Practitioner Testimonial

Practitioner Christopher Flohr

Christopher Flohr admits that running a business is not his strong suit.  A criminal defense attorney and a member of the University of Maryland School of Law practitioner network, Flohr is nevertheless determined to succeed in his solo practice. 

Flohr, a Long Island native and former legal services lawyer, decided in the early 1990s to make it on his own in Brooklyn. Notwithstanding his efforts, that attempt did not last long.  Flohr's solo practice was a failure and he closed his doors after only 9 months, returning to the Legal Aid Society of New York City.

Three years later, Flohr and his wife chose to relocate to Maryland.  Once there, he decided to give private practice yet another whirl.  But this time things were very different. Even though Flohr was a solo, he was not out there struggling in isolation.  This time, Flohr had a network of like-minded peers, all members of a practitioner network, there to help.

The practitioner networks, which were created at City University of New York School of Law, University of Maryland School of Law, and Northeastern University School of Law, are part of the Law School Consortium Project. The Project aims to increase access to justice by supporting law schools to expand their educational and institutional mission beyond graduation to include support and service to solo and small-firm practitioners who are committed to serving low and moderate-income individuals and communities.

The networks also give lawyers like Flohr an opportunity to meet each other and share valuable information on anything from how to be effective in front of a certain judge to how to interpret the latest case and to how to collect money.  "The biggest benefit of the network for me is it taught me how to run a business and even provided me with some clients," says Flohr.  "It is a very useful and active group," he adds.

According to Flohr, being part of the Maryland practitioner network taught him how to run his bank account, how to ask clients for money and how to collect on overdue bills.  Unlike defending his criminal clients, those skills do not come easy for Flohr.  "The network helped me without a doubt.  After all, I need to know how to run a viable business in order to continue helping my clients and at the same time support my family," he says.

Although Flohr belongs to many bar associations, he claims that the Maryland Law School network lawyers are generally more supportive.  Because the network membership is smaller than the average bar association, network members interact more with each other and are more willing to help one another, says Flohr.  For example, the network listserv is always active.  Members send around legal forms, hand out advice freely and post and discuss the latest cases on the listserv. 

But it is the camaraderie between like-minded people who are all struggling to have a viable practice and at the same time care about social justice that is really inspiring, says Flohr.  For Flohr, who came out of legal services, assisting people who might otherwise not be able to attain quality representation is crucial.  In order to help his clients, especially those that come through the network, Flohr cuts his fees and arranges for flexible payment plans that the clients can meet.

"It helps to know that other people are struggling along with you.  It is hard out there. Lots of people fold up their businesses, as I did," he says.  "It is good to know that I am not alone in this," he adds.

A year into his Maryland criminal defense practice, Flohr is hanging on and is positive about his future.  His practice is not in the red and is thriving, unlike his first attempt in Brooklyn.  "I hit my one year anniversary and my doors are still open and my bills are paid," says Flohr with pride.  "It is not where I want to be at yet, but I finally see a future in it."

Written by Victoria Rivkin, a freelance writer in New York City