Canadian Lawyer

father stood with him and told him a better route might simply be to go solo and hang out his own shingle. By 2003, Altman was in business. "I Aren Altman helps clients 'not shoot themselves in the foot.' had one, two, three, and then four cli- ents — that was all I needed" to start, he says, and he drew those from his circle of friends in the entertainment commu- nity. Since that day, he has never looked back and admits going to the office is exciting as 60 per cent of his business is in entertainment law. His advice to young lawyers coming there is an eight-per-cent tax advantage. "The larger production companies are affected by market factors and the taxes and what is left is the independent pro- ducer, takers are now moving to tackle what the larger companies couldn't pull off. It is this domain of independent pro- " says Altman, adding these risk ducers Altman has pursued and devel- oped. The entertainment industry is one he understands and has a passion for. "I have always been artistic," he says. With a bachelor of arts in philosophy and film from the University of British Columbia in 1997 plus later studying digital pho- tography and film at Emily Carr Uni- versity of Art and Design, he developed a solid circle of friends in the arts and entertainment community. However, Altman was the son of two received a JD from California Western School of Law in San Diego and become the third generation of Altman family lawyers. Part of the pull south was the strong California entertainment indus- try but also his uncle Ronald Altman had law offices in Los Angeles where he could get experience. He was called to the State Bar of California, and is still a member, although with an inactive status. By 2002, he was back in B.C. com- pleting his articles with Lawson Lun- dell, obtaining practical experience in venture capital and securities brokerage firms. "But, 2002 was a dismal hire- back year, generations of lawyers and one day his Jewish mother took him aside offering some sage advice. She told him women were more prone to be attracted to a good lawyer than a struggling artist. So, Altman headed to California where he out of law school today is to go it alone as larger firms are just not able to absorb all graduates. Find something that is an interest as well as a job. "If your circle of friends are in real estate, then think about serving that interest," he says. The dynamics of the marketplace are also changing, Altman believes, as more clients today are leery about the cost of seeking legal advice. At one time, sole practitioners or small firms like his were the turf of criminal law lawyers but smaller law firms with specialized knowledge can now niche into the mar- ket. They can provide a great opportu- nity for many newly articled students by being able to reach out to those intimi- dated by a larger firm. "I have always had to be accessible, others, was on the street looking for work. He got strong support from father and lawyer Joel Altman (son of Vancou- ver lawyer Hy, who first started practis- ing in 1936) but the job prospects at his father's firm were just as grim. "He gave me advice not as my father but as lawyer to lawyer, " he says. Altman, like many the day he was called to the bar. His " says Altman, remembering [WWW.CANADIANLAWYERMAG.COM/LEGALFEEDS ] A DAILY BLOGOF CANADIAN LEGAL NEWS says, adding that knowing the industry has helped him realize what price points his clients can afford. That has also meant it was important to deliver a value so the individual is not just a first-time client but also a long-term one. He compares it to going to a dentist with a problem and trusting that individual to deal with it effi- ciently and painlessly. "If the experience was a pleasant one, that person is more prone to come back," he says. — JEAN SORENSEN " he jean_sorensen@telus.net CANADIAN LAWYER & LAW TIMES POWERED BY www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com N O VEMBER / D ECEMBER 2012 13

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