May 7, 2020

Meet Annie Mulligan of Mulligan Law in Douglasville, Georgia

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Mulligan.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
It may sound clichéd, but at a fairly young age, I had a strong inkling that I wanted to have a career in some kind of service, and in a field that would involve family issues. Some of this might have come from the work I did as a kid and teenager–serving the homeless, helping underprivileged children and young mothers, and volunteering in other ways in various communities. In undergraduate school, all this came into greater and greater focus with my work at Colorado Legal Services, and soon after I graduated, I packed my bags and headed across the county to Tampa, FL, where I immersed myself in the pursuit of an Advanced Paralegal degree and certification in mediation. Simultaneously, I worked for a boutique family law firm, where I was mentored well and had my eyes opened to the generally unwitnessed workings of a successful attorney’s office. Ultimately, I settled in Atlanta to intern for Atlanta Legal Aid and to attend law school on a scholarship.

My desire to start my own firm was rooted in my strong sense of independence and my tendency towards the entrepreneurial. I established Mulligan Law in June 2019, after launching a successful clothing boutique, in Atlanta in 2014. I knew that starting a solo law firm would bring its own set of challenges, but I was confident that my background, experience, and drive would serve me well. A year later, that confidence has been justified.

Also, I have for many years, through Atlanta Legal Aid, seen the potential for positive and rewarding outcomes when helping the underserved and underprivileged. This has always been a motivator for me. And that I was recognized early on through an ALA award for pro bono work is enormously gratifying for me.

Has it been a smooth road?
Because my personal and professional vision was clear even before I sat for the Bar, and because I’d had the privilege of working in offices where I could witness top-flight management skills, as well as expand my knowledge and hone my own efficiency, I could “see” the road I wanted to be on.

Nonetheless, I had the inevitable concerns about what financial stability would look like in this single-attorney firm model. Also, I would not have the benefit of other problem-solvers close at hand, supportive people I could bounce ideas off of, right in the next office. But I’ve learned where to reach out and to whom, including the knowledgeable attorneys at Atlanta Legal Aid who continue to support me, and the members of the professional groups I have joined, including various family law attorney networks and sections within the Atlanta and Georgia Bar.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Mulligan Law story. Tell us more about the business.
Mulligan Law’s particular commitment and service is distinguishable from many others: affordable representation in the areas of family law and adoption provided with knowledge, skill, and passion. The affordability element, combined with active pro bono work, means that Mulligan Law can continue to help those whose options are limited because of financial constraints. Also, once a client is on board with the firm, he or she speaks with an attorney directly. Annie Mulligan provides direct, reliable communication every time a need arises, often during non-standard “work hours”–no paralegal or answering service as an intermediary. This allows for both efficiency and efficacy, as well as, a high level of trust between attorney and client.

Past clients affirm the values on which Mulligan Law was founded. A recent review from a satisfied client states, “when someone says affordable or pay as you go, you usually think you get what you pay for. Not with Ms. Mulligan – with her you get a monster in the courtroom who shows no quarter as she passionately and aggressively acts on your behalf. I am so grateful to her to hear the joy in my child’s voice as she is finally able to reestablish contact and regular visits with me after almost a year. . .
She’s compassionate.
She’s a warrior.”

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Many law firms are switching to more virtual and paperless practices, not only because they have recently been forced to with the onset of Covid-19, but also because many firms are realizing that they can still serve clients efficiently while practicing in a more internet-based manner. My hope for the industry is that law firms realize that a firm can be both virtual and successful. Firms can choose to cut their overhead costs, applying the savings of not having high overhead expenses, to their clients in order to provide more affordable legal services. Additionally, courts are realizing that some appearances that have historically been done in-person may now be able to be done virtually, saving attorneys and Judges time and saving clients money.

The demographics of the metro area support my work in the vital middle ground. I am not Atlanta Legal Aid, but I am also not the $350/hour + firm. Many people seeking legal services simply make too much money to qualify for free representation through the Legal Aid offices, but do not earn enough to pay an attorney hundreds of dollars per hour. I feel fortunate to be able to serve this group.

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