Meet Linecia Gilmore of Gilmore Legal

Today we’d like to introduce you to Linecia Gilmore.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always known that I wanted to work for myself while serving other people in business. I knew that there was a level of freedom associated with business ownership that no career or job could match. Ten years ago, I was working for a major corporation as a contract attorney. Based on societal standards, I had a “good job” and was working for a “good company”.

Unfortunately, nothing felt good about where my career was going. I felt stuck and unhappy. I wanted freedom to be an attorney on my terms. I never felt as though I fit the “mold” of a “traditional” attorney. I just wanted to find a lane in my profession that was authentically me. Although I felt like a failure, I knew that my life had purpose. I decided that the pain of staying at my “good job” was worse than my fear of starting my own law practice. So, instead of settling, I stepped out on faith and started Gilmore Legal with a few thousand dollars in savings and no clients. I set a date that to resign from my employment and took a weekend vacation to Miami, FL to clear my head. When I returned from my vacation, I got to work on Gilmore Legal and never looked back. It was hard, I was scared, I failed A LOT…but I told myself that I would never quit. For the first year, I went to every networking event in Atlanta that I could think of, I spoke to every self-employed professional that I knew who was willing to give me any advice on how to succeed.

During this time, I also had a mentor that was a woman-owned and veteran-owned government contractor who provided IT services to the federal government. She told me that I needed a niche practice area. Although I had already focused my practice on business contracts, government contracts would be the perfect industry due to the lack of attorneys who specialize in this area in Atlanta. Within my first year of practice, I signed a retainer agreement with a government contractor who is now valued over 30 million dollars.

Through the years, I have managed to meet and retain clients (most from referrals) all over the country who provide products and services to the federal government. In addition to my government contract clients, I have worked with small businesses and individuals with a variety of complex business matters. My intention has always been to provide services that focus on professionalism, customer service and integrity. I practice law in a way that highlights my personality. I am personable and my responsiveness to the needs of my clients makes Gilmore Legal stand out from the rest. It’s not perfect but it’s mine. It hasn’t been easy, but I am thankful for God’s guidance in my life. I am blessed, my clients are successful and my goals are bigger. My greatest joy is helping small business owners fulfill their dreams. Their success is truly my success.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No…it has not been a smooth road but I wouldn’t change anything. From the beginning, I had struggles with my chosen career path in law. Law school was difficult and passing the bar was even more difficult. I have definitely failed more than I have succeeded. But each failure prepared me for success. Starting and maintaining a law practice requires discipline and sacrifice. Although I have always had discipline, running your own business requires you to spend a lot of time with yourself. People don’t always share in your beliefs so you have to believe in yourself. No one is going to tell you to get out and look for clients. No one is going to tell you that maintaining a daily routine is a necessity. You have to budget and plan ahead. You have to prepare for financial ups and downs. There were years where I only made enough to cover my basic bills each month. People assume that all lawyers make a lot of money.

Well, when you have your own practice it takes time to build your practice and become financially stable. I started from scratch. I have done everything from creating my own website to designing my own marketing materials while advising clients and reviewing contracts. You have to figure it out through trial and error. I don’t have set hours. Sometimes I work on the weekends and sometimes clients call me after hours. Every day I have to be able to solve problems for others and then solve my own personal problems. It can be emotionally exhausting. But you can’t just do what you want without consequences and excuses are not acceptable. Regardless of the struggles, I love it! I have put in the work and now I am reaping the fruits of my labor. I have a flexible schedule and I am able to do my work from any location in the world. I have traveled to Thailand for a month, Colombia, Ghana and many other countries while maintaining my law practice. The freedom to create my life definitely outweighs the struggle. I know now that I will get through it as long as I don’t quit.

Please tell us about Gilmore Legal.
Gilmore Legal is a virtual Government and Business Contracts Law Practice based in Atlanta, GA with an office location in Washington, DC. My practice is designed for government contractors and small businesses who need high-quality, expert legal services with complex government contracts, business contracts, business formations and a plethora of other essential legal services.

Gilmore Legal was created with the purpose of combining my legal expertise with my business experience and this powerful combination has been a tremendous enhancement to the clients I serve.

Our mission and core values are rooted in integrity, superior customer service, and professionalism. Our goal is to establish a long-term and dedicated relationship with our clients. Every client has a unique goal. To achieve those goals, we utilize our experience and skills to provide advice and solutions to respond to the demands and needs of each individual client and situation.

While there is no shortage of outstanding U.S. law firms, small business owners and entrepreneurs usually come up short when trying to access legal expertise for their businesses. The reasons are varied, but without question, a lack of sufficient funds is among the leading factors.

In order to help small businesses, Gilmore Legal offers a monthly subscription program designed for new entrepreneurs, established small business owners and progressing businesses to seamlessly and frequently access dedicated legal support at a monthly flat-fee. Flat-fee retainer based payment options (6 months and 12 months terms) are designed for clients who need to control expenses while fulfilling a vital business need. I work with my clients to tailor a specific, customized plan that best suits their budgetary and legal needs. I also conduct seminars and presentations educating business owners on basic government contract principles and the importance and value of having legal representation as an on-going proactive business approach.

I am most proud of the relationships I have cultivated with my clients over the years. Providing a service that adds value to a small business has always been very important to me. I work to build trust with my clients and I treat their business as if it were my own. I give the service that I would expect and then I go above and beyond that expectation. I am more than just an attorney, I am an all-around legal solutions provider!

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck. I am a Christian and I believe that God has blessed my life and business through my obedience and faith. Luck had no part in the success of my business. Belief, hard work, dedication, preparation and opportunity have all played a part in my life and business. My faith has brought me through the failures and the tough times. I could never give luck that kind of credit.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gilmorelegal.com
• Instagram: @gilmorelegal
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GilmoreLegal/
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gilmore-legal

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