Spotlight on Top Business Owners in

Legal & Insurance

Diablo Valley Divorce Assistance
Name: Denise Copeland

Type of Business:
Paralegal Support

What does your business do?
I provide assistance to individuals in need of legal help, mainly in family law. Most individuals prefer to represent themselves or cannot hire an attorney and call on us to aid them through this time in their life.

When and why did you start the biz?
I started this business because I have worked in the law field for over 11 years. I have seen clients being charged enormous amounts of money for very simple legal matters that a paralegal could help them with. I decided to open this business to help those individuals who cannot afford an attorney and who want to represent themselves. I am more into helping the client than I am the money.

How Many People are in your Company?
Just me!

Where's your office?
It is in a spare room of my house overlooking the garden in the front yard. It can be very peaceful, especially when I need it to be.

What's the toughest part of running your biz?
The clients. Each client is emotionally involved in their case and a lot of times they project that out to me. I have been in family law for over 11 years so I understand the client's pain, frustration, anxiety, etc, but at times, the clients can be so demanding, wanting the answers right now and wanting it to be finished right now, which in the law field doesn't always work that way.

What's the most fun part?
The best part about this job is helping my clients. I know I put 110% of myself into every client so they can get the best possible outcome for their situation. It feels nice knowing I have helped relieve stress and anxiety for people and have been able to create a peace in their lives that they haven't known in a long time.

Anything you would have done differently?
I would have not worked full-time for an attorney and part-time for myself. It can be overly demanding and tiring, as well as emotionally stressful.

What's next on the horizon for your biz?
To expand my clientele and hopefully my office!

What advice do you have for others?
Make sure you are 100% ready and able to take on the hassles of starting a business.
Make sure you're not starting the business for the wrong reasons; it should be a passion and not about the money. Sure, the money can be good and it can be great to work for yourself, but you don't get to that step unless you put in all the hard work and effort.

How do you use Idea Cafe to help your biz?
When I am not sure of where to turn or what to do to expand on my business or better my business, I come to Idea Cafe and look around. I enjoy the emailed newsletters who just today gave some GREAT advice. In my line of work, and probably true in any line of work, the more knowledge you have, the harder it is to fail.

School (where, still in school, degree)?
Cal State Hayward

Favorite Food?
Pizza!

Is there any one person or event in your life that led you to go into business for yourself?
My father who owns his own business has been a big influence in my life -- whether he knows it or not.