Here’s MY Story!
My first job after graduating from The George Washington Law School was working at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a Patent Examiner. I had already passed the Patent Bar and the Texas Bar but while in Law School, I recognized that all of the best patent lawyers started their career at the USPTO. I aspired to be the best too! Some of my peers tried to make me feel bad for accepting a five figure paying job while they accepted six figure paying jobs at mega law firms. However, I had made the right choice for me and my lifestyle at the time. Since I had never had a full time job, I figured I could survive off of five figures in the DC area. The only problem was that I had a 1.5 hour commute to and from the office and I was spending 3 hours a day commuting on public transportation to avoid highway traffic. Newly married, the commute didn’t seem so bad but my husband was only commuting 20-30 minutes a day to his job and I wanted that type of commute too. I had to do what I had to do plus I loved our community. When I became pregnant with our first child, I started thinking to myself , “There has to be a better way!”
Can you relate? There has to be a better way, right?
I did not express my frustration about my commute to anyone because I enjoyed my job as a Patent Examiner. But, it was hot and difficult commuting, especially while pregnant. When our daughter was born, I was able to take leave for several months to care for her. It was a fun and amazing time to share and bond with her. Some of my former classmates were not so fortunate. Their mega firms allowed them six weeks off and they had to be back and work. While on leave, I felt that it was time for me to work in the capacity of an actual attorney. While researching attorney positions at the USPTO, I found an opening for a Trademark Examining Attorney. I applied, interviewed for the job and accepted it. I still had a work quota, I had a new job that I loved but I still spent 3 hours a day commuting. UGH!
In the meantime, I was enjoying my new role as a Trademark Examining Attorney. While working at the USPTO, I received several calls from people in my network looking for an IP attorney. I could not help them due to the conflict of me working at the USPTO. I started referring them to my mentor. I attended parties and events with several high profile celebrities but when they asked for my card to help them with their IP, I could not help them. But one day, the phone rang. I had just sat down in my office after my 1.5 hour hot commute to work. My mentor said, you’re settling! You’ve sent me six figures of work and you’re not using your gifts like you should. You’re being positioned in these places for a reason. I threw out the idea to my mentor that I should leave the USPTO and work with him at his Firm. However, when I met with the named partner of his Firm, the partner suggested that I could work at their Firm and use their office and amenities but only earn money from the clients I brought in.
Say what? If I was going to do that, I could just work for MYSELF! At that moment, I had my LIGHTBULB moment! That evening, I went home excited to share with my husband the idea that I WAS GOING TO LAUNCH A LAW FIRM! At the time, our daughter was only 3 years old and we had been married for 4 years. I just expected him to say NO but he didn’t! He actually believed in me and encouraged me! I kept saying, what’s the worse thing that could happen if I just actually tried!
I went to work the next day and put in my 2 weeks notice!
I started my Firm on July 17, 2007 and thanks to my network and clients that believed in my ability, I actually had clients on July 18, 2007. I had my FIRST Fortune 100 corporate client, IBM, only 3 months later! All because I TRIED and because I was encouraged to TRY by my mentor and my family. My “squad” believed in me and so did my new clients! That extra push they gave me helped me to have the confidence to launch, The Law Firm of Andrea Hence Evans, LLC.
By the way, my new commute is less than 15 minutes and I earned six figures my first year!
Oh, there is so much more to my story! But enough about me, let’s talk about you!
Are you stuck? Are you wondering how I did it? Do you want to know how I get at least 5 referrals a day? Do you want to know how I trended on Periscope twice? Do you want to know how I became a best-selling author twice?
Contact me to schedule a discovery call. I need to be a part of your squad and I’ll teach you how I did it! Let’s go!
