Starting & Growing a Law Firm: Real-World Lessons from Lawyers
Chicago, IL | Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 1 Hour of MCLE | ISBA Mutual Insurance Company Office
Starting & Growing a Law Firm Event Details
Date and Time: Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
In-Person: ISBA Mutual Insurance Company, 20 S Clark St #800, Chicago, IL 60603
Remote: Attend via Zoom
Starting and Growing a Law Firm: Real-World Lessons from Lawyers is a free hybrid MCLE session on October 22, 2025, designed for Illinois attorneys who are launching, stabilizing, or scaling solo and small firm practices. This kickoff session in a new MCLE series brings together a candid panel of lawyers at three stages of firm ownership:
Newly launched law firms
Law firms that are a few years old
Law firms managing and building a small team
Our panel will share what worked, what didn’t, and what they wish they’d known on day one. If you’re mapping an exit from a larger firm or fine-tuning your solo setup, this program delivers practical, experience-based advice you can apply immediately.
You’ll learn how to make the leap with less risk, build efficient systems, attract clients with proven marketing tactics, and grow (or stay lean) in a way that fits your goals, while connecting with a community of peers on the same path.
Attendees Will Learn…
Why lawyers go solo or start a small firm, and how they make the leap
Common pitfalls and smart first steps when launching
Real-world marketing strategies that actually brought in clients
Tools, tech, and processes that keep small firms efficient
How to grow (or stay lean) in alignment with your goals
Balancing operations with the practice of law
What seasoned founders wish they’d known at the start
Featured Speakers
Janice “Apple” Dantes
Principal, Pinay Law LLC
Ricardo Santiago
Principal, Santiago Law, LLC
J. Sumner Majer
Principal, J. Sumner Majer, LLC
About Janice “Apple” Dantes
Janice (“Apple”) is a Chicago-based attorney and owner of Pinay Law LLC, a boutique firm serving the city’s Filipino community in family law (divorce, child custody/support, guardianship), as well as estate planning, probate, real estate, and personal injury/workers’ compensation. Born in Angeles City, Philippines (former Clark Air Force Base) and raised in Chicago from age three, she is fluent in Tagalog and focuses on empowering Filipina women, especially those facing abuse or financial hardship, in a cultural context where divorce remains illegal in the Philippines. A University of Chicago honors graduate (2005) with a J.D. from DePaul University (2012), she has practiced in Illinois since 2013. Janice is a former president of the Filipino American Lawyers Association (FALA) and currently leads its AGiLA pro bono clinic, a Chicago Volunteer Legal Services satellite. She’s also a wife and mother of three. Tuloy po kayo!
About Ricardo Santiago
Ricardo Santiago is a bilingual family law attorney, founder of Santiago Law, LLC, professor, and former musician who helps bridge the gap between quality legal work and accessible legal services. Ricardo offers flat-fee and unbundled legal services to clients often overlooked by traditional legal models, particularly those in second marriages, Spanish-speaking families, and individuals seeking straightforward estate or practical family law solutions.
About J. Sumner Majer
J. Sumner Majer practices estate planning, probate, and trust administration as a solo attorney. While proudly based in Chicago, his practice in Iroquois County epitomizes the style in which he approaches law in general, with a weaponized empathy and deep understanding to reach results that surpass any party's imagination.
Start and Grow Your Illinois Law Firm in 2025
This is a hybrid event (in-person at the ISBA Mutual Chicago office and virtual via Zoom). You’ll hear from three Illinois attorneys representing early, mid, and growth stages of firm ownership, moderated to keep the discussion practical and actionable. Expect concrete examples, sample workflows, and time for audience Q&A.
Don’t wait to build the firm you want. Learn real-world steps from Illinois lawyers who’ve done it, from landing your first clients to scaling smart without added risk. Earn 1 hour of MCLE and move faster with fewer missteps.
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