Time With The Boss - David Weiss, Weiss Law

David Weiss, Weiss Law

Website: WeissLawSTL.com

Industry: Legal
Education: Webster University (B.A.), the University of Michigan (M.A.), University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D.)

What is your mission?        
To provide outstanding legal counsel to businesses, nonprofit associations, their owners, members and individuals to achieve their objectives in business and personal affairs.

What was your first job?      
Cutting grass in grade school. I had to hire other classmates because I had too many lawns to cut during the school year.

What was your worst job?      
Selling Kirby vacuum cleaners.

What led you to your industry?     
After driving 24 hours straight from St. Louis to New London’s Connecticut College, being told that the budget for the program I was to produce had been cut by the college president by 30% – including my salary!

What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?      
Hired three recently graduated exceptional law students to support our growth in existing and new practice areas.

Who is your industry role model?    
James J. Wilson, former St. Louis city counselor.

How do you try to differentiate your business from others in your industry?    
Our firm’s tag line says it perfectly: “Big Firm Experience; Small Firm Accountability.”  We strive to deliver first-class service, counsel with practical advice and are always mindful of the costs for the delivery of legal services.

What’s the hottest trend in your industry, and are you going to jump on board?  
Flat fees. Those work if you have a cookie-cutter practice, which we do not. Our firm instead tackles a wide range of transactional and litigation matters in multiple practice areas, including corporate, contracts, nonprofit associations, employment, real estate, HOAs, condominiums and taxation. Issues presented to us are rarely exactly the same as a prior matter, but we draw upon our 30 years of diverse firm experience to resolve matters practically and economically.

What’s the hardest part of your job?  
Making certain that each client matter is getting all of the attention required at that moment. We have a biweekly review of all client matters just to make certain that nothing slips through the proverbial crack.

What’s the best part?
When a client says “Thank you” in a written note or on the phone. Practicing law is a “people” business – and we have some great clients, some demanding clients and, yes, some temperamental clients. There are also adversarial parties and opposing counsel.  Representation can be draining. Receiving a hearty “Atta boy” or just a simple “Thank you” means the world to us.

What best advice would you share with new entrepreneurs?
Whatever your product or service, differentiate yourself form others in the same field.  Underpromise and overdeliver. Take your time. Have fun. Help others along the way.

What’s your favorite place in St. Louis?  
The Jack Buck Grille at the Missouri Athletic Club.

What book is on your nightstand?  
“The Boys in the Boat.”

What has made you successful in your industry and in St. Louis?  
By being outgoing, paying attention to the details, being fair and always being courteous. n