As I reflect on the past five years of owning Dean’s Paralegal Services and all of the expansions I have undergone, one thing remains clear: Being a Licensed Paralegal is synonymous with being an entrepreneur. An entrepreneurial mindset has become an increasingly crucial quality for licensed lawyers and paralegals in Ontario. Throughout this time period, I have learned that having this mindset involves identifying opportunities and taking calculated risks to achieve success, requiring creativity, adaptability, and a willingness to try new things. Legal professionals who possess this mindset can not only be experts in the law but also have the ability to create new business opportunities, think innovatively to provide solutions for clients, and find new ways to market and grow a legal practice.
In my fourth year of business, I took the previous status quo of a paralegal and turned it on its head. I opened Dean’s Paralegal Services and Lawyers – a multidisciplinary practice where lawyers and paralegals work together in their respective areas of law as equals. In my fifth year of business, I expanded to make business relationships with Realtors, mortgage brokers, and property managers.
In today's rapidly changing legal landscape, an entrepreneurial mindset is increasingly important. With the rise of alternative legal service providers and technological advancements, legal professionals must adapt to remain competitive. By embracing this mindset, legal professionals can identify new opportunities to grow their practice and provide better service to their clients.
Embracing an entrepreneurial mindset can bring several benefits for legal professionals. They can attract new clients, expand their practice areas, and achieve increased revenue and business growth. Additionally, by being innovative and adaptable, they can provide better service to their clients, offer alternative fee structures, develop new legal technologies, and provide more personalized service. Moreover, legal professionals with an entrepreneurial mindset can differentiate themselves from their competitors and attract new clients. I have watched this firsthand and continue to reap the benefits of my entrepreneurial mindset.
Despite recent articles outlining a lack of job satisfaction in the legal profession, by taking ownership of their legal practice, legal professionals who embrace an entrepreneurial mindset can find increased job satisfaction. They can build a practice that aligns with their values and goals, resulting in a fulfilling career.
Possessing an entrepreneurial spirit has become a necessary quality for licensed lawyers and paralegals in Ontario. Legal professionals who embrace this mindset can identify new business opportunities, provide better service to their clients, differentiate themselves from their competitors, and find increased job satisfaction. By embracing an entrepreneurial mindset, legal professionals can take their legal practice to the next level and achieve greater success in their careers.