Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sean Valentine, head coach at The Family Law Coach, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Legal coaching, or simply "coaching," is something new to family law. It's how an experienced family law lawyer can help someone acting for themselves learn the techniques and tricks to acting in court or mediation and in negotiating with the other party. It's how to help someone unfamiliar with public speaking and the family law system present their case in the most effective way.
Statistics show that there are between 54 – 80% of people in Ontario's family courts who don't have lawyers. Most think it's in the higher range. These are self-reps who are trying to do their best in a system that wasn't designed for them and that favours lawyers over non-lawyers. Just like anything else, if you've never done it before, you're not sure how to do it well.
And since family court deals with matters that are very important to you, it's important that you get it right. That's what legal coaching – or "coaching" – provided by your Coach lawyer is designed to do. Obviously, the best way to present your case in court is to have a lawyer take over your file. But if you can't afford or don't want to hire a lawyer for full-service representation, you need to find a way to help balance the playing field.
What most people acting for themselves really need most is a combination of legal assistance and coaching at an affordable price that they can control. They need the help of a lawyer for the legal parts of their case, but then they need practical help to present their case in the most effective and persuasive way possible. Essentially legal coaching for family law self-reps is providing the information, assistance, strategic advice, and practical tips they need to present their case in the best and most persuasive way. It's about how to maximize effectiveness in family court.
If you don't have a lawyer presenting your case, you're at a disadvantage. Statistics show that in Ontario's Superior Court, self-reps facing a lawyer lose 5 out of every 6 cases. That's not fair. It's not because people with lawyers have better cases and deserve to win six times more often. It's because lawyers who appear in court every day are going to be more effective than non-lawyers who don't.
Tell us about yourself
I am a family lawyer by trade. I have represented clients in various court proceedings in Ontario. I have seen the unconscious bias directed towards self-represented litigants in the court system and knew that they required assistance given the sheer number of people who are going through their separation alone.
There is a distinct disadvantage to these individuals from their ability to articulate relevant information, draft appropriate documents, or even follow procedural steps in the process due to their complexity.
My main motivation is empowering such disadvantaged individuals to navigate their separation and not be left behind successfully. It is such an important time in their lives. They must be provided with proper legal information to ensure they are not prejudiced in the process.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Seeing the transition from a flustered and overwhelmed client to an empowered and confident participant in the legal process.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Being sympathetic to an individual's financial situation and not providing free legal advice. At the end of the day, we must balance the overarching principles of the court with respect to access to justice but also understand the value we provide to our clients.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Develop a marketing and business plan before you start.
- Technology is your best friend. Do not shy away from programs, apps, social media, or otherwise that can assist or grow your business.
- Know that mistakes will happen. It is how you learn and grow from these mistakes that will create a resilient business owner and create growth in you as a person.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://thefamilylawcoach.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/familylawcoach/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theflcoach/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/familylawcoach
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-family-law-coach
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
