The rise of two virtual women-owned boutique law firms - during the pandemic no less.

Then. And now. That is how we have come to think about those years when COVID-19 caused our state and its businesses, including brick-and-mortar law firms, to temporarily shut down. As someone who started two women-owned boutique law firms during this time period (one national and one local), I quickly learned a surprising fact: we were not alone. It seemed like many women, who had the rare opportunity to work from home and take a good look at their lives, suddenly found the courage to leave more traditional, larger, male-dominated law firms and strike out on their own or with others who shared their vision. And a whole new, more flexible way of working emerged that continues to this day.

The problem with trial lawyers is that we are always working around the clock preparing for the next trial. The pandemic, however, not only forced us to slow down, but it also forever changed the way we practice law. In fact, had it not been for the pandemic, I probably would never have had the time nor the inclination to even think about starting my own law firm. In the strangest of times, our two successful women-owned law firms were launched, and both have thrived. To a large extent, our success mirrors what women are experiencing throughout the legal industry. The time has never been better for women-owned law firms.

Over the last few years, these are the lessons we learned:

• Take time to determine the kind of boutique law firm you want to be. For us, we had the luxury of time during this forced transitional period to do this. We set our goals high: we wanted to be a high-end boutique trial firm that focused on significant cases with catastrophic injuries and/or that made a difference. We learned to say "no" to cases that did not meet this standard. Create a brand with a distinctive logo and use your website and social media marketing to deliver your unique message and establish your boutique law firm's reputation.

• Create your tribe. Surround yourself with great lawyers who happen to also be great people. It's hard to be a solo practitioner in a relentless trial practice. Your firm is like your family and that is how we all think of each other. And like in every family, we support each other. Even if you cannot hire lawyers, you can still find and create a tribe of like-minded women (and male) lawyers who will collaborate with you on cases. Remember: no woman is an island and it is not a sign of weakness to ask for help.

• Use technology to make your lives easier. With the rise of Zoom and Microsoft Teams technology, it is easier and sometimes preferable to have a virtual practice. Without spending hours commuting or traveling on planes, we suddenly had more time to devote to our clients and cases - and also to our personal lives. We did not even think of leasing office space for at least a year, and instead spent money on technology and the equipment to allow us to attend and effectively participate in remote depositions and hearings. We invested in state-of-the-art computers, laptops, microphones, speakers, lights, green screens, virtual backgrounds with our logo: whatever made us look and sound better. Don't hesitate to learn skills such as video editing, creating impactful beautiful slides, or using trial and litigation apps.

• Embrace and do not resist flexible working arrangements. Even after we decided to lease an office, we allowed our attorneys and staff to create their own work schedules. As long as their work gets done, they are free to work at home or come to the office as needed. We have a lot of Zoom meetings. And when we do all meet at the office, we find that we enjoy spending time with each other in person. When we are not in trial, we try to be fluid and flexible. We recognize that there are brilliant lawyers out there who simply choose not to work or thrive in a restrictive, traditional law firm environment because they no longer have to. There are many virtual women-owned law firms that do not have offices, and it is all very feasible now - and cost effective.

• We thrive at trial. Even though we are a small boutique firm, we excel at what we do and the trial is where we get the chance to use our skills, often against lawyers from some of the largest law firms in the country. And often, jurors believe that we are the larger law firm because we use the latest and greatest trial technology, we never skimp on trial costs, and we are always prepared and organized.

• Remember that this is a business. I am not a business-oriented person, but I know that I need people who are. Just as you need to create your tribe of great lawyers, you also need your business tribe: bookkeeper/accountant(s), a tax expert, an ethics expert, payroll people, insurance/benefits people, structure broker, a great banker, marketing and social media people, a business lawyer, and we found that we even need an intellectual property/trademark lawyer. Find the right people for your needs.

• Relish being a boutique law firm. That means that you can take the cases you want, and limit your caseload to a reasonable number. Find a cause that you believe in. Be willing to take a risk if you feel daring. You are not restricted by rules or an executive committee. And remember to have fun.

• Be a part of the legal community. Get involved and give back to organizations and stay in touch with the legal community. It's not only good for your boutique law firm, but it is always so personally rewarding. And women trial lawyers should always support and collaborate with other women trial lawyers and celebrate their successes.

Deborah Chang is the founder of Chang Klein LLP, and co-founder of Athea Trial Lawyers LLP.