Oleksiy Shevchuk, a partner at BARRISTERS, LLC, explained how to create a “lawyers’ guild”—a team that can quickly become a trendsetter in the market

The final event of the “Law Firm: Basic Setup” module of Legal High School’s new legal business development program was a lecture by Oleksiy Shevchuk, a partner at BARRISTERS, LLC. The topic of the lecture—“The Lawyers’ Guild, or How to Become a Market Trendsetter in a Short Time”—was, according to the speaker, chosen deliberately. Drawing on his personal experience, he explained how to combine the intellectual efforts of lawyers—established professionals and successful attorneys “with a reputation”—to create a unique and productive team in the market.

When entering the legal market, you need to “confront your fears,” advises Oleksiy Shevchuk. “You mustn’t be afraid—in particular, of losing everything you have,” says the lecturer, speaking candidly about the amount of funds invested in the development of BARRISTERS, J.L.P. When creating a new brand in the market, you must be prepared for a “24/7” work schedule. “You can’t just go through the motions; you have to let every case sink in,” emphasizes the lecturer, acknowledging that to be a successful attorney, you need to work at the limits of your capabilities—be prepared to sacrifice your free time, your hobbies, time with loved ones, and so on.

The creation of BARRISTERS, LLC was based on the “lawyers’ guild” theory, which posits that “altruism supersedes selfishness.” This is a partnership model: everyone works not only for the firm’s success but also for their own personal growth. “In a successful law firm, it cannot be the case that one partner develops while another does not: one simply helps their colleague grow,” Oleksiy Shevchuk stated.

Another piece of advice from Oleksiy Shevchuk for the successful development of a law firm: “Never get involved with those in power!” “You shouldn’t count on receiving any preferential treatment from those in power,” Oleksiy Shevchuk states, noting that political sentiments in the country change, but the players in the legal market remain.

“Clients come and go, but the team stays”—another “golden rule”: value and respect your colleagues, and don’t sacrifice them if the desired outcome wasn’t achieved in a case—something the speaker advises never to forget.