Small Law Firms

Progress Report: Opening A New Practice

What would possess someone to leave a great job, during a pandemic, with two toddlers at home? The prospect of doing work 100% be done from home.

By Jhiela M. Poynter  
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Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership with our friends at MothersEsquire. Welcome Jhiela M. Poynter to our pages. Click here if you’d like to donate to MothersEsquire.

While doom scrolling for coronavirus updates and frantically WebMD-ing my kid’s stuffy nose earlier this year, I came across an article that claimed the United States had lost 140,000 jobs in December 2020 and ALL of them belonged to women. The reason was related to the COVID-19 economy, claiming that while both men and women lost jobs, women were then staying home to care for their families rather than returning to work. I’m not exactly sure how they came up with those numbers, and I’m not exactly sure if they included me, but on December 31, 2020, I officially resigned from my job.

I had worked in the same boutique litigation firm since before I even passed the bar, and was comfortable and happy there — so what, you may ask, possessed me to leave this great job, during a pandemic, with two toddlers at home? During lockdown I discovered a truth that many of us attached to our office desk have long suspected: my job could 100% be done from home — especially during a pandemic, and because I have two toddlers at home.

Maybe it was the prolonged sense of pandemic-induced dread and fatigue; maybe it was the sleep deprivation caused by a nursing 1-year-old who refused to sleep in her own bed; or maybe it was the increasingly pervasive notion that life is just too damn short; but the otherwise terrifying proposition of making a go of it on my own had just become less daunting, and infinitely more practical.

With my newfound epiphany I hung up a digital “shingle” on January 1, 2021; and while it has only been a few months, here are my musings from the adventure so far:

January 4, 2021 — Monday. My first day. I received a digital booking for a 9:30 a.m. teleconference. Or Zoom conference. The app was unclear. But still, what an excellent start to this new endeavor! Hit the ground running and all that jazz! Also was able to pack the kids into their wagon and walk to daycare for the first time since moving to a house “close enough to walk to the daycare” — three years ago. Stayed busy on the phone ALL day. Ate lunch with my husband. Received a few referrals. Picked the kids up at 3:30 since daycare is still on a modified COVID-19 schedule. Pre-pandemic, I typically didn’t get home until at least 6:30/7, leaving my prosecutor husband with drop-off and pick-up duty (and everything in between), but I’m certain that the task often fell to various clerks and court staff. My confused 4-year-old son wanted to know why he “didn’t have to go to work today” and seemed genuinely concerned his absence would be noted. When we got home, the kids and I made dinner from an actual recipe book. It involved kale.

PROGRESS REPORT: A+

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February 2, 2021 — I miss my paycheck, and I don’t understand how billing software works. I’m a good lawyer. Not sure how well that is translating into being a good business owner. Most of the referrals from January didn’t pan out, but I did make some good contacts. Obviously can’t rely on traditional pre-COVID networking to boost business, so social media is my current lifeline. I have a couple court-appointed cases, and retained a few others on my own. Kids must sense my stress — my 4-year-old suggested I get a “sussisant” which accidentally, though aptly, seemed to combine “sustenance” and “assistant.” He offered his services, but was dismayed to learn that Legos were not involved in my business model and promptly withdrew his offer. Considering charging for consultations.

PROGRESS REPORT: B

March 3, 2021 — February was tough. Daycare increased its hours to 4:30, but it’s still complicated. The kids got sick, which meant there was a block of days last month that my home office saw more crayon usage than pen. Also, the Texas Snowpocalypse happened, leaving us without power or water for several days. Not ideal for a family, or a fledgling law practice. Is it possible to write-off a whole month?

PROGRESS REPORT: C-

April 1, 2021 — I feel good. Workout routine has been incorporated into the day-to-day, and the weather has improved which means wagon rides to daycare are back! Business has picked up (though not as steady as I’d like), and my hours are good. Still regularly trying to speak while on mute in Zoom hearings, but the awkwardness is a fair trade off for not having to attend court in person. Also, my 18-month-old daughter is starting to put words together, and I didn’t miss it.

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PROGRESS REPORT: A-

I am sure I will continue to have ups and downs, like any new business, but I wouldn’t trade my decision for anything. I get to see my kids and spend time with my husband, and cook for them, and play with them, instead of spending that time on a commute to work for someone else’s dream. I get to prioritize what work I do when (though I am also the only one to blame when things go a little screwy — thanks e-file). The work is still there, it’s just different.

So despite all of the tragedy and destruction caused by the pandemic, I feel fortunate to have found a silver lining for me and my family. I don’t know who those other 139,999 women from that article are, but I am hopeful that at least some of them, like me, aren’t casualties of a struggling economy as the article implied, but representatives of a shift in priorities; realizing that there are legitimate alternatives to the 9 to 5, and recognizing that even though it feels like the whole world is on fire, from the ashes, beautiful things can grow.

Jhiela “Gigi” Mirdamadi Poynter is an attorney at Poynter Law, PLLC in Victoria, Texas. She maintains an active practice focused on civil litigation, probate, and estate planning. When she is not at work, Gigi can be found coaching youth soccer, and going on various adventures to exotic grocery stores, tropical coffee shops, far-off playgrounds with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Facebook here.

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