Lem Garcia is a personal injury attorney and the founder of Lem Garcia Law in California. In this episode, Lem shares how he went from answering Craigslist job ads to running a 20-person law firm. With humility, insight, and honesty, Lem walks us through what it takes to start a firm from nothing and why self-belief and strategic thinking are key to long-term success.
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Before becoming a lawyer, Lem Garcia worked as a legal assistant at a small law office, where he learned about the admin side of running a firm. After graduating from Western State College of Law (where he accepted a full-ride scholarship), Lem opened his own personal injury firm in Los Angeles with zero clients and a 450-square-foot office.
“Let me stop focusing on getting a job with somebody else. Let me just open up my own practice now," shares Lem Garcia on You Are A Lawyer.
Over time, Lem grew his practice into a thriving 20-person operation, focusing exclusively on personal injury law. With the help of his wife, a fellow attorney who joined the firm two years in, Lem built a systems-driven business that prioritizes mentorship, quality care, and sustainable growth.
Lem's decision to attend law school was shaped by curiosity and family encouragement. After college, he wanted to better understand what lawyers actually do, so he took a job as a legal assistant. That hands-on experience, combined with pressure from his mom to pursue a bigger purpose, eventually pushed him toward law school.
“My parents were pushing me to do it... like, what are you doing? You're just squandering your time," reflects Lem Garcia on Episode 196 of You Are a Lawyer.
He chose Western State over transferring to a more prestigious school because they offered him a full scholarship, which allowed him to graduate with less debt and more freedom. That decision laid the foundation for the risk-taking and independence that would later define his legal career.
For Lem, a law degree isn’t just a professional credential, it’s a platform to create the life you want. Whether you're litigating, advising, or building a business, the degree opens doors. But Lem emphasizes that it’s not the degree itself that matters most; it’s what you do with it.
“If you don't believe that you can do it, you won't be able to commit 100%," shared Lem Garcia on Episode 196 of You Are a Lawyer.
His journey from unemployment checks to a multimillion-dollar practice shows that confidence, hustle, and strategy matter just as much as legal knowledge. The law degree is your tool – how you use it determines your impact.
Unlike some guests with side hustles unrelated to law, Lem’s passion project is his firm itself. He sees law firm ownership as both a business and a creative pursuit. From writing SOPs to mentoring team members, Lem puts intention into every piece of the business.
“If you explain the why behind what you're doing... they can apply that later on and be more confident in what they do,” expresses Lem Garcia in Episode 196 of You Are a Lawyer.
Through firm leadership, Lem uses his law degree to create opportunity for others. He mentors staff, builds scalable systems, and remains deeply involved in both the legal and operational sides of his firm. His side hustle isn’t separate from his practice, it is the practice.
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Lem is licensed to practice law in the State of California.
Kyla Denanyoh hosts the You Are A Lawyer podcast.
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