Today we’d like to introduce you to Kandace Walter.
Hi Kandace, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a graduate of Richardson High School so I am a local. I got a full scholarship to Florida A&M University (BS Chemistry) and then went to UT Law in Austin. I came back to Dallas after graduation and worked as a prosecutor at the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. I pivoted to intellectual property (IP) in 2009 when I took the patent bar. I decided to start my own office in 2015 and haven’t looked back since. January 2020 is the five- year anniversary of my firm. IP is a great practice area because there is so much IP all around us and it’s an integral part of your business and protecting your brand.
I enjoying teaching my clients about IP and devising strategies to protect the IP they have and will develop in the future. My clients are small business owners, entrepreneurs, and creatives who use my services to protect their IP and business interests through contracts and other agreements., The vast majority of my clients are referrals from other lawyers, friends, family, existing and former clients and former coworkers. I have had many great mentors along the way and now as a 16-year attorney,. I am proud to play the mentor role to others and provide whatever guidance I can to propel and encourage them to identify and achieve their goals. I feel energized by encouraging others and watching them succeed. In August 2020, I became the Director of the Small Business Trademark Clinic at SMU Dedman School of Law. I have referred people there over the years and now I’m there to teach and supervise law students who provide legal services to community members who are unable to afford a private attorney. I enjoy this position because it combines many of my passions: IP, business, giving back to the community and teaching.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve had some struggles but thankfully, nothing that was insurmountable or tragic. As a child, I grew up in a predominately white neighborhood so I was often-times the only or one of a handful of black students. I decided to attend the magnet high school in my district. There were more black students but they weren’t always welcoming since I was from a different feeder school, took honors/AP classes, and “talked like a white girl”., Nevertheless, I found my crew and enjoyed the high school years. I received a full academic scholarship to FAMU and had a fabulous time there. I had never seen so many black people (students, professors, staff). It was a great experience and I found my people there. After graduation, I decided to attend law school. Even though I graduated from UT Law in 2004, I spent a long time second-guessing my decision to go to law school instead of medical school. My undergraduate degree is Chemistry/Pre-Med. I had no clue about my destination or goals as a lawyer once I graduated. I have worked in government and law firms and never felt completely satisfied or fully content. Now as a business owner and solo attorney, I am very happy with my decision to go to law school. It allows me to be self-employed and have autonomy in the work place as I juggle career and being a new mom in the middle of a pandemic.
As I reflect on my career, I can see now that I learned skills and met people at each former position that molded the person and lawyer I am today. My business is now at the point that I can no longer operate it alone. I have recently hired a paralegal and a legal assistant and we are preparing to go to the next level. In addition, attending law school changes the way a person thinks and solves problems. I am grateful for that. I’ve found myself consumed with congressional hearings, Supreme Court cases, election law, and so many other things that I see through the lawyer lens now. I feel blessed for all of my life experiences, lessons and my outlook on life now. And I’m also secure and confident that I can always earn an income and control my destiny due to my educational background., This is the message I deliver to young people when I go to Career Day or other mentoring events. Make sure you are financially independent and stable. Even though I may have been lost and confused and unsatisfied at various times in my legal career, I was always able to find a job, pay my bills and take care of myself. Conclusion: don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to do with your life or forever. You will figure it out as you go and there’s nothing wrong with that at all. Just make sure you have tools in your toolbox (education, experience, mentors, support, etc.) to help you along the way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Walter Legal PLLC has provided valuable legal guidance to business and intellectual property clients since 2016. I am licensed to practice law in Texas (2004) and is also registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (2009). We draft and prosecute patent applications, perform patent searches, infringement analyses, and issue opinion letters. We also draft and file trademark applications for federal and state trademarks as well as perform research to advise clients on the availability and likelihood of successful trademark registration.
My firm focuses on drafting and reviewing a variety of contracts such as licensing, manufacturing, non-compete, non-disclosure, settlement agreements, and purchase agreements. We also often counsel clients on potential liability for alleged infringement of intellectual property rights and advise clients on the protection of their own intellectual property rights. For clients who have been accused of infringement, we work to negotiate a settlement or compromise and advise the client on rebranding and developing and protecting their own IP without running afoul of others’ IP rights.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Communicate with people who are where you want to be. Learn about their journey. Ask questions. Ask for advice. Why? A closed mouth doesn’t get fed. And the worst that can happen is that they ignore you. Oh well. That will be a great story when you’re featured on 60 Minutes one day! If you want to be an attorney but you don’t know any attorneys, go to the courthouse and talk to the judges and the attorneys appearing in their courtrooms. You can also reach out to local bar associations and ask to speak with some members or attend their meetings or events. Lots of attorneys will offer to let you shadow them or work as an intern in their offices. If you want to start a business, there are lots of local resources that provide information. I took an entrepreneur class through SMU before I started my office. I also talked to at least ten lawyers who owned their own firms and asked what they wished they knew before they started.
There are resources at SBA, The DEC, Impact Ventures, Community Foundations of Texas, etc. There are so many resources and people who want to help you succeed. Know when to outsource and when to hire a professional. Get a lawyer, CPA, bookkeeper, assistant. Consider how much money you could earn or how many clients you could be courting or marketing to if you weren’t spending precious time on things that aren’t your expertise or passion? How much money will it cost you to fix mistakes you make from trying to be your own lawyer or accountant? I love referrals. Ask successful business people, who do you use for XYZ? How did you handle XYZ? Get input from people who are thriving and growing in their professional endeavors. And once you are making it, share the knowledge with the next group of up and comers.
Pricing:
- Federal Trademark Application starts at $1500
- Provisional Patent starts at $3000
- Nonprovisional Patent Application starts at $7500
- Design Patent Application starts at $3000
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.walterlegal.com
- Instagram: @attykandyw
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walterlegal
- Twitter: @attyKandaceW
Image Credits
New Roundtable Gala: Kory Sebastian Photography Others: Kandace iPhone Professional Headshot: KIM LEESON
