Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole S. Lewis.
Hi Nicole, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m the Managing Attorney of the Law Office of Nicole S. Lewis, LLC. Our office is located in Snellville, GA, and while we have a concentration of cases in the Metropolitan Atlanta area, we do, in fact, service clients statewide. I’m originally from the Bronx, NY, but I love the Southern lifestyle . . . and sweet tea. I’m a proud double-HBCU graduate, having attended both Hampton University and Howard University School of Law. I’ve wanted to be an attorney since I was a child. I’ve always been outspoken and unafraid to advocate for myself and for others. While this sometimes (okay, often) caused me to get into trouble in school, it has shaped me into the woman and attorney that I am today.
I am the mother of two adult sons and I have a beautiful granddaughter.
A major goal of mine is to inspire and to give back to members of marginalized groups. My favorite poem is “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes. This poem is a metaphor for my life in particular and it represents my commitment to persevering and succeeding despite the odds. As one does when climbing a staircase, I achieve my goals (both professional and personal) by not looking at a task as gargantuan, but by simply focusing on what is in front of me and taking the immediate next action step that will bring me closer to my goal.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most business owners, I’ve certainly had my ups and downs, but I’m happy to say that we have been experiencing consistent growth and profitability these past few years. Some of the issues that I’ve dealt with as a law firm owner were lack of funds, lack of time, finding competent and reliable staff, and how to balance growth while maintaining high-quality work. I am someone who takes calculated risks, so I did not want to overextend myself by taking out business loans. I built as I went along. As far as lack of time, in the beginning, I did everything! If you called the office line, it was me who was answering the phone, lol. Now I’m certainly not one to despise humble beginnings, but it is not feasible for a law firm owner to answer the phone when you are getting a high volume of calls. I would say that it’s almost impossible to properly screen potential clients while you are running back and forth to the courthouse. My quality of life improved immensely once I hired an Assistant. As far as staffing issues and maintaining high-quality work, I would say that this largely comes down to systems. In 2019, I read the book The E-Myth Attorney by Michael Gerber, Robert Armstrong, JD, and Sanford M. Fisch, JD. This book introduced me to the business side of practicing law. I started setting up systems for everything that I do in operating my law firm. I’m constantly learning and revising as needed, but I’m excited about what is to come for our firm.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a “boutique law practice” [that offers] “professional, larger firm quality representation.” My goal as a business owner is to do things that I actually enjoy and to do them well. I enjoy advocating for others and getting things done as efficiently as possible. As such, I limit my practice to three areas: 1. Personal Injury Auto Accidents, 2. Traffic Tickets, and 3. Uncontested Divorces. I believe that this is a large part of why I still enjoy practicing law. My clients have complimented me on how knowledgeable I am about what I do, my problem-solving skills, my responsiveness, and my zealous advocacy.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Well, as you are likely aware, there has been a big shift towards remote working. Believe it or not, this has affected the legal profession as well. Many courts have moved to remote hearings. I have to tell you . . .I absolutely love it! I practice throughout Metro Atlanta (and sometimes further out), and it is refreshing to not have to drive an hour or more to court in order to resolve a case. Outside of jury trials, I can see this being implemented on a permanent basis, and I hope that this will become “the new normal.” My uncontested divorce clients are absolutely thrilled by the fact that I can facilitate and finalize their divorce without them ever having to step inside the courthouse.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lewislawga.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/lewislawga
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/lewislawga
- Twitter: twitter.com/lewislawga
- Youtube: LewisLawGA
Image Credits
Sarah Cousins
