Jurisdiction isn’t just a legal concept. It’s a destination that exists in the form of an eponymous curated boutique, Jurisdiction Clothing in Potomac, Maryland, owned by family law attorney Jessica Markham, founder of the Markham Law Firm. If you’re interested in learning what motivates a successful attorney to launch a second business venture outside the jurisdiction of her legal practice, or how lawyers with entrepreneurial side passions can do the same, read on.
Markham’s foray into ownership began when she founded her family law firm in 2015 which has since grown to 10 attorneys supported by a robust professional team. The firm handles the full spectrum of family law, including many matters other firms decline: international parental kidnapping, interstate custody disputes, appellate work, adoption and guardianship, domestic violence matters, and qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs). Unlike many law firm owners, Markham continues to actively practice law, trying cases, mentoring associates, teaching CLEs, and serving as a strategic resource within the firm. But Markham remains firm about boundaries, limiting herself and her team to 9-5 workweeks to avoid burnout.
As it would turn out, these boundaries weren’t limits but instead, the secret to more opportunity. After the firm hired a director of operations, Markham found herself working fewer hours without losing momentum. But she still had creative energy. And so she asked herself, “What already exists in my life that I love, understand, and do instinctively?”
The answer was fashion. For years, Markham had followed runway shows, read fashion publications, advised friends on purchases, and thought deeply about quality, longevity, and personal style. Fashion was not a distraction from her work; it was how she recharged.
Once Markham decided on a store as an outlet for her passion, the venture came together at a remarkable pace. First, Markham spoke with three boutique owners and an online-store owner to gather intelligence on the experience of starting and running a store. By February 2023, a month later, Markham had an online shop up and running but quickly realized that it did not provide the experience she wanted to create. So, in June, Markham pivoted to a brick-and-mortar boutique offering a personalized, relationship-based shopping experience that simply did not exist in the D.C. area. Jurisdiction Clothing opened in October 2023, just five months later — so quickly that Markham had to use her law firm as a staging area for clothes until the store could obtain necessary permits to open.
To run the store’s day-to-day operations, Markham hired a store manager who was introduced by a friend. The store is also staffed by part-time staff and college students during the holidays. Turnover is minimal since employees are paid above market, offered benefits, and given stability unusual in retail.
Lawyers in the local community are a source of business, as is foot traffic in the busy shopping center where the store is located. Jurisdiction also hosts after-hours gatherings that combine shopping with community and philanthropy. Customers select charities to receive a percentage of proceeds. Instead of traditional Black Friday discounts, the store directs funds to local nonprofits, reinforcing values over volume.
I interviewed Markham at Jurisdiction, which gave me a firsthand look at the boutique’s jam-packed collection of distinctive clothing — items rarely found in chain stores — and the surprisingly wide selection for such a small shop. The space is also stuffed with accessories purchased from women-owned brands and other unique gift items. The store had several customers while I was there and I watched as Andi, the store manager, skillfully offered personalized feedback and suggestions to them. The store features a neon sign, “We are all beautiful,” which Markham said reflects the store’s philosophy.
Law firm owners like Markham have unique advantages in other entrepreneurial spaces. In Markham’s view, running a law firm is, in many ways, more complex than running a store, with more moving parts, higher stakes, and constant ethical and operational demands. But that complexity also builds transferable skills. Success in both environments depends on understanding people, using data, leveraging technology, and – critically — knowing when and how to delegate.
Markham’s story underscores a broader point: law firm ownership can be a foundation, not a constraint. The same skills that allow lawyers to build sustainable practices — judgment, discipline, delegation, and an understanding of people — can also support passion projects beyond the law. For lawyers who have imagined a life outside the jurisdiction of the law, Markham’s experience is a reminder that it is attainable.
Carolyn Elefant is one of the country’s most recognized advocates for solo and small firm lawyers. She founded MyShingle.com in 2002, the longest-running blog for solo practitioners, where she has published thousands of articles, resources, and guides on starting, running, and growing independent law practices. She is the author of Solo by Choice, widely regarded as the definitive handbook for launching and sustaining a law practice, and has spoken at countless bar events and legal conferences on technology, innovation, and regulatory reform that impacts solos and smalls. Elefant also develops practical tools like the AI Teach-In to help small firms adopt AI and she consistently champions reforms to level the playing field for independent lawyers. Alongside this work, she runs the Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant, a national energy and regulatory practice that handles selective complex, high-stakes matters.
