Why I'm Starting My Own Law Firm

Ever since I was a child, entrepreneurship has been a significant part of my life. My first foray into “being my own boss,” if you can call it that, was a lawn mowing business I started as a kid in a newly developed neighborhood on what used to be the farm behind our house. My goal was to capitalize on the new homeowners who hadn’t yet bought lawn mowers so that I could earn some cash for video games, simple as that. Little did I know, this would ignite an entrepreneurial fire in me that is still burning today.

I was 15 years old when I started my first “real’ company. “Rockway Production, LLC” was an audio and lighting production company for weddings, corporate events, and the like. I threw a decal on the back of my 1994 Jeep Cherokee, and off I went. This stint didn’t last past college, but it laid the foundation for the bigger adventures to come.

In college, I collaborated with friends to create online content—blogs, short films, and more. We turned this passion project into a non-profit organization, complete with a board and 501(c)3 status. I still have the hard copy CD from the album we made, and the little circle stickers with our logo that we gave to the few donors we had. This venture didn’t last long either, but it was an essential part of my journey nonetheless. I learned some hard lessons about running an organization, leading my peers, and I picked up some new skills in web development, which led to my next business—building websites for others. This carried me through to law school graduation.

Oddly enough, going into law school it had never occurred to me that I might want to start my own law firm one day, though that seems obvious now. Instead, when I graduated, I joined a great firm in Winston-Salem, working under some of the best lawyers in the state. This is where I learned how to handle catastrophic personal injury cases from start to finish—running down evidence, not backing down during a deposition, and preparing a case for trial. I had the privilege of assisting clients who had suffered severe injuries or had lost loved ones. Being part of multi-million-dollar outcomes was incredibly fulfilling. This experience also taught me how to approach cases differently, spotting potential in seemingly hopeless cases.

However, my entrepreneurial spirit remained restless, a fire that refused to be extinguished. Over time, the yearning to venture out on my own grew stronger—not out of discontent for my job, it was just the undeniable pull towards entrepreneurship. The idea of starting my own law firm, building my team, and introducing innovations that many lawyers are unable or unwilling to pursue, all in service of my own clients, was all too enticing.

Yes, the idea was scary. Leaving a stable, prestigious position for the unknown always is. I knew I would be starting from scratch since I was unwilling to try to poach clients from my previous firm, but I knew it could work. For the past year and a half, I’ve been working on this venture during nights and weekends. I’ve been researching, building branding tools, developing and testing systems. And now, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of Harris Legal, PLLC. A new firm that will bring together the knowledge of high-end firms and the down-to-earth approach of a “main street” firm. A firm that promises to walk with our clients during the toughest seasons of their lives, navigating the rough waters of litigation on their behalf. I’m excited about what the future holds, and I can’t wait to meet our clients and start this journey together.

Zachary Harris
Founding Attorney
Harris Legal