Abby Bakos - She Sold Her House to Start a Law Firm | Now She’s a Top Chicago Real Estate & Civil Rights Attorney

What does it take to bet on yourself when everything is on the line? She Sold Her House to Start a Law Firm | Now She’s a Top Chicago Real Estate & Civil Rights Attorney!In this powerful episode of the People Not Titles Podcast, host Steve Kaempf sits down with Abby Bakos, founder of Bakos Law and one of Chicagoland’s most respected real estate and civil rights attorneys.Abby’s story is not one of privilege or pedigree. She paid her own way through school, battled impostor syndrome in law school, and built her legal career from grit, discipline, and relentless hard work.At one point, she sold her own house to fund her dream of launching a law firm. Today, she leads a thriving Chicago-based practice focused on real estate law, estate planning, and high-stakes civil rights litigation — representing both professionals and individuals seeking justice.In this episode, we discuss:• Overcoming impostor syndrome in law school • The courage to pivot careers mid-journey • How to build a Chicago law firm from scratch • Why communication is the #1 issue in real estate transactions • The truth about civil rights litigation • Scaling a law practice while protecting integrity • Entrepreneurship lessons for real estate professionals • How grit and discipline separate winners from the rest If you’re a real estate agent, investor, entrepreneur, law student, or business owner — this conversation will challenge and inspire you.Full episodes available at:www.peoplenottitles.comPeople, Not Titles podcast is hosted by Steve Kaempf and is dedicated to lifting up professionals in the real estate and business community. Our Success Series highlights the principles that help leaders thrive.Follow & Connect:Website: www.peoplenottitles.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peoplenottitles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peoplenottitles Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/sjkaempf Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uu5kTv Subscribe for more conversations with top performers in Chicago real estate, law, and entrepreneurship.00:00 – Intro: Meet Abby Bakos | From Grit to Growth01:45 – Choosing Law School Without a Legal Background04:20 – Switching Majors & Finding Political Science06:30 – Paying Her Way Through College & LSAT Struggles08:50 – Impostor Syndrome in Law School11:15 – Discovering Civil Rights Law & The Fourth Amendment14:40 – Why Civil Rights Attorneys Don’t Do It for the Money17:30 – Starting Her Own Law Firm & Taking the Leap20:10 – Selling Her House to Fund the Business23:00 – Building a Chicago Real Estate Law Practice25:40 – Why Communication Matters in Real Estate Closings28:10 – Real Estate Market Trends in Chicagoland30:30 – Agents, Commissions & Industry Changes32:50 – Balancing Real Estate, Estate Planning & Civil Rights35:10 – Scaling the Firm & Hiring a Team37:00 – Daily Routine, Discipline & Mindset39:10 – Handling Stress & Entrepreneurial Pressure41:20 – Advice for Entrepreneurs Ready to Go All In42:45 – Final Thoughts & Closing Message43:43 – Outro#ChicagoRealEstate#ChicagoAttorney#EntrepreneurMindset#CivilRightsLaw#BusinessSuccess