The 1958 Lawyer

Platform tennis, golf, ironman competitions, fishing; no sport is safe in this conversation about marketing and building a book of business as a lawyer. Passionate about helping attorneys reach their full potential, Steve Fretzin is regarded as the premier coach and skills trainer on legal business development.

Key moments:

Making changes and taking chances as an attorney (03:57)

Succeeding without running yourself crazy (12:35)

Past-Present-Future of marketing for law firms (22:20)

The Three Ps: Planning, Process, Performance (31:17)

What Steve Fretzin wants to see changed in the legal profession (47:55)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“I think the biggest misstep that's happening is lawyers are afraid to miss something, they're afraid to leave something out for fear that if they do, that they're going to miss out on the business. And the reality is that listing off five or ten things that you do, pretty much just falls on deaf ears.”
 

“It's all about organization. And it's all about leveraging resources…. Whether it's work that you shouldn't be doing that you should be…handing over to associates, paralegals assistants, etc. or it's the idea that… you haven't made the proper hire, to be able to delegate and then go out and get more business.”
 

“Into the simplest form: it's about having a great plan. Something that you can look at every day that you can execute on every week, that speaks to you. And it's the lowest hanging fruit. It's not about how many hours you put into it. It's about a plan that's focused and targeted, as well as having a tracking system, because as we talked about earlier, if you don't measure it, you can't manage it.”

CONNECT WITH STEVE FRETZIN

Over the past 16 years, Steve Fretzin has devoted his career to helping law firms and lawyers master the art of legal business development to achieve their business goals and the peace of mind that comes with developing a successful law practice.

In addition to writing three books on legal business development, Steve has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Crain’s, and Entrepreneur.com. He has appeared on NBC News, WGN Radio, and has written articles for Attorney at Law Magazine, the National Law Review, the American Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association. You can also find his monthly column in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. You can also find his podcast show BE THAT LAWYER, where Steve interviews rainmakers and legal marketing experts.

Fretzin, INC.: https://fretzin.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevefretzin

Twitter: @stevefretzin

Be That Lawyer Podcast: https://fretzin.com/podcast/

KEEP READING:

“Two Growing Trends In America: Platform Tennis And Legal Business Development” Be That Lawyer with Fretzin, 30 September 2020
https://fretzin.com/two-growing-trends-in-america-platform-tennis-and-legal-business-development/

“The Bryson DeChambeau Effect: Ready or not, the game is about to change” Golfworld, 22 September 2020
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-bryson-dechambeau-effect-how-golf-is-about-to-change-us-open

“Spanx founder Sara Blakely learned an important lesson about failure from her dad — now she's passing it on to her 4 kids” Business Insider, 17 July 2018
https://www.businessinsider.com/spanx-founder-sara-blakely-redefine-failure-2016-10

After recording this episode, legal industry journalist Roy Strom posted an article also equating the legal profession to DeChambeau. Read his in-depth and well researched thoughts here: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/dechambeaus-big-miss-at-masters-is-lesson-in-successful-failure

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

It started as a means to an end. Now it’s a passion filled career. Odell Mitchell III gives us a peak behind the curtain at life as an entertainment lawyer running his own firm, as a single father of two young girls, and as an African American man in the legal industry.

Key moments:

A glimpse into Entertainment Law (05:51)

Juggling single fatherhood and running a law firm (22:43)

Music and performance in the time of Covid-19 (27:17)

Being African American in a creative industry versus legal industry at large (30:56)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“For me as an African American male we usually cannot like look back and see a lot of our lineage – or it's harder to do. And so that's something I hold very dear to me. The fact that I have that. So, I've always tried to incorporate it somehow.”

“As things have moved from more analog to more digital it has opened up so much more opportunity for artists and creatives alike…. There are more places where they could have control. But it also means there are more places for other entities to try to take back control.”

“These days people want to like who they're working with. They want to feel like they have access to you. They want to feel like they can connect with you. And those things in a lot of ways are imperative [now], whereas they might have been ‘nice to have’ not even that long ago.”

“I'm certainly not shy about being a single parent. I don't think you can be…. I am fortunate that I am able, at this point to enlist the right level of support. I don't have a lot of people around me – I do most of it by myself – but I have a few trusted avenues…. I think it's really hard for single parents and it gets missed a lot there. Again, especially for women in the workforce.”

CONNECT WITH ODELL MITCHELL III

Odell practices in the heart of Chicago, IL. He earned a BM in Music Business and an independent study in graphic design from Millikin University. He earned his JD from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. 

Prior to founding Thirdinline Legal, Odell operated as a manager, recording engineer, producer and creative director. As a musician and visual artist himself, he understands the needs of the creative entrepreneur firsthand. With over 10 years of experience in the arts and entertainment industries, Odell is pleased to unite his passions of creativity and the law to provide excellent legal services to other entertainment, business, and creative professionals.

Third in Line Legal: www.thirdinlinelegal.com

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

Instagram: @odellcommaesq

Twitter: @odellcommaesq

Email Odell Mitchell III: [email protected]

CONTINUE EXPLORING:

“Billie Eilish’s Virtual Concert Is the Rare Livestream Done Right” Rolling Stone, October 2020
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/billie-eilish-livestream-virtual-concert-1080748/

“The Legal Take on the Taylor Swift Recording Dispute” Best Lawyers, December 2019
https://www.bestlawyers.com/article/taylor-swift-recording-contract-controversy/2747

“Tidal, Kanye West Face Class Action Lawsuit Over ‘The Life of Pablo’” Rolling Stone, April 2016
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tidal-kanye-west-face-class-action-lawsuit-over-the-life-of-pablo-45213/

WHAT ODELL IS LISTENING TO:

The Temptations “The Last Temptation” Rolling Stone, August 2018
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/the-last-temptation-2-707557/

Bring Me the Horizon “Bring Me The Horizon announce new EP, featuring Babymetal and Amy Lee” NME, October 2020
https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/bring-me-the-horizon-new-album-october-30-2785630

Shepherd “Shepherd’s ‘Gametime’ is the undoubted sports anthem of the year” Elite Sports NY, November 2019
https://elitesportsny.com/2019/11/20/shepherd-gametime-is-undoubted-sports-anthem-of-year/

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

Trisha Daho has a fun job, she helps attorneys become the people and leaders they want to be. But she also tackles big issues at firms. Like building real diversity and managing a law firm minorities thrive within. The road to partner is getting paved for women and diverse ethnicities, and Trisha is helping firms at every step.

Key moments:

Differentiating yourself from other law firms (05:46)

Diversity and mentorship vs. sponsorship vs. advocacy (09:26)

Running a firm? Do the things you want to do (18:35)

What Trisha Daho wants to see changed in the legal professional (30:56)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“I will tell you from my own personal experience, without an advocate for what you want your career path to be, that has some juice in the firm, it is extremely hard to accelerate any kind of career path up to equity partner and beyond into real leadership positions.”

“Differentiating is honestly something that is almost never done. But once firms do it, they grow exponentially in comparison to their competitors…. Frankly, even the big boys, the giant law firms, are not doing a very good job of explaining to their most important targets and clients why they should choose one firm over another.”

“Firms that actually have great levels of diversity and inclusion usually are experiencing results that are 17% to 25% better than they would if they had no diversity. So, there's a real there's a business case, why [diversity] is important.”

CONNECT WITH TRISHA DAHO

Trisha spent most of her career leading large, diverse teams toward the delivery of value for her clients at a Big 4 Accounting and Advisory firm, wherein she served as a partner.  She has been pivotal in the discovery and sustainability of value in the billions of dollars for her clients.  She has worked with executives and their teams in dozens of Fortune 500 companies in the majority of states.  She has also created enormous value for entrepreneurs, high growth companies, and aspiring start-ups.  She left the corporate arena to light up the world of diversity, equity, and inclusion. And hence, Empowered was born.

With her own company, Trisha partners with C-suites and managing partners to think, plan, and execute strategically for the purpose of accelerated and sustainable growth, primarily in service-based firms. She also partners with firms of all types to create success for women and diverse people who are entering leadership positions through a diversity and inclusion peer advisory experience focused on strategy, high performing teams, and advocacy in leadership. Empowered helps organizations to create more diverse talent acquisition and development strategies, accountability and measurement in leader performance, and the development of more inclusive cultures where diverse people thrive.

Empowered: www.empoweredlc.com

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

KEEP READING

2nd Story: Well-crafted, well-told stories as a catalyst for change
https://www.2ndstory.com/our-mission
 

Trisha is starting a mastermind with AMATA Law Office Suites and Breakthrough Bound which begins February 2021! For more information email Trisha: [email protected]

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

Doug Church recently became a Legendary Lawyer at the Indiana Bar Foundation. An incredible honor with intensive qualifications for nominees, including a mandatory 50 years of practicing law. Doug takes us back in time and discusses what he’s seen in law in the past five decades and offers the knowledge he’s learned along the way.

Key moments:

• 50 years of practicing law: a journey into the past (1:58)
• Experiences on the Conner Prairie Board of Directors (22:22)
• What Douglas Church wants to see changed in the legal profession (31:07)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“You need to take time for yourself, number one, because the law is a jealous mistress and you can find yourself working twelve, fourteen hours a day….It's important to try to make sure you don't let yourself become a slave to your practice.”

“I've always operated under the theory that you got to be somewhere. So some people choose to be somewhere by sitting in their easy chair or watching TV, some people sit and read a book, I chose to just spend my time being involved with organizations that were advancing some cause that I felt strongly about.”

“My dad always told me as a young person: ‘If you set out to make money you're going to be disappointed because there will never be enough.’ You can set out to do a good job at whatever it is you’re doing and money will follow, because people will appreciate your good work, whatever that may be. And I believe that that is true.”

CONNECT WITH DOUG CHURCH

Doug is the Senior Partner of Hamilton County based Church Church Hittle + Antrim law firm which was founded in 1880.  He has been actively involved with the Hamilton County, Indiana State and American Bar Association serving in various leadership positions.  He served as the Noblesville City attorney from 1987-1995 and the Town of Fishers attorney from 1980- 2014.  

Doug was instrumental in the development of the Hamilton County Leadership Academy serving as a Faculty Member and Dean (1992) and as Board President (1996-98).  He has also been actively involved with Conner Prairie as the Chairperson, 1999-2001 and Member, Board of Trustees, 1997, 2003.  He currently serves as an Emeritus Member of the Museum Board of Trustees.  Doug has also served on a number of other Hamilton County organizations’ Boards of Directors.  Doug is an avid swimmer and promoter of the sport.

Church Church Hittle + Antrim: www.cchalaw.com

KEEP READING

• “A Hamilton County community champion: Legendary Lawyer Douglas Church” Marilyn Odendahl; The Indiana Lawyer (28 Oct. 2020)
  https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/a-hamilton-county-community-champion-legendary-lawyer-douglas-church
• “I’m Billing Time” Music Parody
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFVtkpsWCn4
• Conner Prairie: A living history museum in unincorporated south-central Hamilton County, Indiana
  https://www.connerprairie.org/
• Civics Education program “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” from the Indiana Bar Foundation
  https://inbf.org/Educational-Programs/We-The-People
• “Importance of Jury Trials” Informational Sheets to share and educate; The National Judicial College
• 2 Page Info Sheet: https://www.judges.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Why-Jury-Trials-are-Important-to-a-Democratic-Society.pdf
• Presentation Slides: https://www.judges.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Importance-of-Jury-Trials.pdf
• “Jury Trials Aren’t What They Used to Be” Randall T. Shepard; Indiana Law Review, Vol. 38:859 (p. 859-866)
  https://mckinneylaw.iu.edu/ilr/pdf/vol38p859.pdf

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

You could say Daniel A. Cotter has had an accomplished 26 years so far as an attorney. He’s worked in-house and as outside counsel, taught Insurance Law at the John Marshall Law School, published a book about the Chief Justices, been an Illinois Leading Lawyer and Super Lawyer for four years, and he is active in the Chicago Bar Association and American Bar Association alike. But Dan also makes sure to mention his son benches more than him, the kid he tutors has more intensive math skills, and his marriage is 31 years strong. If you pay attention, life has a way of rounding you out, even as a busy attorney.

Key moments:

Cybersecurity and insurance insights, from an Insurance Law professor (07:35)

Technology discrepancies in small firms versus Big Law (16:59)

“The Chief Justices,” meeting RBG, and charity work (25:58)

What Daniel Cotter wants to see changed in the legal profession (38:54)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“Companies need to think through ‘what's the ramifications of having all of our people work from home?’ Right, ‘is it our responsibility if something happens to Dan Cotter while he's at his house,’ or you know, does he need to look at his own insurance policy and does he need to notify his insurance company that he’s working from home?”

“I’ve seen programs that talk about artificial intelligence and how it frees up the attorney and, you know, it’s great, and then the cost is prohibitive for many [private practice attorneys]….Their needs can't be met because the cost is so prohibitive.”

“I'm a big proponent of belonging to the bar association of your choice. Whether it's the state bar or the city bar, an affinity bar. I just find that bar membership has been rewarding… and I can say that it’s probably provided me with work over the years.”

“I am passionate about the law, and optimistic, but also concerned about the challenges, especially for graduates. In the last decade, it's been a tough road with a major recession in 2008 and then 2013 again. And now the pandemic.”

CONNECT WITH DANIEL COTTER

Daniel A. Cotter is Attorney and Counselor at Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC. Dan focuses his practices in a variety of areas of corporate law and litigation, including insurance law, complex business disputes and counseling, employment law, corporate transactions, corporate governance and compliance, and cybersecurity and privacy law. His clients benefit from his diverse professional experience, which – in addition to his years serving as trusted outside counsel – includes positions as a corporate accountant and an in-house attorney. Dan has been working in cyber and privacy since the late 1990s, before cyber was a thing.

Twitter: @scotusbios

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SCOTUSlyYours

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

Howard & Howard: www.howardandhoward.com

CONTINUE EXPLORING

“The coasts are alive with the sound of privacy enforcement” Daniel A. Cotter Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
https://howardandhoward.com/user_area/pdf/CDLB_Cotter_Coasts%20Alive%20with%20Sound%20of%20Privacy%20Enforcement_8-24-20.pdf

“The Chief Justices: The Seventeen Men at the Center Seat, Their Courts, and Their Times” Daniel A. Cotter Twelve Tables Press
https://www.amazon.com/Chief-Justices-Daniel-Cotter/dp/194607425X

Lawyers Lend-a-Hand to Youth
https://www.lawyerslendahand.org/
 

If you’re interested in getting involved with Lawyers Lend-A-Hand, or simply want to connect, reach out to Dan at [email protected]!

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

Few attorneys build their law firm against the billable hour. Mellisa Grisel is one of those. Atlas Legal Services, LLC, was made to offer flat fee “unbundled” legal services and provide affordable assistance to the under-represented. A set-up that not only helps the average citizen navigate through legal processes but, she argues, will be a huge component in the future of law.

Key moments:

“Unbundled” legal services explained and why they work (04:16)

How new service concepts play out in a real-life firm (16:26)

Technology’s role in the “unbundled” service setup (21:57)

What Mellisa Grisel wants to see changed in the legal profession (30:32)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“I didn’t really have other business models to work off of [when setting up my firm] so I had to do a lot of trial and error. But then you’ll see bigger firms who have the funds to do faster trial and error. They are moving some of their practice to flat fee services and they’re really starting to follow the money.”

“[Lawyers] don’t have to just be the hammer in the courtroom. They can the facilitator…. besides moving towards flat fees, I think it's awesome moving towards collaborative law.”

“The entire frame of legal services, the provision of legal services, needs to change to provide access to justice.”

“I’ve had judges personally thank me for taking on clients on a limited scope basis because the judges couldn’t tell the litigants ‘hey, you need to bring me all your evidence tomorrow, get your bank statements in line.’ They can’t give that person advice.”

CONNECT WITH MELLISA GRISEL

Mellisa Grisel began her firm, Atlas Legal Services, LLC., right out of law school because she wanted an innovative way to provide legal services to people who may not have gotten legal assistance otherwise. Atlas is able to provide à la carte (otherwise known as “Unbundled”) legal services to people who may only need or may only be able to afford certain steps in their legal case.

This way of providing service is ideal for people with family law cases like divorce, child custody, adoption, litigation regarding unpaid bills, services that were never performed, personal property, and also landlord-tenant law. Atlas is quite literally designed to help small landlords who need help with a tenant - be it collecting unpaid rent, drawing up a lease that complies with local laws, or if it comes to it, eviction. 

Atlas Legal Services: www.atlaslegalservices.com

Call Mellisa Grisel: 312-291-4643

LEARN MORE

“Limited Scope Representation Toolkit” The Chicago Bar Foundation
http://chicagobarfoundation.org/pdf/resources/limited-scope-representation/toolkit.pdf

“The Law Shop has a cutting-edge way of providing legal services” Des Moines Mom
https://desmoines.momcollective.com/the-law-shop-has-a-cutting-edge-way-of-offering-legal-services/

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

Kendra never envisioned herself becoming a lawyer, per se. Like becoming a minister, earning her J.D. and opening her law firm became a way to drive positive change within minority communities – improving access to justice as an agent inside the system. Recently, Kendra also launched The Justice Renewal Initiative, a faith-based non-profit also supporting her singular goal through alternative methods.

Key moments:

Conception and struggles for a firm built to bridge the Justice Gap (1:00)

The Justice Renewal Initiative’s three focuses for change (10:45)

Case Study: A man stuck in the broken criminal justice system (14:18)

What Kendra Spearman wants to see changed in law (35:43)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“The bar exam poses a major impediment [to more minorities becoming attorneys]…everything that it asks is stuff that you can kind of look up, it's not a test about intelligence, but some people just don't do well with tests.”

“What I hope to do through the Justice Renewal Initiative is bring all backgrounds together. All private citizens: I want judges, police officers – and that's a group that tends to be excluded because of the mistrust – private citizens of the church…. People tend to ignore an issue if it does not affect them. So, I wanted to create this space where everybody could feel like they're involved.”

“The other uncomfortable thing for me in that setting is that black women tend to have this stereotype that we're angry… And I'm pretty confident that had I not lost my temper, that my client would have been taken into custody, and from what I was hearing from the different numbers that they were throwing out, we're talking about years.”

“One of the main things I tell people is to talk about it. People look at racism and systemic racism and these issues as, you know, the awkward conversation to have.”

CONNECT WITH KENDRA SPEARMAN

Kendra is a civil rights attorney and minister. She is the owner and founder of Spearman Law LLC, a civil rights law firm, and founder of The Justice Renewal Initiative, Inc., a faith-based, non-profit that is dedicated to criminal justice reform. She works diligently to fight injustice on the behalf of disadvantaged populations, in particular, those impacted by mass incarceration and racial disparities. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preacherlawyer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kendraspearman

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

Spearman Law: www.spearmanlaw.com

Justice Renewal Initiative: www.thejri.org

ADDITIONAL READING

• “13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Abolition of Slavery (1865)” Our Documents
  https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=40
• “Common Interpretation: The 13th Amendment” National Constitution Center
  https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/interpretation/amendment-xiii/interps/137
• “School-to-Prison Pipeline” American Civil Liberties Union
  https://www.aclu.org/issues/juvenile-justice/school-prison-pipeline
• “The School-to-Prison Pipeline” Teaching Tolerance (Issue 32; Spring 2013)
  https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/spring-2013/the-school-to-prison-pipeline
• “Dismantling the School to Prison Pipeline” NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. 
  https://www.naacpldf.org/wp-content/uploads/Dismantling_the_School_to_Prison_Pipeline__Criminal-Justice__.pdf
• “Camden’s Turn: A Story of Police Reform in Progress” Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), U.S. Department of Justice (US DOJ); Not In Our Town
  https://cops.usdoj.gov/RIC/Publications/cops-p366-pub.pdf
• “Former Chief Of Reformed Camden, N.J., Force: Police Need 'Consent Of The People'” NPR
  https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/06/08/872416644/former-chief-of-reformed-camden-n-j-force-police-need-consent-of-the-people
• Injustice Watch – Cook County option for Judicial information
  https://www.injusticewatch.org/

Kendra, and The Justice Renewal Initiative, was featured in Chicago Lawyer! Read the full article: https://ablog.amatacorp.com/blog/posts/rearranged-as-covid-19-drags-on-law-firms-assess-their-largely-empty-offices/

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

Clinton Ind chose a vastly different route in practicing law compared to his wife: he is a solo attorney turned in-house counsel, while she has worked at a large, international firm. However, how they found their paths, he explains, is the same: self-awareness and asking yourself ‘what’s your greatest attribute as a lawyer.’

Key moments:

· Large vs. mid vs. solo – finding your niche and support network (3:25)

· Moving from solo to in-house counsel (11:42)

· Fair billing; it’s not about billable hour versus fixed fee (17:57)

· What Clinton Ind wants to see changed in law (32:53)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“It's interesting because the law is the same. The scale is obviously different, but the law is always the same…. [My wife and I] are self-aware enough to know our personalities; her personality works for a firm like that, [a large firm], and mine never did.”

“You’re always learning something new [while practicing law], and that can be intimidating…You can overcome the intimidation of trying new things by creating a network of attorneys that you can speak with and associate with.”

“I've taken issue with opposing counsel who probably do things that don't necessarily need to be done…. One of my biggest pitches to prospective clients was always ‘I'm going to keep your business objectives in mind, and we don't necessarily need to write this 30-page brief to get the point across.”

ABOUT CLINTON IND

Clinton recently has recently transitioned his practice from a commercial litigator with his own law firm, to in-house counsel with a growing distribution business at Quantum Polymers. His new role is oriented around managing risk as the company expands while assisting with the business strategy and growth. Quantum Polymers: www.quantumpolymers.com

ADDITIONAL READING

· “The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys” Journal of Addiction Medicine https://journals.lww.com/journaladdictionmedicine/Fulltext/2016/02000/The_Prevalence_of_Substance_Use_and_Other_Mental.8.aspx

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

How do you build a powerful firm? Take Advitam IP as an example – a firm that started with a blank page, then thought so divergently they decided to just throw paper away entirely. Now, eight years running, embracing the pivot and always keeping cost in mind has made their firm thrive.

Key moments:

• Why you should begin with a blank page (5:07)
• How firms can meet client billing rate expectations (13:14)
• Choosing a branded name versus a last name for your firm (24:35)
• The importance of change in a successful firm (28:20)
• What Richard Gurak wants to see changed in law (32:53)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“Frankly, from the AM Law 100 firm that we were leaving, we gave up nothing. In fact, I've joked with Michele, that I actually think that our tech capabilities are better.”

“It never fades, the happiness I feel when I get referrals, because I always tell myself okay you must be doing something right.”

“It takes time to change. It takes money, sometimes, to change. But in order to stay on top of your game – not only in the legal business but in any business – you have to adapt.”

CONNECT WITH RICHARD GURAK

Richard Gurak is a Founding Partner of Intellectual Property firm Advitam IP, LLC (2012) where he represents individuals and companies of all sizes across five continents. Mr. Gurak has authored articles on legal issues relating to trademark and domain name, appearing in numerous publications, and lectures regularly on intellectual property matters.

An active networker and philanthropist, he participates in and/or is a member of the International Trademark Association, The Union League Club Chicago, and a Lifetime Member of the Natural Register of Who's Who. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardgurak/ Advitam IP: https://advitamip.com/

KEEP EXPLORING

• Advitam IP’s Annual IP Conference Event “IP Junkies” https://www.facebook.com/IPJunkies/

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

It’s our first episode and the Honorable Erika Orr helped us launch with a bang. Determining what you want and then asking for it is a key driver of personal success and greater social change. Erika’s insights as woman on a journey to becoming a judge – owning her own firm, working in corporate, and tackling motherhood – prove this over and over.

Key moments:

• Hanging up her own shingle after the 2008 recession (8:40)
• Conflicts for women developing career and family in America (10:13)
• Asking for what you want (15:05)
• What Erika Orr wants to see changed in law (19:06)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“Part of [bridging the pay gap] is making sure women know they can make the ask, don’t be afraid to make the ask…. Even as a child I was empowered to speak my piece.”

“At some point [we’re going to have to] asses what our value system is around the working family…. There’s a cost factor to it but cost really is associated with whatever your value system is. It’s not an expensive proposition if certain things are important to you. We as a country are going to have to make a determination about what it is we want.”

“We need more people to dive deep and not be afraid to ask the questions of themselves.”

CONNECT WITH ERIKA ORR

Erika Orr is currently a full circuit Cook County judge where she is seated in the Domestic Violence Division. Prior to that, Erika was a solo practitioner and owner of the Orr Law Group, Ltd. in Chicago, where she specialized in domestic relations law. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erika.orr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-orr-4a55971a/ Cook County Court, Judges Pages: http://www.cookcountycourt.org/Judges-Pages/Orr-Erika

FURTHER READING

• “Visible Invisibility: Women of Color in Law Firms” ABA Commission on Women in the Profession https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/women/visibleinvisibility.pdf
• “PF2.1. Parental leave systems” Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) http://www.oecd.org/els/soc/PF2_1_Parental_leave_systems.pdf
• White Fragility: Why It's So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism by Robin Diangelo https://www.robindiangelo.com/publications/

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