We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset and knew that when I graduated from law school, I wanted to start my own practice. As a child, I grew up around many family members who owned their own businesses and were self employed. Although they worked long hours, I thought it was cool that they had the ability to set their own schedule and work on their terms without having to report to a boss. I’ve always wanted to have that control over my life.

When COVID hit, although many people would have frowned upon starting a business during a pandemic, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to set up a practice that operated virtually without office space. My thinking was that since many clients or potential clients would be concerned about contracting the virus, they would be more open to a virtual structure where they didn’t have to meet an attorney in person and could just as easily meet via Zoom or other video platforms to discuss their matter. It was a safe structure and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to operate with as little overhead as possible.

What should our readers know about your business?
We’re a general practice. Our primary areas of focus are business, music and some personal injury. I would say that what sets us apart from others in the law business is that we’re authentic and our client’s gravitate towards that. When I started this practice, I had the vision of providing legal services to those who were traditionally overlooked and underrepresented. I felt there was a need for young black lawyers who appreciated diversity, understood that people come from many different backgrounds and experiences and could relate to clients on a more personal level. Our firm believes that the quality of representation is more important than the amount of clients a firm has. With this in mind, we provide thorough representation while viewing our client’s as people and not numbers.

One of my favorite quotes is: “if it was easy, everyone would do it.” Although I have a long way to go, getting to this point was not easy and there were many obstacles, including law school, multiple bar exams and even working jobs (both legal and non-legal) that I didn’t like. Perseverance, the ability to stay the course even when things are not going your way, are key characteristics that will lead you to success. The easiest thing to do in life is to give up. But if you keep trying to improve and if you keep pushing, you’ll eventually achieve the goals you set out for yourself. Although I’ve had some great accomplishments so far, I’m always learning and seeking ways to improve as a person, lawyer and entrepreneur.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is tough. Atlanta has many fun and unique places to visit. First, I would suggest going for a walk or run up the Chattahoochee River or the Beltline. It’s a great way to stay healthy while enjoying the scenery.

Atlanta offers many great food options as well. Some of my personal favorites are Two Urban Licks, Negril Village, Roc South, Hattie Marie’s BBQ, Hal’s Steakhouse and Krog Street Market.

After lunch or dinner, I would suggest grabbing a drink at James Room, Highlands Cigar, Fellaship, New Realm Brewery, or Bar Vegan in Ponce City Market. There are many other great places to eat and drink in Atlanta so you really can’t go wrong wherever you choose to go.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this to my Mom for all of her support throughout the years. I wouldn’t be in this position without her.

Website: www.cfallenlaw.com

Instagram: @cfallen_esq

Twitter: @cfallen_esq

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/CFAllenLaw

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