Blue Ocean Global Technology Interviews Theresa Viera | Founder of Modern Legal

Theresa Viera is the Founder of Modern Legal. She is a Family Law Attorney, Arbitrator, and NC DRC Certified Mediator. She previously served on the board of Playing For Others, a nonprofit focused on teen leadership development, which is a testament to her dedication to pay it forward. Her desire to become an attorney started at a very young age due to her own childhood experiences in the Family Law Courts. Her Modern Legal team strives to educate their clients about the law so they can make informed decisions about what is most precious in their lives. Each Modern Legal attorney helps individuals navigate the legal system while addressing each concern and question meticulously. With her team, she pursues the mission to inspire others as her mother’s attorney inspired her. Theresa has won many awards, with the most notable being named “Top 40 Young Lawyers” in 2020 by the American Bar Association.

Blue Ocean: Please tell us about your professional journey to becoming the founder of Modern Legal.

Theresa: I was a child of domestic violence and child abuse, and I experienced many contentious situations inside and outside of the courtroom during my childhood. Once my mother was able to find a family law attorney that was willing to fight for the safety of our family, I viewed the legal profession as not only an honorable profession but also one that allowed for direct change and positive influence on people and their family situations. Hence, I decided to become a lawyer by the age of 12. After obtaining my college degree, my Juris Doctorate, and my law license, I was hired by my first family law firm. Helping children and families through some of the roughest transitions in their lives was very rewarding for me.

After eight years in private practice with law firms, I decided to open my own law firm in 2020, amidst the global pandemic. As the world was pivoting, I thought it was time for the traditional legal practice to also change. At Modern Legal, we try to utilize technology to benefit our clients as well as provide a much-needed source of compassion and understanding for each family’s unique circumstance. Today, we have grown to a team of five attorneys looking to grow further across North Carolina and South Carolina.

Blue Ocean: How do you approach the challenges facing the legal industry today? Are there any pivotal experiences during your journey that have shaped your perspective?

Theresa: One of the challenges facing the industry is the ever-increasing cost of attorneys, especially in the United States. It’s becoming a situation where individuals cannot pursue relief for their legal protections because they cannot afford an attorney. The challenge is understanding how to streamline the process and provide legal services more efficiently from a cost and time perspective, for the clients, the attorneys, and the Courts. The fewer hours I spend on a case because I’m utilizing my legal assistant or technology means my client does not have to pay as much for an attorney’s billable hourly rate, and I in turn can serve more people. Today, with technology and e-court services available in North Carolina, we can do the work that took multiple hours in much less time. This efficiency helps increase access to justice, especially in North Carolina.

For our team specifically, the challenge is to maintain human connection as we adopt technology. I want to make sure that even if we are incorporating technology into the family law legal practice, we are not losing that human touch or dehumanizing clients.

Blue Ocean: What recent trends in family law or law in general do you find most impactful, and how do you foresee them evolving in the coming years?

Theresa: One of the waves in the family law field is the increase in mediation services. Mediation is a process where two parties try to reach an amicable resolution with the assistance of a neutral third-party mediator. I feel this is a very helpful service, specifically in child custody cases and similar situations. The mediator is not a judge or a decision maker; rather, the mediator helps the parties find common ground with the end goal of helping the parties reach an agreement. When parents are involved, mediators are critical because, at the end of the day, parents know their children more than any judge will. So even if they disagree, mediation helps bridge the gap between the parties and helps the parties find creative and child-specific resolutions.

Additionally, there is the tool of arbitration. An arbitrator has decision making authority like a Judge without the need of going to Court. The arbitration process is unique in that the parties and their attorneys can seek out a qualified arbitrator (since many Judges are not formally trained in family law and have never practiced family law prior to becoming a Judge). Then the arbitration itself is conducted in a much more comfortable environment, generally in the privacy of an arbitrator’s office. If appropriate, the arbitrator’s findings will then be presented to the Court and a Judge can affirm the “ruling,” provided a certain decorum and procedure is followed by the arbitrator.

I think resources such as mediation, arbitration, and collaborative law will help in family law all over America. Truth be told, no judge can fully comprehend the intricacies and turmoils that a family goes through, and these services help families address more issues than a Judge in a courtroom would be ablet to address.

Blue Ocean: What does a typical day in your life look like?

Theresa: Oh, I wish I had a typical day. Being a certified mediator, an arbitrator, a practicing family law litigator, and a business entrepreneur, there is nothing normal about any particular day. I am grateful that I have a great team set up, and technology helps us a lot. I have to play different roles in different tasks. But regardless of where our team members are and which role I’m playing, I’m able to show up at that moment in time for that role.

On some days, you will find me in a courtroom still litigating cases and representing clients. Other days, I will be conducting mediation or arbitration in my office. I’m also doing a lot of business development and business-related tasks to support and train my team and grow our firm.

Blue Ocean: With your experience as a founder and an attorney, what unique strategies or insights do you offer your clients that set you apart from other attorneys in your field?

Theresa: I came to practice law from a different perspective. Some people become lawyers because they want a career, happen to be good at law, or want to make money. I come from a tech background and I did not pursue a career in law for its financial stability. When I was 12, I became inspired to help people and also provide for my family. I saw a lot as a child that I didn’t want other children to experience what I had experienced. So law for me was more of a calling, and I try to convey this in everything I do. Whether someone is reading my bio on the website, I’m speaking in the community on family law, or I’m representing an individual client, I try to bring my personal story to the forefront because if I’m vulnerable and show my personal side then my client and community will do the same. And I think that creates a level of compassion that is not seen in the legal practice as often as it should be, especially in family law, where everything comes back to the family.

We check in with our clients, and go that extra mile to build a personal connection which differentiates us. When people know you care, they’re more willing to sit down with you and be vulnerable. They are more willing to get into the weeds of what they need and they are more likely to trust in your legal expertise and guidance. Similar to medical doctors, we are juris doctors and we are meant to help people.

Blue Ocean: In your extensive career what has been the key to your success in managing leadership roles and how do you stay ahead in such a dynamic sector?

Theresa: The key to my leadership has been trying to learn a lot. I read a lot of books and I learn as much as I can about business, different styles of leadership, psychology, and behavioral styles. Maintaining a growth mindset and also inspiring my team to have a growth mindset, even when they don’t see it clearly within themselves, is important for me.

The compassion that we have for our clients and our law practice is also integral to our team. This means that I also need to be compassionate with my team members when they are experiencing the turmoils of a particular situation or case.

We all make mistakes and I strive to understand that and support my team. I try to be a cheerleader for them versus being an authoritarian with a stick or a carrot.

Blue Ocean: Reflecting on your journey, what advice would you give to your younger self when you first entered this field?

Theresa: Have faith and believe in yourself. I think our biggest downfall, as females in particular, is that sometimes we doubt ourselves too much and end up not taking a risk. But that risk in fact might have been the changing point in your career. I have seen that pushing your luck means getting more support, more clients, and getting recognized. If you are not willing to take that kind of risk, you will not remain open for business.

I have achieved one goal after another; graduating from college and law school, passing the Bar Exam, and starting my legal career. 10 years back I would never have imagined myself in this position, but here I am. I would love to tell my younger self to “believe in yourself”, continue pushing forward, and never give up.

Blue Ocean: Outside of your career, what hobbies or interests do you pursue, and how do they help you maintain a balanced lifestyle?

Theresa: I love hanging out with my husband, trying new food cuisines, and traveling together. I am Puerto Rican and my husband is Indian. Both our mothers are incredible cooks and they also share our love of food. I also love to dance and, up until recently, I used to teach dance as well. Now I just love going to Broadway Shows and performances, like The Nutcracker, or traveling the world to find new experiences.

Blue Ocean: Is there a particular quote or piece of advice that resonates with you and has guided you through your career?

Theresa: There’s a quote by Will Smith that I had on my bathroom mirror through law school, and it is very simple. It says, “The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is I’m not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be out-worked, period. You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me, you might be sexier than me, you might be all of those things you got it on me in nine categories. But if we get on the treadmill together, there’s two things: You’re getting off first, or I’m going to die.” This quote still helps me find the inner motivation and courage through today.

Conclusion

Theresa Viera’s journey as the founder of Modern Legal and an entrepreneur highlights the dynamic nature of women in law and entrepreneurship. Her experiences offer valuable guidance for aspiring lawyers and budding entrepreneurs to navigate their paths through life while multitasking and taking risks.