-advantage, on-demand paralegal services (also referred to as freelance or contract paralegals) offer private practice law firms an alternative that is budget friendly.

What is a Contract Paralegal?

While a full-time paralegal is a permanent part of your law firm, a contract or freelance paralegal works on behalf of a licensed attorney for a specified period of time or specific case matter. They will only be paid for the work that they perform, usually by an hourly rate. Some concierge paralegal services only specialize in certain types of tasks and practice areas, while others can handle a variety of client work.

Generally speaking, a contract paralegal can perform the same tasks as any other paralegal, including:

  • Drafting procedures, correspondence, and policies
  • Researching memoranda
  • Reviewing and assisting in payment processing of different invoices received from legal vendors
  • Conducting advertisement reviews
  • Creating case reports
  • Handling special projects whenever assigned
  • Responding to counsel requests on time
  • Performing multiple duties whenever assigned to assist the chief legal officer in managing the company’s legal affairs

Before hiring a contract paralegal, make sure that they are equipped to handle the tasks you are assigning them. Some research may be necessary before hiring a paralegal to work freelance for your firm to ensure they are experienced in your practice area.

Benefits of Contract Paralegals

Cost Savings

Among the benefits of using contract paralegals, cost savings ranks highest on the list. And the cost-savings are two-fold:

  1. You keep overhead low by not taking on a full-time employee
  2. The client saves money by having a lower rate paralegal perform their work, giving your rates a competitive edge

Scalability

If you’re working on a large matter that requires more staff than your firm has on hand, your team can quickly upsize to take on the expanded workload, and then easily downsize once the project is done. On-demand paralegals fluctuate with your need, making it attractive for case-specific matters.

Professionalism

Contract paralegals have already been vetted by the ALSP (alternative legal service provider) they work on behalf of. There’s no need to look at a pile of resumes to find the right person, as their skills have already been qualified and the ALSP will know the right personnel for the job. As ALSPs depend on quality of service to operate, you can rest assured that their skills will match with your case needs. They are professionals who know how to help your legal practice.

Easy Client Billing

Since the paralegal performed billable work, and sent you an invoice, billing your client back is very simple. You simply mark up the service costs and apply to your own invoice structure before billing back.

Amata’s Legal Support Staff

Contract paralegals can provide an immeasurable amount of assistance to law firms, particularly smaller practices who don’t have the resource cushion to build out a team in-house. Using freelance paralegal services can help your business without cutting into your bottom line.

Aside from being a leading provider in shared office space for law firms in the Chicago area, Amata also offers services like contract paralegals and live legal receptionist services—both can be added onto existing programs or used as standalone services. Rather than paying by the hour, our staff charges for actually time spent on work, ensuring that every dime is spent on your clients’ legal matters.

Amata Law Office Suites is more than just an office space: it is an all-encompassing solution for legal practitioners that offers the benefits of a larger law firm at prices solo practitioners can afford. Contact us today more information about our services.

Discover our paralegal services in Chicago.

Lawyers Sharing Office Space with Non-Lawyers: Is It a Good Idea?

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As the idea of the traditional office has been shattered by shared work spaces, any savvy attorney might ask whether lawyers sharing office space with non-lawyers is a sound strategy.

Shared work environments can provide tremendous value and are certainly cost-effective, but such workplaces don’t always provide the environment and resources that are needed for success in the legal profession.

Lawyers Sharing Office Space with Non-Lawyers

People in office sharing their work result to potential partner.

Coworking spaces have grown exponentially in popularity, and with good reason – affordable yet modern, filled with basic necessities and in great buildings with easy access to transport; they offer an attractive alternative to a traditional office.

They also provide more financial control. While most traditional office spaces require a lease from anywhere between 2-10 years, shared office spaces can charge by as short a term as a month. Versus long-term leases, the shared office setups offer flexibility and the chance to decrease space, add space, or even work virtually without ever changing your address.

Despite all these benefits, they aren’t always an ideal match for attorneys. Private practice law firms have more demands their spaces need to fill, like a professional work environment and like-minded peers.

Violations of Attorney-Client Privilege

Lawyers are not ethically prohibited from using a shared office space, but caution should be taken to maintain the independence of your law firm and ensure that attorney-client privilege is maintained. For general shared working spaces, this can be a challenge.

Live Answering

Consider a live answering service – if a receptionist is shared between unaffiliated businesses, they will need customized messaging specific to your law practice rather than a general greeting. Additionally, having one receptionist act on behalf of two lawyers who are not affiliated isn’t illegal, but associating them together in the same messaging is ethically dubious. Furthermore, it may come off as unprofessional to your clients.

Data & Document Retention Policies

The shared faxing services and copiers can also pose a problem. If the team receives electronic versions of documents, they need to be sure to have appropriate data policies that protect your firm and your clients. If you use a shared fax machine that doesn’t receive electronically, then you have to also look out as an incoming fax will be available for others to grab, even if it’s accidental, as it lays on the copier.

Some shared offices offer admin work for their clientele as well, and for a busy attorney this may be intriguing. Once again, however, they need to ensure the shared office space has document retention policies that they adhere to and that any work is behind secure storage drives.

With the tech and cybersecurity competence policies being adopted by many bar associations, attorneys need to pay extra attention that they protect their client data and are confident in their shared office space provider’s policies.

For attorneys, the shared space must be compliant with ABA Model Rule 1.6 – Confidentiality of Information; but few know that rule exists.

Culture & Environment Clashes

Startups, marketing firms, advertising spaces; everyone loves shared spaces which can lead to an exciting blend of businesses on a single floor. But the culture at any given business isn’t necessarily compatible with what we might consider a “traditional legal office” – as such, clients who meet with you in a typical shared office space may have doubts as to your professional decorum.

Your clients will be in the common areas when they come to visit, even if it’s just a short span of time while waiting and grabbing a coffee before meeting with you. It’s important that the culture on the floor matches the culture you want your firm to project.

Lawyers Sharing Office Space with Other Lawyers

As a solo or private practice law firm, it is important that you don’t join a shared office space for cost-effectiveness and sacrifice the other important parts of your firm—protection of client data and information, firm brand, and office environment.

At Amata Law Office Suites, lawyers are provided with all of the amenities that a larger law firm might have, with the affordability and flexibility of comparable shared office spaces. With attorney receptionist services, on-demand paralegals, data and document retention policies and internet compliant with ABA code [insert], all of the resources and ethical considerations that a lawyer needs for success are taken care of.

In turn, you’ll work on a floor with other lawyers with a shared mission: practicing law. By sharing an office with other lawyers, you’ll find an easy stream of referrals, as well as collaborative culture where lawyers can share their expertise and advice with others.

Amata Law Office Suites provides an ideal working environment for small and private legal practices. Contact us today for more information about our services.

Tracy Coenen: A Fraud Investigator with Investigative Intuition | THE 1958 LAWYER Podcast

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She was inspired by Encyclopedia Brown and once aspired to become a prison warden, now Tracy Coenen is a revered fraud investigator and forensic accountant. Attorneys go beyond certifications when picking an investigator; Tracy proves why so many choose her.

Looking for a forensic accountant & fraud investigator to work with your law firm? Here’s what you need to know:

  • The 3 areas of fraud and Lifestyle Analysis (02:06)
  • Being the investigator for both sides of a divorce (08:38)
  • Picking the best forensic account or fraud investigator for your case (13:23)
  • Fraud and the consistent mistakes business owners make (16:55)

Follow “The 1958 Lawyer” on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

Detective. Fraud Investigator. Forensic Accountant.
No matter the title, “Investigative Intuition” is key.

“In many divorces, there’s a lot of suspicion and a lot of negative feelings. In order to effectively use one expert, there has to be a trust level there. There has to be trust that that expert isn’t in cahoots with one side…. That’s sometimes a hard place to get to.”

“The numbers do sort of speak to me…something I call investigative intuition…. I can go through statements and pick out certain transactions and go back to the client and say, ‘These transactions I’d like you to look at and can you tell me anything you might know about them?’….I can’t tell you how many times a client comes back comes back and says, I didn’t know about those transactions, but there’s a couple here that are really stinky.”

“People are as dumb about the money as they’ve always been…. All the electronic banking has made it in some ways a little bit easier to steal, because a few clicks of a button and you could transfer money out of the company’s bank account to you personally. The thing is: there’s going to be more documentation of that than there ever was before, if someone takes the time to dig in.”

“Segregation of duties is literally just taking the money handling process and dividing it up between multiple people so that they are sort of naturally double checking each other. ‘Well, how can I possibly do it in my small company?’ Very simply: have the bank statement sent to your home, Mr. Owner… and you should let your employees know, very subtly, that you’re opening and looking at it. Because it’s a great deterrent.”

TRACY COENEN, SEQUENCE INC. FORENSIC ACCOUNTING

Tracey Coenen

Tracy Coenen, CPA, CFF of Sequence Inc. Forensic Accounting has spent more than 20 years investigating fraud. Her educational background includes an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Law Studies and a Master of Business Administration, both from Marquette University. Tracy is a Certified Public Accountant and holds the designations Certified in Financial Forensics and Master Analyst in Financial Forensics.

She has personally completed more than 400 forensic accounting engagements in a wide variety of industries, including cases of embezzlement, financial statement fraud, investment fraud, divorce, and insurance fraud. Tracy has also been named an expert witness in numerous cases involving damage calculations, commercial contract disputes, shareholder disputes and criminal defense, and has testified more than 75 times.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracycoenen/

Sequence Inc.: www.sequenceinc.com

KEEP READING ABOUT FRAUD INVESTIGATION, FORENSIC ACCOUNTING & MORE!

Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

“The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” still defines the business of law…
It’s time for a change.

If you’re a lawyer, you’re familiar with the ABA article “The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” which gives our podcast its title, and its inspiration. That article was the start of the billable hour for law firms…And the last major change to the business of law, 70+ years ago now. Well, it’s past time for another change.

This podcast is all about bucking the status quo of the business of law. Your hosts Ron Bockstahler and Kirsten Mayfield run Amata Law Office Suites, providing law firms an alternative to the traditional fixed-cost business model that places unwanted stress on attorneys to work long hours that often-times lead to burn out, broken relationships and in many cases substance abuse. Each week they’ll discuss alternatives to the 12 hours days, endless rotation of clerks and paralegals, and the expensive offices leased to impress clients who rarely show up in person anymore. They’ll interview successful lawyers who are doing law differently, and finding a work-life balance while still running a successful firm.

Do you want to find a better way to run your law firm? It’s time for the next big change in the business of law, and you’ll get it here on The 1958 Lawyer.

More episodes of The 1958 Lawyer podcast

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Lawyering and Parenting? Legal Support Services Help Lawyer Moms Do Both

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Michelle Sinkovits' Family

When it comes to juggling motherhood and practicing law, Natalie Harris, a partner at Baron Harris Healey, candidly admits that it’s no easy task.

“It was totally horrible,” she said about transitioning back to work after becoming a mom 11 years ago.

At the time, she was an attorney at a boutique law firm and roughly 10 years out of law school, the typical time frame for rising to partner status. The firm had few full-time, female partners and no one before her returned to work at the firm after having a child. 

As her family’s primary breadwinner, Harris couldn’t afford to take a few years off. While she was able to negotiate a “generous” amount of time for maternity leave, she said she didn’t receive any accommodations, such as daycare assistance, to help her ease back into her role. The firm also reduced her annual billable hour goal and salary — for the next few years.

“It was as if I came back from vacation,” she recalled. “Hope you had fun. Now, let’s get back to work.”

She eventually made partner after having her second child, but she thinks motherhood “absolutely” delayed her promotion.

Does Being a Mother Impede Career Prospects as a Lawyer?

It’s no secret that the legal industry is struggling to retain female attorneys. While roughly 50% of law students are female, legal news service Law360 found that women represent less than 40% of attorneys in law firms and just over 20% of equity partners. 

Becoming a parent certainly seems to factor into the diminishing numbers. A 2019 study from the American Bar Association reported that nearly 60% of female lawyers cite caretaking commitments as an “important influence” on their decision to leave their firms. More than half said arranging child care is their full responsibility, compared with 1% of male lawyers.

As a solo practitioner specializing in international law, Sandra Chiarlone agreed that it was “very difficult” to manage her practice and a new baby in 2017. While she was able to find a babysitter whenever she had in-person client meetings, she often depended on others to visit the various entities with which she communicates, such as the Illinois Secretary of State office and Consulate General of Italy. Her quarterly trips to Italy also stopped.

“When you’re lawyering in your early 20s, no one asks you, ‘What kind of lifestyle do you want?’” Harris said. “Do you like being in the office all the time? Or do you like having control of your schedule?”

Family law attorney Michelle Sinkovits Ferguson decided not to wait for others to ask. Instead of continuing her career at an established firm in 2012, she chose to start her own practice, Greenberg & Sinkovits, LLC, with fellow attorney Stephanie Greenberg. She knew that working for herself would eventually provide more flexibility when she wanted to have children. But a firm with two women at the helm also poses unique challenges.

“I think my first maternity leave … was a learning experience for both of us … how to handle things when the other one is on leave for an extended period,” Greenberg said.

Now, Greenberg and Sinkovits Ferguson are both moms and split their time between their at-home and in-person offices. While many other attorneys find challenges with working from home, they relish the ability to see their children the moment they stop working.

Legal Support Services Help Lawyers Who Are Mothers Excel

According to the 2019 American Bar Association study, levels of stress at work and work-life balance are top reasons that women leave their law firms. Luckily, the COVID-19 pandemic has stirred change in the legal industry. A hybrid setup — renting a few offices that attorneys can share during their periodic downtown trips — or working completely remote is no longer frowned upon. If more female attorneys feel empowered to find a work setup that suits them, it could improve overall retention. 

Chiarlone, Greenberg and Sinkovits Ferguson have learned to adjust their schedules so they could devote necessary time to their children and practices, and they credit Amata Law Office Suites (Chicago’s first legal community of more than 700 attorneys and six Class-A downtown offices) with helping them reach their law practice and parenting goals. In addition to physical office space, teleworking services and virtual office programs, Amata offers them premier legal support, such as live legal receptionists who perform client intake and an experienced legal support team. Not to mention the potential to network with fellow lawyer moms and other attorney parents.

Greenberg and Sinkovits Ferguson decided to move their office to Amata last summer when their previous lease ended. For now, they prefer the virtual office approach rather than a hybrid or completely on-site option. They use Amata’s reservable day-offices and meeting room space for client meetings and have taken advantage of the live reception services. Sinkovits Ferguson said the arrangement is working “really well.”

 Chiarlone appreciates the location of her downtown office, as it’s very convenient for clients to visit. But what she loves most about Amata is the empathy that she found in the personnel.

“On a scale of one to 10, they’re more than 10,” she said. They do what you need in a very precise and kind manner.”

After 15 years with her previous firm, Harris also made the move to Amata in 2019 when starting her partner practice with former colleagues. The goal was to live a more fulfilling life. She said Amata has helped them keep overhead “extraordinarily low,” earn more revenue and be more selective with their work. Most importantly, she has more time to spend with her kids.

“We enjoy our time together so much more,” she said.

There’s more work to be done to empower lawyer moms. Call us or visit our website and take an online or in-person tour of one of our six Class-A law firm office spaces and consider joining the Amata community. Or keep the conversation going by contacting us at [email protected].

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