I often tell this story as a fun anecdote: near the end of high school, I told my family I had decided to enroll in Law School. Nothing unusual there - until I added, “But I’ll never practice law as an attorney”.
I honestly cannot remember what inspired that bold and completely inaccurate statement, but I do remember how joining the legal clinic during studies sparked a passion in me for practicing law. From that point on, I knew - this is my calling and it is the only thing I want to do.
As a trainee, and later as a young lawyer, I had the chance to work with great people. I learned a lot from them - not just about the law, but also about business and people - and I will always be grateful for that.
Milan and I spent a lot of time preparing to start our own law firm. As someone who is used to assessing risk in other people’s ventures, we were very careful when shaping our future firm. And then the decision to start PR Legal came naturally - the timing felt right, and we were both ready.
PR Legal carries more than just our initials. It represents dedication, consistency, and a lot of hard work. And not just the work we do for our clients - but the work we do on ourselves, too. That was the only way to keep up with what clients needed and expected. Building PR Legal’s presence on the market took a lot of effort – a process that helped Milan and me grow into better managers of our business.
Over time, PR Legal became more than just what the two of us had individually contributed. It grew into a recognizable name in the legal services market. Our team grew, our internal organization evolved, the work became more complex, and we looked proudly at the long-term relationships we had with clients. It was clear that a new phase of our business was coming.
When Ivan reached out two years ago with an idea to join forces, I had a strong feeling it was the right move. Milan and I were aware that while our growth had been steady, it was also slow. And we knew PR Legal had the potential to take a bigger step.
I have known Ivan since elementary school. He was the top student in our class - always prepared, quick to think, and a good friend to everyone. We went through high school and law school side by side. Our professional paths were very similar. When he brought up the idea of teaming up, I already had full trust in him. Milan trusted my judgment, and we began exploring the idea together.
The talks went smoothly. We approached the whole process with care and responsibility, as we always do, and almost a year ago, we reached a final agreement. Once again, a big decision came naturally because the timing was right - this time, PR Legal was ready.
The preparation process was detailed and multi-layered - setting up a new office space and relocating, shaping the initial business plan, preparing our teams and managing expectations.
And now it is official - the new PR Legal has opened its doors with a team of 20+ brilliant lawyers and dedicated colleagues in supporting roles, in a modern and welcoming space in the city center, with me serving as Managing Partner of the firm. The high school version of me would be very surprised by this turn of events.
I am truly proud of everything we have done so far, especially of the fact that we have brought PR Legal into the league where it truly belongs. I know this next phase will be exciting and challenging, but I also know we are ready. The fact that the decision felt right gives me a lot of confidence and optimism as we move forward.
PR Legal · Building Better Together
Author:
Ivana Ružičić, Managing Partner
Email: ivana.ruzicic@prlegal.rs