Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Lerch.
Hi Chris , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My father was a central figure in my life, demonstrating a deep love for others through his unwavering belief in them, his steadfast advocacy, and his dedicated service as an attorney. His passing during my college years marked the beginning of a significant personal journey, a search for purpose and direction that touched every aspect of my life.
Through this exploration, the vital role of legal counsel in fostering community success, growth, and prosperity became strikingly clear. However, I also recognized the numerous obstacles preventing many from accessing this essential support. After years of feeling a growing disconnect between my own path and the inspiring model of legal practice my father embodied, I resolved to establish my own firm. Thus, LerchLegal was founded with a clear mission: to reform and revitalize the delivery of legal services within the Orlando community. We have intentionally moved away from many traditional law firm structures to enhance accessibility and better serve our clients.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Different seasons have been marked by different challenges. There have certainly been some rocky times but it was during those times that I have grown the most. Though I wouldn’t want to go back and “re-live” some of those hard moments, I would not want to lose the lessons learned through them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
It has been my experience that extravagant, unexpected, and unpredictable legal fees have created a barrier for many in accessing an attorney. To make matters worse, large law firm overhead coupled with billable hour requirements have impacted the attorney’s stewardship of their client’s legal needs. Unfortunately, some attorneys can be more influenced by their billable hour quota rather than seeking the most cost-effective solution for their clients. As I mentioned earlier, our Firm was founded in an effort to help reform this outdated model. Our focus is helping our clients achieve their goals, not treating them like a billable number. So, in an effort to better serve our clients, we offer alternatives to hourly fees that we tailor to the specific needs of the client.
In terms of our areas of practice, we enjoy providing comprehensive legal support for Orlando businesses throughout their entire lifecycle, functioning as a practical in-house counsel for many small businesses. Whether its business formation guidance, ongoing counsel for small business owners on day-to-day legal matters, or in-depth representation in business and real estate transactions, we offer tailored, accessible solutions powered by a modern approach.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I don’t think those closest to me would consider me much of a risk taker. However, many of the greatest decisions in my life involved a considerable amount of risk. In fact, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation if I didn’t embrace some level of risk in starting my own firm.
So, while I don’t think one should take on risk merely for the sake of being risky – expecting to yield a high return because of the high risk – I do think there is wisdom in being willing to take leaps of faith at the right time (what informs one’s judgement on the “right time” is up for debate . . . .)
Perhaps the most impactful thing for me on this topic was something I read years ago by C.S. Lewis on the risk of love. It’s worth quoting in full:
“There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket—safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside of heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is hell.”
This same principle, I believe, applies to other meaningful endeavors; without embracing the risk of failure, we may never experience the potential for profound growth and unexpected reward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lerchlegal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lerchlegal
- Twitter: https://x.com/lerchlegal
