Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Whatley.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a Georgia Native. I grew up roller figure skating at my parent roller rink in Conyers, Georgia. I attended the University of Georgia and majored in International Affairs. After graduation, I started working as a paralegal for a prominent bankruptcy attorney in Buckhead and attended Georgia State University College of Law.
While in law school, I interned for the Honorable Judge Margaret H. Murphy of the United States Bankruptcy Court and served as a Graduate Research Assistant for the Phillip C. Cook Low-Income Tax Clinic. After graduation, I worked as a Chapter 13 Courtroom Attorney for Berry and Associates and was named courtroom attorney for three federal courtrooms in the Atlanta Division. Following Berry and Associates, I joined Bomar Law Firm LLC, where I represented taxpayers in all areas of tax litigation and was named Collections Team Lead.
After working for other firms, I decided to open my own law firm in Fall of 2017 and found the Law Offices of Alyssa Maloof Whatley LLC. I pride myself on providing quality, affordable, comprehensive representation on all IRS, Georgia, and Debt related matters. I also currently serve as President of the Metro Atlanta Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney’s Group and teach frequent continue legal education courses on Bankruptcy and Taxes.
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?
Working full time and going to law school at night was one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my entire life. There were times that I thought I was not going to make it or that it was not worth it. However, looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I remember calling my mom on the way home after the first year to tell her I was going to quit law school and work at Sephora (I love makeup). She told me I just had to push through and graduate, and as soon as I graduated I could do whatever I wanted.
I am so thankful now for my parent’s and husband’s support and encouragement because without their support I would not be where I am today. I am very happy to be practicing law, helping clients, and to have my own law firm.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Law Offices of Alyssa Maloof Whatley LLC story. Tell us more about the business.
My firm is a boutique law firm based in Atlanta, Georgia that serves clients nationwide with all types of Debt Relief including IRS and Georgia Tax Relief, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Relief, and Debt Settlement Negotiations.
I am proud that I am able to provide quality, affordable, and comprehensive representation for all areas of a client’s financial life. My firm is a one-stop shop for individuals seeking IRS Tax, Georgia Tax, and Debt Relief. When individuals are in a difficult financial situation, they shouldn’t have to pay two lawyers to get the representation they deserve. I am able to provide clients a customized combination of options to reach their financial goals and avoid unfortunate consequences of debt such as IRS bank and wage levies, judgment creditor bank and wage levies, seizures, foreclosures, and repossessions.
My firm is different because I am a solo practitioner. It means I practice by myself and I do not have a team of attorneys. I’ve worked at many small to midsize firms and I found that I did not like the client experience.
Essentially, firms file and take on as many cases as possible and make money off shear volume regardless of the outcome. However, I have found when you are with a volume firm at some point you cannot control the quality of the work and the outcome of the cases. In addition, these firms often have very high turnover rates. I wanted to provide a personalized experience for the client. My firm also uses technology to stay in constant contact, lower overhead costs, increase efficiency and allow the client to pay overall lower legal fees.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe it is a bit of luck and a lot of hard work. Working and going to school at night taught me that I can accomplish anything if I work hard enough and that everything is not always easy. I find that the more difficult or challenging a task is, the greater the reward.
As for luck, I think I am lucky to have such great mentors in my life including my mom, Donna Maloof, who is a small business owner, Betty Nguyen Davis, who was my employer during law school, and Judge Margaret Murphy.
All of these women have accomplished such incredible things in their own lives and really gave me the advice and encouragement to help me out along the way. So in a way, I believe luck brought all of these strong women into my life.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1372 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta, GA 30309
- Website: www.atltaxlawyers.com
- Phone: 404-551-5838
- Email: alyssa@whatleytaxlaw.com
- Instagram: @atltaxlawyers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WHATLEYTAXLAW/
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