Building a Law Firm Without Losing Sight of Family

QUESTION 1 OF 6

Before law, you spent about 15 years working in kitchens, then studied and worked in social work. What did you carry from those experiences into your legal practice?

I worked in kitchens for about 15 years, then went back to school for social work. I had grown out of the kitchen industry and wanted to help people. While I was studying social work, I was very focused on my grades, and someone suggested law school.

Being a chef means constant pressure. Social work is about people skills. That marriage of pressure and people skills has really helped me in the legal field. I don't feel as pressured as many lawyers do because of my chef background.

The interviewing skills from social work, and that desire to help people, have also been really useful. It has been a cool combination of skills.

QUESTION 2 OF 6

You opened Szadurski Law in September. Two months in, where have your first clients come from, and what has surprised you most?

I already had a decent book of business. Building that has been something I have focused on since becoming a lawyer. But many of my clients are employees, so those matters do not necessarily become long-term relationships.

Most of my clients come from a good referral network of lawyers and happy past clients. What surprised me when I opened the firm was the lovely influx of referrals from new colleagues, people I had not spoken to in a long time, and even people I had never spoken to.

I knew firm owners got business through LinkedIn, and that is exactly what happened. A couple of clients reached out as soon as they saw the announcement of my firm to ask whether I was available. That was a really nice surprise.

QUESTION 3 OF 6

You regularly share videos and posts about new cases. Beyond followers, what has that visibility done for your firm, and what do you want people to see?

As I mentioned, LinkedIn has brought referrals and clients who saw the announcement of my firm. But I also love sharing my brand and my passion for what makes the firm unique, as well as spreading the word about the business.

Everyone starts a business for their own reasons. When a lawyer starts a firm, they bring a fresh perspective from their own worldview. That is what I use the platform for: sharing that perspective.

I think marketing now is an interesting balance of sharing your story and being transparent about who you are. It is good to see law firms embracing the fact that everyone has different values and worldviews.

I have Facebook and TikTok as well as LinkedIn. TikTok is gaining a little traction, and I want to do more videos. It is coming along slowly.

QUESTION 4 OF 6

Your content often returns to work-life balance. Why make that such a visible part of building your firm?

Don't get me wrong: I work hard. I always have. Anyone who knows me knows that I put in a lot of hours, and I am very focused on the success of my business. But I have always prioritized my family at the same time.

I find that many of the people sharing about work-life balance on LinkedIn and other social media are primary caregivers. They have to make it work because they have no other option. Seeing them share their journey is inspiring, but I always feel like I can be doing more to support primary caregivers - my wife's job is much harder than mine. I am not the primary caregiver in my family, but the priority is still the same: we can work really hard and still prioritize family and work-life balance. Over time, if my message helps take the pressure off primary caregivers, in law or otherwise, I would consider my public efforts successful.

Follow-up: Is that message mainly for other lawyers, or for clients?

It is both, and it is also for myself and for the legal field as a whole. For lawyers, the message is that you do not have to miss a vacation, work on Christmas Day or cancel your partner's birthday simply because you are a lawyer.

If someone wants to focus entirely on law and does not want children, that is fine too. But if you want both a legal career and family life, there are ways to facilitate that. The conventional path is not the only one available.

QUESTION 5 OF 6

You act for both employers and employees. What do clients on each side tend to misunderstand about the other?

Employees often assume that a termination, or another action by an employer, is malicious. Sometimes the employer simply does not understand the law. They think the situation is one thing when legally it is something else, or they are protecting their business interests. That can be hard for an employee to handle.

Employers tend to underestimate how much workplace issues affect an employee, whether those issues involve termination or something else.

We spend so much of our lives at work, sometimes more time than we spend with our families. When someone is going through something at work, it can be incredibly daunting and personal. Even if someone says it is not personal, it often is. I do not think employers necessarily misunderstand that, but they can undervalue it.

QUESTION 6 OF 6

Your firm sponsors the Arnprior Minor Hockey Association. What does supporting local minor hockey mean to you?

I live in Arnprior, outside Ottawa. My firm is virtual, so I can live where I want. I represent clients primarily in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta for employment matters, and in Ontario for commercial litigation.

A local paralegal approached me and asked whether I would support the hockey team. I said, absolutely.

For me, it is about giving back. I did not become a lawyer by myself. Success is a team sport.

I am not a hockey guy, and we are not a hockey family. But if someone asks me to support children being active and doing something positive in the community, and I can help, I will.

We will continue giving back to communities wherever we can. In the community where you live, you are more likely to come across opportunities that are tangible, that you can see and feel.

Follow-up: Does that also bring referrals or visibility?

It can, but that is not the primary motivator. My name is on their website, so there is a marketing aspect. If it leads to that, great. The main reason is simply to do something nice.