After moving to Santa Maria in 2005, Tennessean Tyler Gross studied music business at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. With that experience under his belt—and one-on-one time spent with some big names in the industry—Gross decided he wanted to become an entertainment lawyer.
In a recent interview with the Sun, the entrepreneur said he knew people who “got taken advantage of through contracts and endorsements, because once you’ve signed a contract, you’re done.”
But it’s not just high-power entertainers Gross is interested in representing.
“I believe in equal rights under the law for everyone,” he said.
From 2009 to 2012, Gross ran his own processing business, Tried and True Legal Services, and he also worked for several local law firms and obtained degrees in paralegal studies and psychology from Kaplan University.
Now he’s taking everything he’s learned and launching At Your Service Legal, a high quality, low-cost legal services provider.
“I really believe in our justice system and how it works,” Gross said, adding that he wants to make sure all the legal documents he encounters are filled out and filed correctly.
As a legal document assistant, Gross helps his clients with their divorce petitions and small claims forms, and he can also format various legal documents for those who might not have the time or know-how to do it themselves.
“I give my clients a questionnaire packet for them to fill out … and then I take the information and put it in the right areas on the [legal] forms,” he explained. “That’s the most confusing part because the forms are complicated and kind of disorganized.”
When this reporter was talking to Gross, a woman called asking for advice on software copyright. Based on his training, Gross isn’t allowed to give legal advice, but he does have connections with several local attorneys—including those at Comstock and Wagner, where Gross did his first internship—who can give free consultations and other services.
“I can’t answer a lot of the ‘Can I?’ questions: ‘Can I keep the kids?’ ‘Can I keep my business’” Gross said.
He also believes that such legal services should be affordable for everyone.
“We work with everyone regardless of their ability to pay,” he said. “We can do a payment plan or reduced fees. Sometimes I’ll even do pro bono work.”
Gross said he plans to take about two to three pro bono cases a month, which will be selected based on financial need.
In June, he will start studying for his juris doctorate at William Howard Taft Law School, and he’ll take the California Bar Exam so he can provide the entire range of legal services.
There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and meet and greet at the At Your Service Legal office, 920 S. Broadway, Suite, in Santa Maria on April 24 at 4 p.m. featuring food and door prizes.
Alexis Stuart, candidate for U.S. Representative of the 24th Congressional District, will be in attendance to meet constituents and welcome At Your Service Legal to the Santa Maria business community.
More information, including a blog and downloadable legal forms, is available at atyourservicelegal.com.
Highlights
• The California State Board of Equalization (BOE) was scheduled to discuss what types of manufacturing and research and development equipment qualify for a 4.1875 percent partial tax exemption during its April 22 meeting in Sacramento.
“For years, California has been losing manufacturing jobs to other states,” Board of Equalization Member George Runner said in a press release. “This new tax exemption will help us in the fight to win back these good-paying jobs. It’s vital to our economy we get this right.”
The sales and use tax exemption, which takes effect July 1, 2014, represents the largest component of the governor’s Economic Development Initiative. The board was expected to vote on whether to authorize publication of the proposed regulation.
Managing Editor Amy Asman wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, email, or mail.
This article appears in Apr 24 – May 1, 2014.