Meet Rachel Leon | Lawyer & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Rachel, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
When I first began my Entrepreneur endeavor and opened Leon Law Firm P.A., risks seemed scary, it seemed like this one risk was going to be the end of the world, the end of my career, and the end of my dreams. I was fresh out of law school, I had just given birth to a baby boy, and I really had no idea all the road blocks that I would need to overcome. Now, the more risks I take, the more I look forward to taking them because it always leads to growth. Risks are a necesarry part of an Entrepreneur’s career because it leads to roads and doors unimaginable. I am now leading a successful law firm where we practice immigration, real estate title services and small business advising. I also decided to give back to the law community and became a professor for immigration paralegals, which is a risk in itself because paralegals are replacing more and more the need for lawyers in simple cases. At the point I currently am in my career I look at risks in a positive way, instead of thinking, “what am I going to lose if I take this risk?”, I think, “What am I going to lose if I do not take this risk, am I going to regret it?”

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the proud owner of a boutique law firm where we practice immigration law, title development for real estate and small business advising. We are most proud about our customer service. We strive to give our clients calm in times of unrest. We know all of our clients personally and continue a relationship with them even after our services have finished. We are most excited at the moment about our title development practice area. It is fairly new to the list of services at the firm and we are still navigating the real estate world, but the real estate community has welcomed us with open arms. We hope to grow this area in the next few years and establish ourselves as one of the primary title development firms in Miami. It is definitely a challenge we are tackling with excitement and grace. Running a business was always the ultimate goal for me. I have never been one to follow others. I have set my own course in all aras of my life and followed it blindingly until my dreams became goals and those goals became my reality. It helps when you have family supporting you along the way. When I told my husband I was quitting my job to open my own firm, he did not hesitate, he did not blink, he only said “I am proud of you, it is about damn time.” He knew it was my dream and he has incredible faith in me. The road to a successful law firm fresh out of law school is grueling. For starter, My network consisted of friends from law school who have had same experience I had, which was practically none. I did not know how to run a business, I had read books, but as we all know books and real life are not always the same. I didn’t even know where I should buy paper to cut costs. Little by little, I found my way, learned how to ask for help, and ask an infinite amount of questions when I did not know how to do something. I could never repay all the clients that trusted me the first year I was in business. What I learned from the road blocks is that you CANNOT give up. If you decide to give up in times of turmoil you’ll never get to see the light at the end. One year after opening my law firm COVID hit, I was closed for three months, clients were missing payments, and my savings account was rapidly decreasing. During those months I did not stay still. I could not stay still and allow my dreams to crumble before my eyes. I decided my law firm needed service more than one area of law and that is how I associated with The Fund and became an escrow agent/title developer for real estate. My ideas, and hard work during those months saved my business. If there is any advice I could give an entrepreneur is never give up. It sounds so simple, but the practice of not giving up it is hard. It takes patience, flexibility, the will to adapt, and it takes the art of accepting opportunities. What I would want the world to know about me is that if a Cuban who arrived to the United States at the age of 9, lived in a room in a strangers house with her mom and sisters can become an attorney and build the business of her dreams can do it, so can you. There is no limit to what you can do, only you set your own limits.

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.
There is so much to see in Miami and the foodie that I am I would create a week long itinerary surrounded by delicious restaurants. We would start in midtown, as it is not what it used to be. It is full of fabulous shops, and mom and pop trendy restaurants. There is this little Italian Restaurant in suburbs of Kendall called Osteria Vecchio Piemonte and honestly a great trip would not be complete if we would not visit it. Since we are already in the Kendall area we would also need to eat at Chef Adrianne’s Restaurant. Her white sangria has won prices and for good reason. Because no trip is complete without desserts I would take her to Polo Norte to have the BEST cuban ice cream around. It taste just like regular ice cream but better.

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 honestly cannot pick one person in particular. I have a team behind me encouraging me every step of the way. My dad is my biggest cheerleader, he keeps me going every day. He encourages me and he believes I can accomplish so much that I believe it myself. My mom is my confidante, I tell her all my troubles all my doubts and she turns them into motivation. My husband has always offered me his support. He is the one that encouraged me to quit my job and pursue my dream of opening my own law firm. He is next to me all my late nights working and always caters to my needs when I need to focus on my business. Lastly, my two-year-old son has given me all the drive I need to always push forward. I want him to grow in a world where his mom is successful and is also an amazing mother. It is time to show the world we can be everything and anything we want.

Website: www.lawfirmdoral.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leonlawfirmfl/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-leon-18624a95/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leonlawfirmpa