Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Zebrowski.
Hi Jenna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I spent over 10 years in the corporate world, working for small and large companies of all types handling commercial real estate matters. I also earned experience in regulated industries, including title and mortgage. Real estate is cyclical and volatile, so after losing a second job in two years, I was really discouraged. I just didn’t want to get back out on the job market, doing the same thing. My husband encouraged me to open my own practice, which I’ve threatened to do before. I couldn’t think of a reason to say no, so I took a contract job for a few months to save up and then launched my firm in 2019. I had no experience with running a firm, networking, finding clients, handling bills and marketing, or anything about running a business, so I had to learn it all as I went along. I went to all of the networking events I could find, met the right people, and now I am a fee attorney, which means I can close real estate transactions, as well as a practicing real estate attorney with 1 full-time and 2 part-time employees. I run my business the way that best suits the needs of my clients, as well as my family, and it’s been exhausting and rewarding.
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 did not have a back-up plan, so this had to work. I took a temporary contract position with lousy hours to save up to start my practice. I listened to a lot of podcasts and read a lot of articles about how to start a law firm. We’re a regulated industry, so we, as attorneys, have different rules about marketing and solicitation and how we can reach potential clients. I didn’t have a very extensive network, so I really had to start from the very beginning. Like all small businesses, I had a very small budget, so I really had to work hard and spend money where it mattered. Of course, I needed to cover my expenses, be profitable, and, most important, identify and best serve my client base. Not a lot of people negotiate a lot of leases or have commercial real estate issues in their daily lives, so finding the connectors that could put me in touch with all the people that need my services are really important. Then it seemed like there were a LOT of real estate issues, but it was either something that wasn’t really real estate (it was contracts or wills or something) or they didn’t see the value that I provided. It took a lot of time and dedication to refine my message and find the right people.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My focus is to create certainty and peace of mind for my clients so my clients are getting what they think they are getting. I focus on commercial real estate for tenants as well as landlords, property managers and investors, and business owners by extension. They often have other legal and business questions that aren’t just real estate, and I’m glad to serve as a resource. People often haven’t worked with an attorney before and they are intimidated, uncertain, or concerned about surprise costs. I work really hard to provide predictable and transparent pricing, and I offer several different price structures so the client has control of their budget. Also, the client knows they are getting the specific legal advice they can’t get online, tailored to their specific situation, and they are getting an actionable solution to their issue. I am also a small business owner, and I own real estate, so I really, truly understand the issues my clients are facing, and I can counsel from a legal standpoint, as well as a “been there, done that” perspective. I also have an MBA, so I don’t just talk about legal theory, but I can really discuss how the legal issues affect the business and economic parts of running a company. It’s holistic legal counseling!
My favorite things to do are to negotiate leases or the purchase/sale of property or a business, so there’s a lot of business advising that goes on there as well. I also do a fair mount of negotiations for early lease terminations. Of course, I enjoy a successful transaction or solving an issue for my clients, but I really like the part where they have so much stress and uncertainty and don’t even know where to start. We talk for a bit, and I can either tell them how I can help them resolve the issue, or send them to a trusted referral partner, or sometimes both. I can’t always solve it all, but I make sure I always provide a resource that can help. The relief in their voices is amazing. I want them to know that yes, it’s a problem, but it CAN be solved, and here’s the resources you need to do that. We’ve all made mistakes, so there’s no judgment, just a spirit of okay, let’s assess how we can solve this and what it will take.
I run an efficient operation, so I can pass the savings on to clients. Therefore, I don’t need to negotiate on pricing. I make it easy for clients to set up meetings or contact me via email if they prefer, and I don’t charge for every single contact, just the legal work. I also work as a “translator”- I can translate “legalese” into English so the client understands it, and I can make sure the concept goes from plain English into appropriate “legalese” in a contact or other document. I know what the rules and the laws are, and I can help the client understand the consequences of various actions that are available to them. This is from a legal standpoint as well as a “how will this affect my business short and long-term” standpoint.
I’m really proud of the fact that I have been told several times (by employees and referral partners) that I have “such nice clients.” I don’t have time to waste on mean people, but I want to invest in people who want understand what their options are and are willing to do the right thing and invest in themselves and their businesses. We have employees and workers to take care of, as small business owners, and I want them to feel supported and empowered to do that.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I wish I knew! I think AI is a thing, but we’ve already seen that it’s not good at making judgments or giving legal advice where there’s any sort of complexity. It makes up answers, which are very often not helpful or are downright wrong. I like it for marketing, but not for legal advice.
There is an access to justice gap, where people are not getting vital legal services, such as divorces, child custody, bankruptcy, traffic tickets, responding to lawsuits, etc., and they and their families are very negatively affected. Technology can help provide forms and templates for the most basic of these needs, and there are ways to use technology to further customize the forms to the specific facts of each situation. The law is rarely one-size-fits-most. I think there are some early efforts but getting the right form with the right information to the right place isn’t perfect yet. Lawsuits are another whole issue, where there is plenty of technology to leverage, such as remote appearances, but these are usually pretty complex issues, and people of modest means are challenged to find legal support that will provide an effective legal solution.
I also see a move towards more transparent or flat-fee pricing structures, as well as “unbundled” or “limited services” engagement. For example, a person would draft their own divorce but have an attorney review it before filing, or the attorney will draft the final agreement after the negotiation is completed between the parties.
I think attorneys will have to do more problem-solving- people will try to DIY a result, and then when they are in trouble, the attorney will have to come in and fix the problem and get it done right in the first place, or at least come up with a satisfactory resolution to the issue for all the parties. I can create a lot more value in problem prevention, but some people don’t want help until they are already in the problem.
Contact Info:
- Website: lawbyjz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawbyjz/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawbyjz/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennaz/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLDHrla2EMyk1ZO2LSacMbw
