An Interview with Sheli Fulcher Koontz of Law-Idaho PLLC
Attorney Sheli Fulcher Koontz co-founded the Law-Idaho PLLC firm with partner Rick Dredge
to provide quality legal services for personal injury, workers’ compensation, divorce, child custody and medical malpractice to clients across the state of Idaho. We caught up with her to discuss how the company has grown since its inception five years ago.
Ms. Koontz, what was the biggest challenge when you first began your practice?
The firm was started without an established client base. Both attorneys came from firms that did not allow the attorneys to take clients with them. There were times in the beginning when only the support staff and the firm bills were being paid. However, the attorneys had established a budget for this temporary scenario and did not waver from it. The firm did not and has not ever borrowed money. A client base was established well within the budgeted time frame, which allowed the attorneys to be paid on time with their strategic plan.
It sounds like you had to learn to crawl before you could walk. How did you end up finding your footing?
Our attorneys entered the practice of law with medical and science-based backgrounds, which afford them the knowledge to understand complex medical documents and discuss medical issues with treating health care providers. The family law aspect of the firm’s practice developed from various referral sources and volunteer projects undertaken by the firm.
You seem to have succeeded because of your determination. What advice would you give to those considering starting up their own businesses, like you did?
Being one’s own boss is both liberating and stressful. Having control over one’s time and schedule provides the freedom to accommodate both personal and professional commitments. The challenge lies in balancing those commitments in a way that benefits your business. It can be difficult to continually shift hats between attorney, employer, marketer, bookkeeper, etc. Time management and high-quality employees are essential to the success of the firm. Listen to your customers, pay attention to their compliments and complaints and adjust things accordingly. Set a budget that is realistic, based on thorough research. Treat people how you would like to be treated — this means your partners, staff, customers, etc. The Golden Rule never fails.
Law-Idaho PLLC is located in Boise, ID at 802 W. Bannock, Suite 101. You can discover more about the firm’s services at www.law-idaho.com, by calling (208) 888-9980 or by emailing firm@firm-idaho.com.
Keywords:
Divorce settlement agreement, Personal injury compensation, What is wrongful death, Divorce law, Accident lawyers, How to divorce.
