Lawyers finding their niche

The thought of turning a special interest into a niche practice remains a pipe dream for most lawyers.

After all, it’s one thing to cultivate a curiosity for a vague subject during leisure time but it can be hard to believe that passion will put food on the table.

However, those who have taken the leap and turned their side interest into a law practice say it can be done — and remain profitable — if approached in the right way with the proper zeal.

The first and perhaps most obvious step to becoming a legal specialist is getting involved. Susan Wortzman, founder of Wortzman Nickle Professional Corp. in Toronto, started her concentration on e-discovery while working as litigation counsel at a law firm.

She gradually gained experience in e-discovery through the files she worked on, got involved with the Sedona Conference, and spoke about the topic at various events. But there came a time when she had to make a decision.

“Nobody was referring any work to me because I was at a firm,” she says. Luckily for her, when it came time to make a move and hang her own shingle, the groundwork had been laid.

“As soon as I opened up our doors, the work just started pouring in, and we were very, very busy,” she says.

But not all lawyers are willing to take the type of risk that Wortzman did in setting up her own shop. Others may look to people like Davis LLP associate
Tudor Carsten, who says it’s important to keep your head up and look for opportunities to follow your passion.

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Source: Law Times
By: David Todd