Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Proos.
Hi Eric, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey to a legal career started when I was young. Unfortunately, my family was the victim of a workplace shooting in Royal Oak, Michigan, where I lost my mother. Immediately following the incident, our case was rejected by numerous law firms, stating it would be “too difficult” or “unwinnable.” This inspired me to understand the legalities behind it.
After college, I decided to pursue law school. It was during law school that I found my passion for helping businesses and commercial real estate professionals, and I’m proud to say I work on deals and with companies that have been pushed aside by the traditional legal world.
Eight years after starting my own law firm, EJP Law, I merged and created a new firm, Next Era Legal, PLLC, with my partner Jeff Monahan. We focus on providing fractional general counsel services to our business and commercial real estate clients. We took all the things we did not like from traditional legal and did the exact opposite, making a firm that is well equipped to go into the Next Era.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I firmly believe that nothing worth it has a “smooth road.” Of course, there have been the ups and downs of operating a business, especially a law firm where we are hired for our knowledge and advice. Some of the struggles were the same as other business owners experience, finding my true identity and not only living that truth, but working it as well.
I’m unlike many lawyers, I didn’t come from a family of lawyers, and I certainly do not talk like one. When I first started in law, I thought I had to assimilate into the culture and legalese. However, my direct, business-first counsel is what our clients love about our work, and that is part of the reason we are brought in as part of the C-suite with our clientele.
As you know, we’re big fans of Next Era Legal. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Next Era Legal is more than a law firm. It’s a firm that understands the ebbs and flows of an owner’s journey because we are entrepreneurs ourselves. We undertand the frustration that goes into getting a different legal bill each month and how hard that is to budget.
We also know what it’s like not to have proactive counsel on our side. It’s because of all of this that we created our fractional general counsel model. There are a lot of firms that call themselves fractional general counsel, but once you dig into it, it’s nothing more than flat fee work for contracts and reactive guidance.
We take a hands-on approach, work across all departments, with the C-suite, and provide reports and legal operations like a true in-house counsel. We do all of this on a part-time basis and a flat monthly fee based on an extensive discovery period and a lot of back-and-forth with our clients.
Next Era Legal is a law firm that deviates from traditional legal and was created with the future in mind. The future of technology, legal guidance, how businesses obtain their legal advice, and the pain points companies experience with traditional legal. Next Era Legal was specifically formed for the next era of legal.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was, first and foremost, the kid who was always on the move. My childhood was defined by being outside: I spent my entire time begging my dad to let me go down the street to play as soon as the sun came up, and I wouldn’t come back until it was dark and dinner was on the table.
That constant energy was immediately channeled into sports. I was, and still am, a total sports nut. I played multiple sports, including baseball, hockey, and golf, and it wasn’t just casual. I spent endless hours playing street hockey and later became the captain on most of my organized teams, which culminated in leading my high school baseball team to a state championship. That dedication to team and success has always been a fundamental part of who I am.
Personality-wise, I’ve always been a mix. I’m always ready with a bit of sarcasm and humor. But beneath that exterior, I tend to be a little closed off, reserved, really, until I truly know the person or they know me well. That trait is still part of who I am, and I’ve grown to love and appreciate that selective approach to connection instead of being critical of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nexteralegal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nexteralegal/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericproos/
- Twitter: https://x.com/NextEraLegal
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextEraLegal
Image Credits
Vizco Marketing
