The law school’s Incubator Program, which uniquely combines an entrepreneurial spirit with the cause of access to justice, enters its seventh year in 2020 with a new group of dedicated lawyers.
Seven alumni, all of whom graduated in the last 10 years, were named this month to the latest cohort of incubator lawyers. The small firm or solo practices they are building cover a range of practice areas, from personal injury to estate planning.
Program Director Stan Perkins ’85 said that running this type of practice appeals to entrepreneurial lawyers who want to be their own boss, but he added that the work can feel difficult and lonely at times.
"The successful lawyers are the ones who power through it and don’t give up," he said. "And I’ll be there to cheer them on." Perkins allows the incubator participants to use his Pioneer Square office for meetings and mail. He also mentors those who share his practice area, personal injury.
The Incubator Program provides training, guidance, and resources for one year to help alumni manage a solo practice or small firm with a commitment to including moderate-income people as a portion of their client base. This year, a business/life coach has been added to the program to work with the attorneys.
The 2020 incubator cohort includes Brady Blake ’19, Kerry Clayman ’11, Chris Paul Hendry ’19, Brett Kobes ’18, Eric Landeen ’17, Sarterus Rowe ’09, and Olga Zozulia ’19.
"You’ve decided to bet on yourself and bet that you can make it work," Perkins said. "And you will."
Since 2013, the program has helped launch the careers of 45 attorneys. Dean Annette Clark ’89 said the program was the first of its kind in Washington state.
"The value of this program is extraordinary," she said.
Brady Blake ’19 and Chris Paul Hendry ’19 co-founded Sound Legal Solutions PLLC after graduation. Their areas of practice include estate planning, personal injury, real estate, and employment law.
Kerry Clayman ’11 has volunteered with the Northwest Justice Project CLEAR line for several years and will specialize in family law and domestic violence.
Brett Kobes ’18 founded Kobes Legal PLLC last fall and will focus on personal injury and civil rights. He also has an MBA degree from Albers School of Business.
Eric Landeen ’17, a business development executive based in Indianola on the Kitsap Peninsula, will offer estate planning services as a solo practitioner.
Sarterus Rowe ’09, who founded Law For All last fall, practices family law. He has taught IP as an adjunct faculty member for several years.
Olga Zozulia ’19 will specialize in personal injury law and car accidents as the proprietor of My Injury Law Firm. She is fluent in Ukrainian and Russian.