Lauren A. Cohen is one of those lawyers who we love to watch to see what she’s doing next — because she’s always doing something new. She is the owner of Law Offices of Lauren Cohen, a family law firm based in Chicago, US. We admire how fearless Lauren is in trying new ways to run a more efficient practice and provide effective services to clients.
What is Family Law? Family Law focuses on finding solutions to issues relating to often complex legal relationships. These include marriage and parenthood among others. For this reason, family law practice can involve work with varying groups from children to the elderly and any others in between.
Lauren A. Cohen was kind enough to grant us a brief interview and answer a few questions about her practice.
In your own words, what do you do?
I am a Family Law attorney in Illinois, and I own my practice, Law Offices of Lauren A. Cohen. I handle a wide range of issues such as divorce, child support, allocation of parental responsibilities and decision-making authority (formerly known as custody), parenting time (formerly known as visitation), pre-nuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements, grandparent visitation, post-secondary educational expenses, enforcement, removal, maintenance (formerly known as alimony), modification, and orders of protection. I do not believe there is any winning or losing in a Family Law matter. These issues are sensitive to all parties involved, and each case must be dealt with on an individual basis. My goal is to help each client reach a level of happiness that he or she was not achieving prior to my representation.
With so many different types of law to practice why is it that you chose family law? Have you ever considered practicing a different type of law?
Toward the end of my first year of law school, my friend asked me if I wanted to try and clerk at the Family Law firm she worked at. I walked over to the office with her to see if her two bosses needed any additional assistance for the summer. Really, I had no idea what Family Law was at the time. Needless to say, I worked there for a while and am still in the Family Law field eight years later. I have never been able to specifically pinpoint why I like Family Law so much. However, it just clicked. Maybe it had something to do with the constant human interaction? Maybe it had to do with the idea that Family Law attorneys are also therapists? Maybe I liked hearing other people’s problems and learning from them? Maybe it was the storytelling? Maybe because it’s so personal, real, and raw? Maybe it’s because of the friendships you make along the way – especially because I’m a people person? I actually have no idea. What I do know is that I love it, as stressful as it can get, I wouldn’t trade in my connections, experiences, friendships, and days in this field for anything else.
When I first opened my practice, I anticipated taking on other types of cases outside of Family Law. I figured I would give it a shot. Maybe a month later, I retracted that idea as nothing else gave me the same type of feeling.
You have accomplished quite a bit in your career. What does the future hold for you as an attorney? Is there anything you want to accomplish that you haven’t?
I never know what the future holds. I am also really superstitious; if I say what I think the future will hold, I will jinx myself. All I hope for is that my business continues to grow and prosper. There were several people who told me I was too young to start my own practice or portrayed a sense of doubt when they found out my next move. However, my business has significantly grown each and every year, and I just hope that it continues to flourish in the future. For accomplishment purposes, I really want to write a book. I think it would be really cool to put
something out there for people to read for comedy, lessons, and guidance. Seeing this possible future book on the New York Times Best Sellers list would be surreal.
What sort of advice would you give to someone following in your footsteps? Are there certain things students should know about being a family law attorney before they start their career?
Be real. Don’t make everything about the money. Be honest. That’s it. If you do those things, you’ll be unlike the others.
What unsolicited advice do you have for other lawyers who operate their own practices? What inspired you to start your own family law firm?
My unsolicited advice to other lawyers who operate their own practice would be to reduce your overhead. I constantly hear owners worrying about the cost associated with running a business. Just keep it minimal. At the end of the day, a fancy office at the top of a skyscraper in the Chicago Loop is nice, but I, personally, do not think that’s what takes it home for a client to sign your Retainer Agreement.
Starting my own practice was due to the sole fact that I could not work for anyone else anymore. It 100% follows that phrase, “When you know, you know.” I knew. I had to go and do what I knew I was capable of doing.
Share with us some tips on how to become a happier and healthier person.
SELF CARE! If you don’t take care of yourself, you will burn out. I spin at a studio almost every day, and I plan my entire day around it. Some people may think that’s unusual, but it gives me a sense of relief and happiness. In the past couple of years, I have become infatuated with understanding the concepts behind healthy/clean eating, exercise, skincare, etc. Learning the ins and outs of all of that has made me concentrate more on myself as a person, and, in turn, makes me feel better. Also, I love to travel. I can’t describe the feeling I get when I am lost in a unique country. There’s something about traveling that’s freeing and calming to me, and I’ll never stop exploring no matter what age. On all of our trips, we do at least one cultural “tour.” We spend the entire day with the indigenous people where we learn their skills, communicate with them in whatever manner we can, listen to their stories and background, and see their homes.
This is the best part and makes me the happiest. Everyone is the same no matter where you are. Whether it’s someone on the subway in London or an indigenous woman living deep in the Amazon in Brazil. Making connections with people I, never in a zillion years would ever think would be anything other than descriptions in a social studies textbook to me, has really been eye-opening and quite an honor. I’ll never forget that when my husband and I were at a cooking class in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the woman teaching us how to cook her meals was also telling me about her child support issue. I was really mind blown that I was in a country 8,500 miles away talking to someone about a child support issue. No matter where someone lives, all people are the same. I could probably go on forever about traveling, but my answer, I’m sure is already too long!
Who have been your own biggest mentors and what is the best advice they ever gave you?
Right after I took the Illinois Bar Exam, I worked for a former Domestic Relations Judge. He opened his practice maybe about a year and a half before I started working for him. He told me to always call people back no matter what. He also told me that the worst attorneys are the ones who don’t ask their questions – so always ask. That’s the best advice and so accurate for any type of profession.
If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career, what would it be?
Trust your gut. Your instinct is never wrong.
If you could go back by ten years, what would be some of the top tips you would give our audience?
Be careful on social media. What you put online is there forever. You never know who is watching, and you do not want a silly Instagram story to ruin a potential career. I know now that all potential employers are looking at Instagram or Facebook to get more intel on a candidate. I know I, personally, have done the same during my search for law clerks. Even if something is completely a joke, it can really make an employer think twice about hiring.
Do you believe in destiny or do you think you can control your fate?
I believe everything happens for a reason. Someone really intelligent once told me that if you always try to control everything in your life, then that tells you that you are always worried. If you are always worried, then you are not living in the present. I try to keep this in mind and just know what happens, happens and to take one step at a time. Things will fall into place and will happen because they are, or are not, supposed to.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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