Maria Mahecha: Why I Do What I Do

Just last week, I was seated at a table in a home, not unlike many family homes in East Los Angeles. My clients, an older Latino couple, offered my assistant and me something to drink. The house smelled like home cooking. They preferred to do things in person, and circumstances made it easier if I drove to them. We spoke Spanish, and it felt familiar and  comfortable. Like the best childhood memories.

Sitting there, going over what had happened with their previous attorney and what steps we  needed to take moving forward, I couldn’t help but feel grateful. I left that client meeting with a retainer check and a generous plate of homemade food; they got restored peace of mind. It felt like old-fashioned lawyering: personal and accessible. What a privilege to do what I love, and help people at the same time.  

I’m lucky. I was basically born to do what I do. I love research and writing, and I happen to be good at speaking in public. So it makes me the ideal Battle Librarian, which is basically what lawyers are. We research, we write. Whether we do litigation, transactional, or a mix of both, that is the core of our work. This profession couldn’t have been a better fit for a bookish girl with an oversized penchant for “justice” and a wicked tongue.  

I consider myself a client-centered professional. My work is to achieve their goals. They tell me what they want, and I decide how to get there. In order to do that, I have to listen, communicate, and manage client expectations. If I’m lucky, I learn something new.  

As to my specific area of practice, I’d describe myself as a business consultant who happens to have a license to practice law. I don’t just give legal advice – I give practical advice. My ideal attorney/client relationship is one where my client(s) walk away feeling like they learned something. I want them to stick with me, not because I upsell them but because they continue to grow and trust me.

I love seeing businesses flourish because I see the people behind them. They have visions for  their lives. Entrepreneurs are a special breed of people. They are eternal optimists with curiosity and creativity. These are qualities I enjoy in people, but it isn’t always a great mix in a  business environment. Success starts with a spark, but it is sustained through hard work and systems. That is where someone like me comes in. I help build and protect dreams.  

Here are four rules I live by:  

• Time is money. I know exactly what my time is worth. I know that if I’m spending time on something, it better be worth it. If it isn’t, I find someone else to do the job. The more time I have to do what pays the bills, the better, so I delegate to professionals I trust.  
• Trust the experts. I know how to do my job, and I don’t try to do someone else’s. I trust them to do their job, and I stay in my lane.
• Always be ready to pivot. What works for you now may not work for you later. Change is the only real constant, and that’s a fact in business and in life. Take stock periodically and do a mini audit of your business plan and operations. I like to start by re-evaluating my  goals and whether the metrics and my operating procedures reflect them. Running a business is a constant learning process that requires adaptability.

I hope that my insights have been useful, and that you will join me here in the future as I share some of my experience.  

Your friendly neighborhood lawyer, Maria.