Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Weatherby.
Andrew, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised right here in Houston by two wonderful parents who always encouraged me to make my own decisions, act with integrity, and speak up for what I believe in. I credit all of my achievements in life to these core values which my parents instilled in me at an early age.
I was privileged to earn both my bachelor’s and law degree from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. When I first began my college career, I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do in life or who I wanted to become. It wasn’t until my junior year that I seriously considered the idea of becoming a lawyer. I was taking a leadership seminar course taught by Kent Hance—Chancellor Emeritus of the Texas Tech University System—which featured live in-person interviews with prominent businessmen and women from all over the professional world. During one such interview, the conversation centered around the important role that lawyers serve in our communities as well as the common misconceptions we often have about them. I learned that attorneys have stood at the center of our society for centuries. They write the laws, rule the courts, and hold influential positions in government. I learned that attorneys are uniquely situated to impact top policy makers and leaders and to affect change around the globe. That was all I needed to hear. I was hooked. From that day forward, I committed all of my time and energy to become a lawyer and making a difference in the world around me.
While in law school, I developed a passion for public speaking and a reputation as a fierce courtroom advocate. I became a Moot Court Champion during my first year, received Top Oralist honors during my second year, and was selected to travel throughout the country and compete in national competitions during my third year. Outside of the classroom, I worked as an intern for the Innocence Project of Texas providing legal services to indigent prisoners serving time for crimes they did not commit. I also worked as a law clerk at a defense firm handling everything from federal white-collar crimes to high-profile capital murder cases. I believe each of these experiences helped prepare me to practice law at the highest level.
I opened Weatherby Echols Law Group with two of my law school classmates in 2015. Since that time our firm has remained passionate about finding the best legal solutions for our clients. I serve clients in a variety of civil matters, including commercial real estate, estate planning, corporate transactions and litigation. I pride myself on representing hard-working people who have been harmed by the conscious choices of others.
In my free time, I enjoy playing sports, traveling to new places, and spending time with my beautiful fiancé Ashley. We are currently busy planning our wedding in October 2020 and really looking forward to starting a family together one day.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Opening a law firm in Houston without any clients or staff meant the struggles were inevitable. When I first started, I thought finding new clients would be the biggest roadblock to establishing a viable practice. I had this preconceived notion that all attorneys needed to stick their face on a billboard or appear in a goofy commercial to find clients and achieve success. Lucky for me, this was not the case. As it turns out, there are far more Houstonians out there with legal needs than there are attorneys willing to offer legal solutions. I’ve received so many calls over the years from potential clients who are frustrated with the lack of attention shown by their previous attorney and wanting a more meaningful attorney-client relationship. My goal has always been to get to know my clients and their businesses on a personal level so that I can offer the most well-rounded and beneficial services possible. I believe that taking the time to develop these meaningful relationships has resulted in more repeat business from happy clients, more referrals, and a more rewarding career in general.
The biggest challenge so far has actually been determining the best way to grow and expand the business. Towards the end of my first year in business, I reached a point where I had so much work on my plate that I had no choice but to start turning away new business. I hated doing this. Like most attorneys, I opened a law practice in order to help people, not to turn them away because I was too busy. I desperately wanted to expand our operations in some way but couldn’t decide on the best manner of going about it. Should we hire some support staff? Should we upgrade to a bigger office? Can we realistically afford this? Like many entrepreneurs, I knew that expansion posed a significant financial risk to both the business and myself, and I certainly did not want to bite off more than I could chew. On the other hand, if we avoided all risks and decided not to grow the business, it would never reach its full potential. Ultimately, we chose a hybrid of these options by hiring part-time staff and only marginally upgrading the office. Although this is just one example, I find myself struggling with difficult long-term growth decisions like this one all the time.
Please tell us about Weatherby Echols Law Group.
Weatherby Echols Law Group is a real estate, estate planning, and corporate law firm committed to handling our clients’ matters in the most practical and efficient way possible without sacrificing quality. No matter what sort of case I’m working on, or how complex it may be, my clients know they can trust me to be honest, aggressive, and to provide individualized legal advice.
As a company, I am most proud of the fact that Weatherby Echols Law Group does not cut corners. There is nothing worse than an attorney who doesn’t take the time to understand their clients’ needs, develop the attorney-client relationship, or educate the client on the important issues that may ultimately decide the outcome of the case. Our attorneys take the time to understand and educate our clients at the very beginning of every single case.
I am personally known for my anticipation and preparation as an attorney. For example, when a client calls me looking to schedule an initial consultation on a completely new matter, I take time to gather many of the key details on this initial phone call so that I can research the relevant legal issues and prepare some options BEFORE the client arrives to our consultation. Because attorneys are often paid for their time on an hourly basis, most refuse to spend any time anticipating your needs or preparing for a consultation in fear that the client will not show up and the attorney’s time will be wasted. I believe this approach leads to longer, less-productive meetings for everybody. In my opinion, even if the attorney-client relationship never comes to fruition, spending time to research a new legal matter is an investment to becoming a more capable and well-rounded attorney in the future. By the end of our consultation, most of my clients can tell that I’ve already spent a considerable amount of time thinking about their needs and strategizing for their case. This reassures my clients that they are important to me and that I’m willing to invest the time and effort necessary to see the task through. I believe this sets me apart.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
One of my favorite childhood memories was attending the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. This was the most jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring cultural extravaganza that I’ve ever been a part of. I felt a magnificent sense of pride and patriotism throughout these Olympics as I watched our athletes accomplish what those from other countries could not. There’s just something so encouraging about seeing athletes fulfill their dreams and accomplish lifelong goals on such a global platform. I also had a great time learning about traditions from other countries, trying new food, and trading souvenir pins with people from around the world. I felt like I was a part of history.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4606 FM 1960 West, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77069
- Website: www.we-legal.com
- Phone: 2813158849
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WELegal/
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