Philip Coates is one half of Brisbane-based firm Coates Davey Solicitors.
With considerable marketing and business experience, Philip had an advantage when he and his business partner opened the firm. But he knew he needed the law savvy to back him up.
He signed up to the College of Law’s LPMC – and assumed the role of Principal Lawyer of his own firm not one year later.
Our thanks to Philip for sharing his story.
Unearthing new interests
I came to law late in life. Having spent two decades in marketing and advertising back home in the UK, I was a mature-aged student when I decided to give it a go.
I completed my undergrad while living on the Gold Coast – mostly through the University of Southern Queensland. And I did it at record speed. I was raring to go, so I took on as many units as I could and finished the course in two and a half years.
After that, I did my PLT, and wound up completing my placement at a construction law firm.
A few close friends had given me an insider tip: construction law was an emerging area. Where it was once lumped under commercial law, more top-tier firms were setting up dedicated construction law departments.
I soon realised that construction law was where I wanted to be.
An eye for improvement
I worked at that firm for two years after admission. In fact, I did my supervised practice there.
During that time, I completed my Master’s in commercial litigation through the College of Law. Coincidentally, one of my new colleagues was studying the same degree.
We spent a lot of time together learning best practices from top-tier barristers. Studying side by side, we realised something: our firm was not well-run.
I’d sensed this before. With my marketing background, I saw that their marketing efforts needed work – and so did their client management.
I looked at the problem areas and thought ‘I could do this better’. I just felt it. I’d never run a law firm, of course. But I’d run other businesses.
The idea of starting my own law firm was brewing. I was confident – but I needed more specific knowledge and practical skills to back it up.
I got in touch with a friend I’d met during my PLT studies, Liz Davey. A young, whip-smart graduate, Liz and I saw eye to eye from day one. We were eager to set up a firm together.
That’s what brought me to the LPMC.
The LPMC turned our idea into a plan
I came to the LPMC with substantial marketing experience. Google SEO is my bailiwick. So if I were to open my own firm, I knew I’d have no trouble finding clients.
But I only had basic skills as a lawyer. A law firm needs to meet strict rules and regulations – so I needed help to parlay my skills into law.
That’s how Mary Hockaday helped.
Mary coordinates a fundamental part of the College’s LPMC curriculum: the business plan. She helped me understand the particularities of running a law firm – and how my experience could give me an advantage.
The business plan we put together was absolutely invaluable. I left the LPMC with a model that Liz and I followed closely. In fact, I’d say we stuck to 99% of it.
Setting up shop: a group effort
Liz graduated from the LPMC a month after me – in July 2021. That August (after a bit of breathing room) we set to work.
We wanted to build a law firm that covered both our skillsets: part construction law (my area), part criminal law (Liz’s specialty).
We complement each other well in that respect – but in many other ways, too.
For one, we bridge a generational divide. At 27, like most millennials, Liz has intuitive social-media savvy. (She’s building her reputation in the industry partly through her social media following.)
Naturally, Liz took on the digital content for Coates Davey. Meanwhile, I used my business experience to look after the accounting, the expenses – the mundane but essential stuff.
Mary was our third player. She was my mentor during my LPMC studies, so after I graduated, I asked if she’d continue helping us. To my delight, she said yes.
Every few months I’d send her a message asking for advice, and she was only too happy to help.
That is a testament to the generosity of mentors like Mary – and to the opportunities the College’s LPMC can bring.
One year on
It’s been a year since Liz and I established Coates Davey Solicitors. Between us, we’ve done over 100 matters.
It’s astonishing how fast we’ve grown. Especially considering we started the business during a pandemic.
Thankfully, working from home at the start saved us a lot of overhead. Soon after, we set up an office in Brisbane’s CBD.
In exciting news, we’re now in talks with the University of Queensland about an internship program. I’m so excited at the idea of teaching and mentoring – and I’m ecstatic to be in a position where I can do so.
Taking the LPMC? Here’s my advice
My studies with the College of Law – the LPMC and the Master’s program – set me up with real-world knowledge and experience.
But you only get out as much you put in.
So my advice is to throw yourself into activities, discussions and assessments: engage with the information as much as you can.
Don’t be apprehensive about giving it a go. Really, what’s the worst that can happen?
You’ll leave with a business plan that translates into a plan of action – one you can put in place as soon as you’re done.
If your goal is to become Principal, the LPMC is your first step. It’s an important one: it will lead you to bigger and better things.
Want to nurture your managerial instincts? Arm yourself with the skills to run your own practice – and enrol in the LPMC today.
Related Resources
Legal Business Management course guide
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