I start every day at zero. Starting each day from zero increases my focus, gives me a sense of accomplishment, and helps me avoid complacency.
Chantel Grant is the managing partner of GM Law Firm, LLC. Chantel has spent 10 years as a consumer advocate, fighting against creditors and debt collectors. Chantel brings her decade of consumer defense experience, along with her passion for helping others to fight for the underdog. Most consumer do not know that they have federal consumer protection statutes that were put in place to protect them. By using these violations against debt collectors and creditors, Chantel is able to level the playing field, and get the best outcome possible for her clients.
As a sincere consumer advocate, Chantel has dedicated her legal career to the mastery of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. She is familiar with the tactics of some of the most aggressive and tenacious debt collectors and creditors.
Chantel’s experience battling against debt collectors and creditors makes her the perfect attorney to represent clients who have student loans, credit cards, and other unsecured debts that they are unable to pay.
Chantel was born and raised in Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Minnesota. She then went on to law school, and got her JD from Saint Thomas University School of Law. Chantel is active in various organizations committed to the empowerment of women, and is a proud member of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, the Mattie Belle Davis Society, and the National Association of Women Business Owners.
Where did the idea for GM Law Firm LLC come from?
NA, I purchased an existing book of business. However, here is a description about how I landed in this area of law.
I have always been a consumer defense attorney. It was the first job I landed out of law school, and I must admit, it was not what I was expecting to fall in love with. The longer I worked in this field, the more I loved the idea of fighting back against credit card companies and debt collectors. Fighting the Goliaths of the private student loan and credit card companies has always been very appealing to me. I truly think it was my calling. I love to give the underdog a voice, and to fight for what is just. Justice does not always come easily, and there are many hurdles that we overcome each day, but each small win feels like a huge victory.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
A typical day starts by putting out any urgent fires that may have popped up overnight. I begin by answering emails, and phone calls. I schedule time to call each new client who is enrolling, and make sure they know what they have to do in order to get the most out of our representation. I need to make sure the clients are able to send me all their call logs detailing any collection activity from their creditors, as well as any letters, or legal documents.
I meet with my litigation team to go over any upcoming deadlines for each day, and make sure all hearings are being covered. We spend a lot of time drafting responses to lawsuits, and preparing for trials and hearings. I collect any call logs, and letters that my clients have received, and review them for FDCPA, FCRA, or TCPA violations. I think reach out to the creditors and debt collectors who have violated my client’s rights, and negotiate a dismissal, or damage amounts that should be paid to my clients. I also take time each week to train my attorneys, legal assistants, and paralegals, and make sure everyone is following the proper procedures and protocols with each client. If there were any new issues that we had not previously addressed, we set up a special training session in order to get those new issues handled.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I usually bounce ideas off of other colleagues and attorneys who I trust to see which avenues we should explore first. I then take a step forward every day, until my ideas have come to fruition.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I am excited, and in awe, of the rise of virtual and augmented-reality technology. This is much more than just virtual reality video games, it also has the potential to transform the practice of law. I foresee lawyers, judges, witnesses, and jurors participating in a trial through virtual reality. Jurors may have the opportunity to visit a crime scene or accident scene through virtual reality. This trend both excites and scares me as the possibilities are truly endless.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I just do not give up. I spend time each day working towards any small, or large goals, and just take it one day at a time. My motto is “all problems are just solutions waiting to happen.”
What advice would you give your younger self?
Take a few years off before law school to save up money to avoid taking out so many student loans!
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
That blood is never blue, it is always red!
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I start every day at zero. Starting each day from zero increases my focus, gives me a sense of accomplishment, and helps me avoid complacency.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
This is not really applicable, as the only way we grow business is to purchase more leads, which is not something I want to post about.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
When I first started my law firm, I had a hard time hiring good, hard working people, and had an especially hard time finding attorneys who specialized in my area of law. I realized that I am looking for the wrong things by only focusing on their specific experience, instead of looking for an attorney who would be great at learning my area of consumer defense law. By hiring someone without debt experience, and training them in this field, I was able to find attorneys who were eager to learn, and I got a fresh slate to work with.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A think that creating a business that helps the elderly, or anyone unable to navigate the internet, printing and faxing, MapQuest, Facebook, etc. learn how to do so. I think this is something that so many people need help with, and there are not many resources that are helpful.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I bought a homeless man who lives in a non-working van near my house a bicycle. He had no mode of transportation, and by buying him a used bike, and a lock, I gave him a sense of freedom. The look on his face was worth a million dollars, and knowing he now has a way to possibly get a job and hopefully make a positive change in his life makes me so happy.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Practice Panther, it helps me with deadlines, scheduling, and making sure we do not miss any hearings for the 300+ lawsuits we are defending for our clients. .
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
The Effective Executive by Peter F. Drucker. I believe this book really gets to the issues and gives insight on how to get work done and done the right way.
These are the lessons that Collins cites and discusses:
1. First, manage thyself.
2. Do what you’re made for.
3. Work how you work best (and let others do the same).
4. Count your time, and make it count.
5. Prepare better meetings.
6. Don’t make a hundred decisions when one will do.
7. Find your one big distinctive impact.
8. Stop what you would not start.
9. Run lean.
10. Be useful.
What is your favorite quote?
“If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.” Louis D. Brandeis
Connect:
Chantel Grant on LinkedIn:
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.