Answer extracted from the From Courtroom to Carline: A Legal Parenting Podcast podcast — listen to the full episode below.
What advice does Oxalis Garcia give to someone who wants to open their own law firm?
Build your network early to establish name recognition before you launch—that foundation matters more than you think. Then invest time in business administration courses and master accounting, because running a law firm is more administrative work than legal work, and financial literacy is non-negotiable for survival.
Networking is your foundation
Starting a firm without an established network is like starting a practice without clients. Oxalis Garcia emphasizes that early networking is not just a nice-to-have—it's the groundwork that lets people know who you are before you hang your shingle. This recognition translates directly into referrals and trust when you launch independently.
As Garcia explains in the podcast episode, the legal market is built on relationships. Start building yours long before you need it.
Business administration and accounting trump legal skill
Many lawyers underestimate how much of firm ownership is pure business management. Garcia strongly recommends taking business administration courses because the legal side—your core skill—is only part of the equation. The rest is operations, finances, and strategy.
Understanding accounting and financial numbers becomes survival training once you're responsible for payroll, cash flow, taxes, and profitability. This is the part that often blindsides solo practitioners who never took a business class. Garcia's full perspective on this challenge reveals why so many promising lawyers struggle as firm owners.
"I bring a multicultural and multi-jurisdictional perspective to the bench, which is something that I don't believe any other judge has at this moment in time in the Sixth Judicial Circuit."
Oxalis Garcia — Attorney and Candidate for Circuit Judge Group 44 in Pinellas County. With 20 years of legal experience and licenses in three jurisdictions (Puerto Rico, Florida, and Maryland), Garcia specializes in family law, particularly complex international custody cases under the Hague Treaty. She merged her practice with law partner Michael Berry and has appeared as a legal consultant on the reality television series 90 Day Fiance.
The reality of firm ownership—especially for attorneys with complex case loads like Garcia's international family law practice—demands that you think like a business owner, not just a lawyer. The distinction will determine whether your firm thrives or you burn out before year three.
See also
What happened to Oxalis Garcia's home during Hurricane Idalia and how did she respond?
Garcia's home was flooded and caught fire during Hurricane Idalia, and she found out through Snapchat when a neighbor called and videos appeared on social media.
How does Oxalis Garcia handle pro se litigants using AI-generated legal arguments?
Garcia says she does not encounter AI use from her own clients due to strict client management, but she observes pro se individuals in her cases who clearly use AI-generated arguments in their filings.
What changed in Florida family law regarding unmarried parents and child custody in 2023?
Prior to 2023, unmarried parents did not automatically have custody rights in Florida. Garcia states that the law changed in 2023, fundamentally altering how custody is determined for unmarried couples.
Key takeaways
- Network strategically and visibly before you open your firm—your reputation and referral pipeline depend on it.
- Invest in business administration education; running a firm is 90% admin and finance, not law.
- Master accounting and financial literacy—they are as critical to survival as your legal degree.
- Treat your practice like a business from day one, not a side effect of legal work.