We were lucky to catch up with Eddie Talley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Eddie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I began my legal career as a prosecutor. During law school I traveled around the U.S. participating in mock trial competitions and trying cases. However, my love for honing my trial skills to become a great trial attorney did not come from trying cases in a “make believe” world with far-fetched facts, but from the very real reality of learning that African Americans make up only 13.6% of the U.S. population but 38% of the U.S. prison population. This statistic shocked my conscience and propelled me into action. I decided that I would become a prosecutor and change the narrative on African Americans supposedly committing crimes at the alarming rates that the numbers suggested. I became a prosecutor and did exactly that. I emphasized the use of many prosecution-deferred and alterative court programs to give individuals a second chance at life. Instead of “throwing the book” at individuals who had come in contact with the criminal justice system, I paused and searched for redeemable qualities among the individuals. I couldn’t help everyone, but those who I could, I did. When the COVID-19 pandemic arose in 2020 life shut down, and so did the courts. Businesses were shutting down left and right, and most people were stuck in their homes. It was during that time of world despair that I pondered the great idea of starting my own law firm. Opening my own firm had always been a dream of mine and being stuck in the house with work being reduced to zoom hearings and phone calls gave me the push I needed to open my firm. I had received the push, but I was still scared, nervous, and lacked the confidence to step out and take the risk of becoming a business owner. So much so that I told myself I would wait until the pandemic ended to open the firm. A year passed, and while Covid-19 had slowed down, we were still in a pandemic. I told myself that the time had come to step out on faith. In May of 2021, the Talley Law Firm was launched, and I was officially a business owner. There was no looking back now! As the months passed, I realized that being a business owner was very freeing and rewarding. However, I also soon realized that being a business owner was extremely challenging and difficult. I didn’t realize how much I was accustomed to the security and stability that a 9-5 career provided until I had no one to look to bi-weekly for money except myself. I had recently bought a new house and gotten married before I opened my firm. I was constantly doubtful that I would succeed and often wanted to return to my 9-5 career. Being a law firm owner is a 24/7/365 career and I wasn’t sure if I was cut out for it. However, I did not let my fear overcome me, and to date, my law firm has seen growth within our time of operating. I can say with all honesty that I am in fact happier as a business owner. The security and stability of a 9-5 career is very attractive, but the freedom of being a business owner can also be secure and stable. That security and stability is curated by the business owner, and that feeling is one of great accomplishment. “The journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step.” If you’re considering opening a business, I have three words for you, go for it!

Eddie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have always wanted to be an attorney from a young age. I have always had a passion for helping others. Doing for those who can do nothing for me in return is what makes me most happy. I take great pride in being a servant leader. I was always taught to be slow to respond and swift to show understanding when listening to people’s problems. In law, our clients come to us with a problem. Occasionally people need attorneys when they are having a good day. (Buying or selling a house, contract review for a business relationship, or establishing their first business) However, most people call their attorney when they are having a really bad day or find themselves in a situation where they need expert help. Lawyers are as much counselors as they are attorneys who practice law. It is with all of this knowledge at the forefront of my mind that I decided to open my very own law firm. The Talley Law Firm is a small boutique firm in Birmingham, AL. It is our mission to serve the citizens of Alabama by catering to the specialized nature of the many different cases that we handle, while placing our client’s interests at the forefront of our efforts. Our firm is a place where the clients always come first. The legal profession is built firmly on the foundation of service, and that is a virtue that we hold near and dear to our hearts. Our firm is a general practice firm and handles an array of case types. We service personal injury clients who have been badly hurt in accidents, fiercely defend criminal clients who have found themselves in the criminal justice system, help entrepreneurs create a model to formulate their new business ideas, and help our families in the community prepare and protect themselves and their own families with estate planning. We also have an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) section of the firm that handles mediations for clients who desire a resolution without court involvement. What sets us apart is that we are a small firm that focuses on client experience and getting the best outcome for each case. No two cases are the same. and we take a calculated approach to working the nuances of each case we serve. We remain a small firm to ensure that the client experience is not lost. We have a quality over quantity approach to our service. We aggressively fight for our clients and take great pride in protecting their interests and rights under the law.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

In my experience, the most effective strategy for growing your clientele is simple, get to know your clients and do good work! Clients are people first. Yes, you and the client have entered into a business relationship, but they like to be treated with care and concern. Ask how their day went, check in on their children, stay on the business call a few minutes longer to make sure that the client is doing well in their personal life, etc. These small gestures go miles and miles with your client. It allows them to grow a trust and respect for you that is unmatched. Then, they tell their families and friends about you. After that, their friend’s family and friends are told about you, and it snowballs from there. The second thing is to do good work. In law, it is important to make yourself an expert on not only the law itself, but the legal theory behind the law. Client’s see fancy advertisements, and that may be enough to get them to call you, but doing good work is the best way, in my opinion, to grow your clientele. In this day and time, believing is seeing. Potential clients must be able to see that you do good work and get only the best results for your clients. I would advise having clients submit testimonial videos or statements that attest to the good work you’ve done, and the awesome client experience you have provided them. It will go a long way in growing clientele.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the notion that I alone was enough. “If you want to go fast, go alone… If you want to go far, go together” I was very involved during law school. I was in many organizations, clubs, and traveled around the U.S. every semester with the trial team. However, when it came to my studies, I was alone. I studied for all my finals alone, while others studied in groups. I thought that I just preferred to work alone. I had spent my entire life studying alone and not relying on others for help or assistance when it came to not only my studies, but any issues in life that I had. I did not mind helping others, but when I was the one who needed help, I remained quiet and silent. This sense of thinking that I could tackle the world and all its problems on my own was a lesson that I swiftly had to unlearn when I become an attorney and business owner. When I originally set out on this mission, I thought that I could do it all, alone. I thought I could answer the phones, do client on boarding, draft all the necessary legal documents for a case, etc. These were administrative tasks that I had to do before even showing up in a courtroom to fight for my clients. It immediately became overwhelming, my business started to suffer, and I realized not only that I could not do it alone, but also that I should not do it alone. There is nothing wrong with seeking help from others. Creating a strong network or team will grow your business in ways that you can’t foresee. Different people with different life experiences, thoughts, and beliefs leads to great innovation and scale within your business. This was a hard lesson for me to learn, but I am indeed happy that I did.

Contact Info:

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