Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Shayan Depatie
Hi Nina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was always interested in helping people get through difficult times in their lives, whether on an individual basis or with others in their family. When I was young, I used to read about difficult experiences that people went through to try and understand how I could later help someone in a similar position. Looking back, I’m surprised my mother wasn’t more concerned about my reading choices!
In high school, I volunteered for Teenline, where we were trained to listen and help teenagers dealing with issues ranging from verbal altercations to self-harm. In college, I volunteered at the courthouse’s Domestic Abuse Self Help (DASH) center. I was tasked with drafting declarations for victims of domestic violence so they could get their story across to the judge.
In undergrad, I majored in psychology and legal studies, which opened my eyes to the work that I could do as an attorney. Family law seemed to be a natural extension of my interests. Midway through law school, however, I was talked out of it by mentors who thought it was too emotionally taxing, so I pivoted towards real estate and worked for a publicly-traded real estate company after graduation. A few months into that job though, I realized it wasn’t what I wanted to do and that I had to give family law a shot or else I’d regret it forever. So I quit real estate and made the pivot back to family law.
When I left a good job with a publicly-traded REIT, I’m sure a few people thought I was making a mistake, but it was the best decision I could’ve made. I was then able to cut my teeth with two well-established family law firms, became partner at a larger firm, and then started my own practice.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There are challenges and setbacks on every road, but instead of harping on them, I try to change my perspective. For example, I first thought that my detour into real estate had been a waste of time, yet today that knowledge is incredibly valuable when dealing with divorce cases involving real property, as is often the case in Los Angeles.
Taking the time to reflect and think about difficult experiences and how I can do things differently next time is an important process to me. I was let go from my first family law job, which was very difficult. In hindsight, however, there were signs early on that the role was not the right fit. That experience taught me to think more deliberately about the work that I wanted to do and the environment that I wanted to work in.
Ultimately, that door closing opened up a new opportunity for me that propelled my legal career. It also gave me a better perspective on the type of work culture that I want to foster and the type of employer that I want to be.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Shayan Family Law is a family law firm based out of Los Angeles. While I’m grateful for my prior work experiences, it was important to me to build a firm where I could take on clients whose causes I am passionate about and to offer the highest level of service and accessibility.
I’m involved in every case, I know my clients personally, and I get to build meaningful relationships with them. The divorce process is hard enough as it is, so it’s important for me to make sure that clients know that they are not alone and have a team behind them as they embark on a new chapter in their lives.
The firm’s motto is “advocates for new beginnings” and it’s something that we take to heart and that resonates with clients. Going through a divorce, figuring out custody schedules, getting out of abusive relationships, and re-learning how to survive financially on your own are difficult circumstances to navigate. Pushing through can be difficult, but there’s a fresh start on the other side. We’re here to help people get to that new beginning.
Whether it’s helping soon-to-be newlyweds get their prenups finalized to focus on the fun parts of wedding planning or whether it’s ensuring that children receive adequate support and care after a divorce, it’s rewarding to be able to make a positive impact on my clients’ lives.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Finding a good mentor is the hardest part and probably what I value the most. Being active in the community, reaching out to people, and helping your peers when you can are all good ways to build true and sincere relationships. The more people you build relationships with, the more resources you will have available to help you. In fact, you don’t need one mentor for everything; you can foster relationships with all different kinds of people and they can each provide something small and different and it will add up all the same.
Ultimately, I believe in paying it forward. The best networking isn’t the traditional type, which feels very transactional. I find it far more rewarding and beneficial to build real relationships with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shayanlegal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shayanfamilylaw/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Shayan-Family-Law-APC/61551058262329/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShayanFamilyLaw
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/shayan-family-law-apc-los-angeles
Image Credits
Olena Seregina
