We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caitlin Palomin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Caitlin, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
Starting any business is a risk. In every business there is a risk of failure, a risk of foregoing more stable paths, and a risk that you will be wildly unprepared. I started my own law firm last year–Palomin Law Firm, PLLC. While I was in law school, I realized that I wanted to be able to create a law firm that focuses on the client above all else. I wanted to create an environment that promoted understanding, communication, and client-centered approaches. I also realized that I didn’t want to be in the office from 8am-8pm. I knew that if I wanted to be able to practice diverse areas of law and do it in a way that I wanted to, I would have to open my own firm. This was a huge risk. Opening a law firm is no easy task, and trying to be prepared for the obstacles, challenges, and new experiences is very daunting. However, my solid legal education from St. Mary’s University School of Law gave me an amazing foundation. That foundation was bolstered by my experiences working at various law firms, interning at the EEOC and the District Court for the Western District of Texas, and helping with pro bono legal aid sites. One of my biggest learning experiences was at St. Mary’s Center for Legal and Social Justice. It was there that I learned how to practice law, handle cases, and assist my local community. All of these experiences helped develop my ability to take risks.
What I truly believe helped in developing my ability to take risks is the fact that I know what I want, or at the very least, I know what I don’t want. Having that knowledge and understanding pushed me to take risks to get to where I wanted, pushed me to try my very hardest to avoid failure, and pushed me to not fear the unknown. Lastly, I developed my ability to take risks by having a strong support system of other attorneys who help mentor and answer any questions that I may have, amazing law professors who have now become friends, and of course my amazing husband who supports me through it all.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
After completing my undergrad at Texas Tech, I moved to San Antonio from Lubbock to attain a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law. After my first year of law school, I volunteered at the Texas Legal Services Center to provide legal resources and information to low-income individuals in need of assistance. During my second year of law school, I was a law clerk for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. I interned in the chambers of the Honorable Xavier Rodriguez in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. Additionally, I clerked at a construction and personal injury firm in San Antonio. I was a member of St. Mary’s Law Journal, and I was a research assistant for an Associate Dean at St. Mary’s University. During my final year at St. Mary’s University, I was a student attorney at the St. Mary’s Civil Justice Clinic in the Consumer Protection division. As a student attorney, I handled complex title disputes, negotiated settlements, counseled clients, prepared deeds and affidavits, and assisted with RICO, DTPA, and fraud claims.
I am a Texas attorney and the founder of Palomin Law Firm, PLLC, a law practice based in San Antonio, Texas. With a strong commitment to delivering high-quality legal services, I have earned a reputation for excellence and dedication within the legal community and among clients. My educational background, including my law degree, has provided me with a solid foundation upon which I have built a successful legal career.
I work to provide practical and tailored legal solutions that address the unique needs and challenges of my clients. I am dedicated to upholding the highest ethical standards and my unwavering commitment to achieving favorable outcomes.
The firm is dedicated to providing comprehensive legal services to individuals, businesses, and organizations in the local community and beyond. I have broad and diverse legal knowledge and capabilities, which makes Palomin Law Firm well equipped to handle a wide range of legal matters.
The firm’s practice areas encompass contract law, business law, real estate law, consumer protection, and estate planning, allowing clients to benefit from a multifaceted approach to their legal needs. Palomin Law Firm is committed to fostering strong client relationships built on trust, transparency, and open communication. Clients can expect personalized attention and tailored strategies that prioritize their best interests and objectives.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Communication 2. Adaptability
3. Being humble
These three skills or qualities have been the most important and impactful in my journey.
Communication truly is key. Talk to everyone, all the time. Never be afraid to ask questions, never be afraid to speak up, and never be afraid to introduce yourself. The law business is 99% referrals and word of mouth, and legal knowledge is 80% talking to other attorneys, judges, or people in the legal field.
Adaptability is what determines whether you succeed or fail in my opinion. You have to be able to try something else if what you are doing isn’t working. You have to be able to tweak your original idea to fit what is selling or bringing in customers or clients. Being stubborn and refusing to adjust and adapt to the current situation, is a recipe for failure. In starting a business, what looks good on paper may not pan out when put into practice; if that happens, how you adapt to that will likely determine how successful your business will be. I know that I have had to pivot multiple times since starting my firm, and I will continue to do so because it is so important.
Being humble will get you so far. Everyone, no matter their job or age, has some sort of knowledge to impart on you. Being humble will make you listen better, learn more, increase your patience, and be more diligent. It is easy to act like you know it all, but it is so worth it to have humility, apologize if you messed up, truly listen to others, and learn from everyone you meet.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I’m overwhelmed, I bake, garden, play tennis, play ping pong, or anything where I’m able to disconnect, stop thinking about work or the problem I’m facing, and do something with my hands. I think a hobby where you have to physically move your body or work with your hands allows you to really break free from whatever is stressing you out or overwhelming you. My top two are tennis and baking. I have a bread company, Baked & Buzzed, and making sourdoughs, cinnamon rolls, or any of my other breads, allows me to think about something completely different and I always feel so much better. Tennis is my favorite sport, and while I’m on the court, it is impossible for me to stay mad or frustrated (unless I double fault). Everyone needs a hobby that allows them to escape work and stress.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.palominlaw.com
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-palomin-j-d-b6ba04a7
