CHRISTOPHER SPROWLS
criminal work. But now that I’m practicing, I’m realizing 80–85 percent of the work is criminal defense. The economics are better on the criminal side, so that’s good for the business model.” Cash flow is key: several of the PLSI attorneys take on document review work to pay the bills. When a friend from undergraduate days joined PLSI, Attisano found a partner. Robert Stasa, ’14, specializes in ethics and disciplinary board work, resolving issues in character and fitness examinations for bar candidates. “Our practices are somewhat complementary,” Attisano says. “And his potential clients are our classmates. That’s a natural fit.” With a high profile among young attorneys for her community service to the Allegheny County Bar Association and the Schenley Heights Community Development Program, Quinntarra Morant is now rebranding as a solo practitioner after working with the Department of the Treasury and PNC. Her umbrella business covers several specialties: estate planning, non-profit counsel, small business formation and tax planning. “Paula made a presentation at our diversity collaborative meeting. I followed up,” she says. “After much consideration, I felt the timing and the unique opportunity was something I should explore.” Morant, age 30, says the PLSI emphasizes building a sustainable practice. “As attorneys, we’re always thinking about the legal side,” she says. “The incubator brings home that you’re running a business.” With the help of Oded Green and David Lehman, ’85, K&L Gates attorneys who work with the law school’s Innovation Practice Institute, she is cultivating small business clients. Hopkins says that mentoring from Pitt Law alumni is an essential part of the PLSI approach. “Kord Kinney was
Pictured left to right: Paula Hopkins and Marco Attisano, Kord Kinney, Robert Stasa, Quinntara Morant and Vanessa Love
Criminal defense attorney Marco Attisano, age 31, served as an Assistant DA with Allegheny County’s District Attorney’s office for a year and a half before applying for the PLSI with a goal of broadening his practice to civil cases. Since January, he’s gotten a taste of both. When attorney Vicki Kuftic Horne, ’82, lost an associate to maternity leave, she contacted Attisano, who took second chair in a civil jury trial. Horne had met Attisano when she made a presentation about her own solo practice to PLSI attorneys in February. For a federal case, criminal attorney Efrem Grail, another volunteer presenter, requested his assistance. Referrals created other clients. “It’s been a good mix of experience,” Attisano says. “My original business plan included both civil and
representing the defendant in a protection from abuse case. [Criminal defense and family law attorney] Jeffrey Pollock, ’87, took time to walk him through it, and has also offered Vanessa Love the opportunity to shadow one of his custody cases. Vanessa has also increased her substantive law knowledge by doing pro bono work with Neighborhood Legal Services, working with Cathy Martin, ’78.” Hopkins says she welcomes more volunteer mentors in the community. “The support of Pitt Law alumni is critical to our success,” she says. PLSI began accepting applications for this year’s participants on Oct. 1, 2016.