Less than two years after law school, Jane Oak started her own practice, and is now a principal of the Law Offices of Jane Oak & Associates, PC, an immigration, real estate, and business law firm based in Los Angeles. Kelly A. Knight, a KABA board member and associate at Miller Barondess, LLP, a Los Angeles-based litigation boutique, talks to Oak about what it takes to be her own boss.

 

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I pulled up to the curb, waited for a few minutes, and then she appeared — Jane Oak, in the flesh. Jane is a preeminent immigration lawyer, and graciously agreed to join me for a quick lunch interview, and I was anxious to get started. So off we go!

 

Kelly A. Knight: Over the past few years, you’ve established what has become a well-known law practice in Los Angeles. Tell us about it.

Jane Oak: Right now, I have four staffers, including one law student intern, one associate, and I recently added one more senior lawyer to the team. Although we counsel clients in a variety of areas, including real estate and business law, we specialize in immigration law. We have really great people in our office; it’s like a small family. I’m really running a small business in addition to being a practicing lawyer.

KK: Tell us about your decision to start your own practice.

JO: After I graduated from UCLA Law in 1998, I started practicing at a real estate boutique, handling real estate transactions. After one and a half years representing large corporations, I felt like a cog in the wheel; I didn’t have much client interaction, and my clients were mostly big companies. I was missing that feeling of really making an impact on individuals. So I decided to open my own practice, become my own boss, and help real, everyday people.

KK: At less than two years out of law school? That’s gutsy. How’d you take it from there?

JO: I rented a small office in an executive suite and started thinking about how I could bring in clients. My first client was my brother’s friend. I did a great job for him, and the word spread. I also started putting myself out there. I met everyone in my building. I joined community organizations. I talked to people everywhere I went, even in the elevator. I wrote weekly articles for the local Korean-language press. Pretty soon, the clients started coming in.

KK: Who is your typical client?

JO: My typical client might be someone in the United States who wants to work and get a green card. Or an investor looking to start his or her own business. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of work for British, Canadian and other foreign-based clients who are looking to come to the United States. So my “typical client” is changing.