Attorney James Helm, founder of TopDog Law, learned swiftly at the start of his career that true success would come from fulfilling his purpose. This first test of his mettle led him to a career in law that focused on legal advocacy and the personal healing of his clients.
Rejecting Conventional Success
During his last year of law school, Helm received a prestigious job offer from a Philadelphia law firm and was poised to accept it. Yet, he described himself as feeling hollow when he delivered the news to his parents. Helm recognized that he was on a path that would “validate” him in the eyes of others, but that wouldn’t fulfill him. He made the difficult but essential decision to follow what he felt was his calling.
“When I told them I was declining the offer to start my own firm, my mother said something I’ll never forget: ‘James, the strength you’ve shown throughout your life is the same strength that will make you successful in whatever you choose.’ That conversation, standing in my parents’ kitchen, gave me the courage to launch TopDog Law,” Helm says.
Personal fulfillment was much more important to him than financial security, but by following his heart, he found both. TopDog Law has now grown into a national marketing network that collaborates with attorneys across the United States.
Empowerment Through Empathy
Helm believes that the events of his life and the challenges he faced were “preparation for my true purpose.” Because he had lived through his darkest moments, he gained the empathy to help and connect with those going through tough times.
Helm earned his Juris Doctorate and MBA simultaneously, pushing himself academically and cultivating two traits that helped him build a successful firm: discipline and work ethic.
Starting TopDog Law wasn’t easy. Helm had to build his firm from nothing and overcome many obstacles. He had to deal with the challenges of financial uncertainty, build a client base, and establish his credibility in a very high-pressure industry.
By embracing his past and being his authentic self, Helm was able to connect with his clients and gain a good reputation.
“My approach to overcoming obstacles has always been rooted in honesty and vulnerability. By ‘sharing my scars,’ as I like to say, I’ve turned potential liabilities into strengths,” Helm says.
Community-Driven Legal Practice
Helm is passionate about offering personalized representation to his clients. His mission is to lead a successful law firm and be a positive force for change. Helm aspires to expand TopDog Firm to include youth sports abuse cases.
He also hopes to create a foundation that will provide support services for young adults whose lives have been upended by unexpected events.
Helm stands staunchly with his clients. He talks about one experience where one of his clients expected Helm to pass judgment on him when he related his story but was instead met with compassion and understanding. Helm explains that the transformation from shame to hope in the client’s eyes was confirmation that he was where he was most needed.
Looking forward, Helm plans to continue using his law firm to advocate for injured people and help his community.
“Having experienced firsthand how life can take unexpected turns, I want to create pathways forward for others,” Helm concludes.
