What do an attorney and an actor have in common? Most of the time – nothing. But in the case of Carlos Morrow, they are one and the same. “After working as a prosecutor, I decided to become a screen actor.” Morrow explains. Pursuing a passion like acting while also maintaining a law practice would be impossible for most attorneys. “That is a very hectic schedule. I can get called in for an audition with less than one day’s notice,” he says. So, he began searching for opportunities to continue practicing law – and found flexibility in an unexpected place.
The Need for Flexibility and Early Career Challenges
Carlos’ early years in law were a variety of roles – big firms, prosecution and other matters. “I had to work for a lot of different law firms because I had a unique lifestyle [working as a screen actor] and I had to take on work with a flexible schedule. And that made it very difficult for me,” he recalls. The instability was compounded by harsh work environments. “A lot of these older lawyers thought: ‘Here’s a young, naive man that I can work to the bone.’”
This approach, while necessary to grow his career, exposed him to the challenges of being a young lawyer in the industry: among others, inconsistent pay and lack of benefits. Despite these hurdles, Carlos gained valuable experience, the diversity of legal practices and insight into the workings of the legal industry.
Finding a Turning Point in ARAG
“Everything changed when a friend who is an ARAG legal plan member told me about applying to be a network attorney. He said, ‘Why don’t you try being a lawyer [on ARAG’s attorney network]. Then you can be your own boss.’ … After a while, I decided to just try it out,” Carlos shares.
The result? A stream of clients sent to him by ARAG, with no fees and no marketing
investment required. “It provided me a stable income and flexibility so that I didn’t need to work for someone else anymore, I could sustain myself, then grow my practice and then advance my other pursuits.”
Add Flexibility to Your Practice With ARAG
Building a Practice – and a Life – On His Own Terms
ARAG didn’t just offer financial stability; it gave Carlos the confidence to expand his expertise. “When I first started out, I only felt comfortable doing small landlord tenant matters and some consumer fraud matters. Now I handle complex consumer fraud and debt collection. And every once in a while, I’ll get a personal injury referral from ARAG, and that’s very wonderful as well,” he says. “It’s really helped me become a truly independent litigator.”
In addition to enabling flexibility as he grew his practice, Carlos appreciates partnering with a company that is improving access to justice. “The big benefit that ARAG provides, I believe, is that the mass public cannot afford an attorney. Legal insurance provides attorneys and legal advice for individuals who otherwise wouldn’t have stood a chance finding a law office to represent them. And it’s actually a net public good for society, because the truth is there’s such a need and there’s such a want for quality legal advice,” he says.
With ARAG, Carlos described his approach as a hybrid between volume-based and premium-based legal work. “There’ll be some cases that I can resolve in one day and then there’ll be other cases that take me seven months to a year” He credits ARAG’s attorney portal for helping him “hone it through that system,” picking cases that fit his expertise and schedule.
Work-Life Balance, Creativity and Advice for Attorneys
Most importantly, ARAG’s flexibility has allowed Carlos to pursue his creative passions. “Now with the money I’m making with ARAG, I am starting to film and produce a mini-series based off of real experiences I’ve had as a lawyer. I’m extremely grateful.”
And the flexibility of working with ARAG is second to none for Carlos. “It’s allowed me to work from home. I’m able to work on my own schedule. If I want to travel and I have to work while I travel, no problem. If I have to take a day off, no problem,” he says. “It’s turned me into a businessman, and I never realized my love for being an entrepreneur.”
For attorneys considering a similar path, Carlos’ advice is clear: “Don’t be afraid to be your own boss. Just try it. Give yourself a shot. Start steady. Just have one or two cases. Learn the system, then grow it to five. Learn how the billing works, learn how the clients work, learn how to move the cases. Then you can move from 5 to 10, 10 to 15, and so on.”
Carlos’ journey is a testament to the power of flexibility, resilience and the right support system. Through ARAG, he’s built a thriving practice, diversified his skills and found balance between his legal career and creative passions. His story is proof that attorneys can redefine success on their own terms – sometimes with a little help from a network that supports their journey.
