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Welcome. Pivot Legal LLP lawyers Lobat Sadrehashemi, David Eby, Katrina Pacey and Shabnum Durrani outside the new law firm office. John Richardson and Mary Childs are also partners with the new firm.
[this article is from The Pivot Post, Spring 2007]
Pivot Legal Society is thrilled to announce the opening of its new law firm initiative Pivot Legal LLP, which coincides with the move to new headquarters at 678 East Hastings Street.
Pivot’s newest venture is a full service law firm committed to providing affordable, high quality and easy to access legal services to individuals, companies and organizations in a wide area of law practice including business, corporate, immigration and refugee, criminal, family, civil litigation and aboriginal law.
Pivot Legal LLP opened its doors for business in November and has been steadily building its practice ever since. “This is really a case of build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door,” says John Richardson, Pivot’s executive director and co-founder.
“Our market research showed that many individuals and businesses don’t get the legal services they need because they feel daunted by the process or don’t really understand how a lawyer can help them. We aim to be a different kind of law firm by making the legal process simple, straightforward and cost effective.”
Pivot Legal LLP’s award winning, innovative business model allows the firm to keep overhead costs down and provide client-centred legal services at an affordable price.
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In addition Pivot Legal LLP is the only law firm in Canada whose business structure is based on the principle of social responsibility. As a social enterprise, profits from Pivot Legal LLP will go back to supporting the legal advocacy work of Pivot Legal Society. This means that by engaging Pivot Legal LLP you not only benefit from high quality legal services but you support your community also.
This model has inspired Pivot Legal LLP lawyers like David Eby, Katrina Pacey, Shabnum Durrani and Lobat Sadrehashemi. Despite earning less than they would at typical downtown law firm, these lawyers are eager to put their skills to work for Pivot Legal LLP. “I’m happy to sacrifice a larger income for the opportunity to do more interesting work and to really connect with my clients,” says Durrani.
Durrani, who specializes in business law, began her career working for large corporate law firms in Ontario and Alberta. She jumped at the chance to practice at Pivot Legal LLP. “I felt frustrated that in a large firm that I couldn’t give smaller clients the attention they needed,” say Durrani. “At Pivot Legal LLP I can take the time to build a relationship with my clients, help them achieve their business goals and make a positive social impact at the same time.”
Richardson is confident that Pivot Legal LLP will attract many more highly qualified lawyers. “A lot of people get into law because they want to save the world, but get caught up climbing the corporate ladder and lose their ability to make a positive social impact. At Pivot LLP lawyers get to do more interesting work and to be better, more accountable lawyers,” says Richardson.
Pivot Legal LLP is currently accepting new clients and will host an official launch in May.
A necessary move
Pivot moved to larger offices at 678 East Hastings Street in October, “The move to the East Hastings Street office has made Pivot a lot more visible and accessible than its old office on Water Street. Being in the core of the Downtown Eastside, Pivot is closer to its constituents,” says Richardson.
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