OTLA Trial Lawyer Winter 2021

12 Trial Lawyer • Winter 2021 Kyle Dukelow By Kyle Dukelow OTLA Guardian B eing a sole practitioner or an attorney in a small firm is far from easy. Not only do you need to know the best prac- tices in your chosen specialty, but you also must run a business. A big part of running a business is finding the best office fit for you. Whether you want to be on your own, hang a shingle with another attorney or involve even more lawyers, the choices are seemingly end- less. When starting out, how do you choose where you want to locate your office? Do you prefer easy access to the courthouse, or a shorter commute to your home? Will you need to meet your clients in person or operate virtually? The possibilities can be overwhelming. I have talked with other OTLA mem- bers to see how they developed and lo- cated their own practices. Building community in a neighborhood James Gregory had practiced criminal defense for ten years before breaking into the civil plaintiff ’s field. He had been working with a small firm when he and paralegal/private investigator Kathleen Escrivá decided to move on and start up their own office. Escrivá works as Greg- ory’s paralegal when she is not handling her own private investigation clients. Gregory works as Escrivá’s PI assistant when he is not handling his own clients. The split from the small firm was amicable, but they only had three files when they left. Gregory and Escrivá knew they needed to contain costs. They also knew they wanted to be within walking/ biking distance from where they lived. With those parameters in mind, they spent a good amount of time looking through Craigslist for professional office space. They eventually discovered an ideal spot in the heart of the Kearns dis- trict, a neighborhood in the inner North- east and Southeast sections of Portland. It was a decent sized office in a shared/ office setting above a thriving restaurant. The monthly rent was crazy cheap at $395 a month. The rent included utilities and wi-fi service. Gregory and Escrivá set up a VOIP phone system that ran an additional $80 a month. Not only was the office within walking/biking distance from their home, but it was a quick five- minute bus ride to the courthouse. That would save them not only the cost of parking, but also the time it takes to find parking downtown. The office was initially painted pale blue, which only accentuated the fluo- rescent overhead lighting. Gregory and Escrivá insisted to their new landlord (who had offered to paint it) that they would paint it themselves because they wanted to make the office feel warm and inviting. They also wanted to ensure the office would be seen as being part of the community, so they endeavored to use color schemes that were frequently seen in the Kearns district. They also learned from a professional lighting friend they could use a pink gel for the overhead lighting that would tone down the fluo- rescent glare. Much of the furniture was either re- furbished or purchased from discount furniture retailer City Liquidators. Their conference room table was inexpensive, but of higher quality than those found at big box stores. They were able to score nice bookshelves at a fraction of full retail cost. The printer is stored in a converted TV display case which provides a nice hideaway. Gregory and Escrivá also wanted to UNIQUE OFFICE ARRANGEMENTS James Gregory and Kathleen Escrivá found suitable office space in NE Portland.