Ten Startups Later, an Offer for Free Legal Advice is a Success

Jason is a startups and small business lawyer based in Portland.

They can handle pitching to a room full of investors and juggling the needs of thousands of users, but when it comes to legal obstacles, startup founders often get intimidated fast.

It can be hard to find a lawyer who knows founders well enough to anticipate their needs and make legal jargon understandable. If you also consider the fact that lawyers charge high hourly rates whether or not their clients understand what they're saying, it makes sense that founders prefer to steer clear of those in the legal profession for as long as they can.

It's no surprise that when Jason offered to sit down with users of the Portland Startups Switchboard and give them free legal advice, they jumped at the chance.

Why did you start using the PDX Startups Switchboard?

Switchboard appeared to be an obvious tool to connect with the Portland Startup community. Although I'm not with a startup, the startup attorneys in Portland understand that it's important to connect with and contribute to the community. This seemed like a great way to do it!

You offered free legal advice to local startups. How did that go?

I had never offered anything quite like this before to the public. I was nervous putting myself out there, because above all I wanted to provide a good experience to everyone. Switchboard seemed like a great place because it engenders some level of honest communication, and people can communicate with sincerity.

I know that startup entrepreneurs are sometimes trepidatious about talking to a lawyer because of the grab-bag of stereotypes attributed to the profession. It's a very important stage early on in business, and I had no doubt that there were at least 10 companies out there that knew they needed a lawyer but had not seen one. Also, the startup community has done so much for me early on in my career. I wanted to give something back.

The first thing I noticed when I made the post was support from the community. After that, appointments started trickling in through the link I provided. Within five days, the appointments were filled. Everyone that had an appointment with me was very nice, showed up on time, and was very interested in learning more about current/potential legal issues. It was a lot of fun.

Would you recommend the PDX Startups Switchboard to friends?

Yes. There is an active community in Portland, and Switchboard is one place it convenes. I've had great experiences with it so far, so I would want others to have that as well. Even friends that are not involved in startups can contribute and get benefit from the PDX Startups Switchboard.

PDX Startups Switchboarders Bring New Community Members into the Fold

The Portland startups community is incredibly generous, so it shouldn't be surprising that their Switchboard is incredibly welcoming. Users of the Portland Startups Switchboard help one another find jobs, offer each other advice, and host events that bring the community together.

They don't reserve generosity for people they know, either. The Portland Startups Switchboard also helps people who are new to the city. We asked a few questions of one such PDX pilgrim, Dea, who, with of the help the community, landed a job in Portland three days after she moved here. 

When and why did you start using the PDX Startups Switchboard?

I decided to make the move from San Francisco to Portland about three months prior to finding out about the PDX Startups Switchboard. My dad volunteers at the Tualatin Wildlife Refuge with a woman whose son, Rick Turoczy, is very involved in the Portland startup scene. Knowing that I thrive in a startup culture, my dad and his coworker connected me with Rick, who gave me great advice and information about startup events happening plus a link to the PDX Startups Switchboard. I loved the excitement and positive nature of the community on Switchboard and decided that it was where I would post my "Ask" for a new gig.

Could you talk about your experience finding your job?

It was amazing! Coming from a place where the general community views the startup culture somewhat negatively, it was refreshing to see a group of startup and tech people who have earned a positive relationship with their community.

Within two hours of posting, I had about four or five responses from people who didn't know of any openings in their own company but could recommend me to other companies and resources. About a week before I was set to move to Portland, I got a response from a company called Lytics that was looking for someone like me. We did a few phone interviews while I was still in San Francisco and then an in-person interview the day after I moved. I got the job the next day! Finding a job with a respected and promising startup within three days of moving to a new city was incredible. I know that the PDX Startups Switchboard was instrumental in making it happen.

Would you recommend the PDX Startups Switchboard to friends?

Yes! I already do! It is an amazing way to meet people who are interested in the same things you are and passionate about the up-and-coming Portland startup scene.

Serial Succeeders Turn Offers into Careers

Many Switchboard users learn quickly to make the most of their community’s connections. These serial succeeders find places to stay on cross-country road trips and share their backyard bounties. They’re some of our favorite people.

Stephanie on the Reed Switchboard is one of them. In the one and a half years Stephanie’s been using Switchboard, she’s logged three successes—all about internships and jobs she’s found through the Reed community.

Stephanie started using Switchboard soon after she graduated to find opportunities to freelance as a web and graphic designer. “It’s well-paying work, and sometimes the medical products being written about are just hilarious. Especially when they come with lots of illustrations,” she says about freelancing for an alumnus’s company as a proofreader. Some of Stephanie’s short-term gigs have turned into long-term jobs. “Andrew ‘94 wrote for some Prezi and Wordpress help, and what originally started as a redesign of the interior of his company's site turned into a continuing gig with a really awesome company doing great work. I’m now on their staff page as the visual communicator, and there are some really exciting things going on.”

Stephanie developed the habit of checking Switchboard regularly for opportunities. One day toward the end of a six month stint farming in Thailand, she noticed an Offer for a paid magazine internship in Washington, D.C. and thought, “This is the dream! What a unicorn of an opportunity!”

Long story short, Stephanie flew back to D.C. for an interview, got the internship, and drove from D.C. to Portland, Oregon—and back again—to retrieve her belongings, all in the span of three weeks. “It was totally worth it, and I can say that after only two weeks on the job,” Stephanie says. “Thanks, Steve.”

Successes like this one have made Stephanie a loyal contributor to the Reed Switchboard and an active member of the Reed alumni community. “It’s such an easy way to give back–all it takes is ten minutes to send along an email connection, or write some advice that you personally have,” she says. “There’s no reason not to join Switchboard.”

“Also,” Stephanie adds, “fifty percent of the money I make now is directly correlated to my successes on Switchboard. It works.”