Los Angeles Daily Journal 1996
A Little Law With Your Latte?
At the Legal Grind, a coffeehouse in Santa Monica, attorney Jeffrey J. Hughes offers lattes with some legal advice on the side.
Armed with a shot of espresso, Hughes is an attorney with a cause - improving the image of attorneys and helping people get access to the legal system. Unlike many who choose alternative careers to escape the legal system, he is trying to transform it.
Along with serving a good cup of joe, Hughes wants to "reform the legal system on a grass-roots level" by acting as an "interface" between the public and the legal community.
"Access is the key word," says Hughes, who feels that a large portion of the people's legal needs are not met in today's legal system.
"I've always wanted to open up a cafe and use my law degree to help teach people about access to the legal system and how to find access to the legal system."
In fact, the goal of helping people access the legal system has been enshrined in the coffeehouse's mission statement: "The Legal Grind seeks to provide legal assistance to middle class people with ordinary problems," it says. "At the Legal Grind, working people can obtain answers to simple questions without paying large sums of money."
In addition to offering shelves of legal elf-help books and pamphlets for sale, Hughes has recruited several lawyers to donate their time one afternoon a week for one to two hours. Over a cup of the house blend (Guatemala Antigua and Espresso), customers can get free advice from lawyers during the scheduled hours.
According to a posted schedule, the current volunteers, who are mostly sole practitioners, include William Dolinski, Rae Lamothe, David Olan, Kent Ivey, Joe Longo, Eve Baker, Rebecca Holt, Mike Lyons and Liz Radosevic. The attorneys usually get coffee on the house, but sometimes a grateful advisee will treat, which makes Hughes a happier business owner.
Using the Legal Grind, his goal is to create a pleasant atmosphere that will make people more comfortable dealing with lawyers. "Conferring with an attorney over good coffee and pastries will make people realize that lawyers are people too!" says the coffeehouse's mission statement.
Although the Legal Grind has been open for only five months, Hughes already has an eye on expansion. He hopes to open another cafe in Orange County in the near future. Hughes says he will consider franchising if a dedicated candidate comes along.
In addition to operating the Legal Grind, Hughes, a 1992 graduate of Loyola Law School, maintains his law practice on the side. He practices estate planning law and small business advising as a sole practitioner in Santa Monica.
