Ozarks Elder Law expands to Republic

The office total for a Springfield-based law firm is nearing double digits in southwest Missouri with this month’s new opening in Republic.

Ozarks Elder Law owner and managing attorney Lori Rook said the firm launched its ninth office Feb. 1 at 255 W. U.S. Highway 60, Ste. 255. She said the office fills 1,400 square feet in Plaza Southwest Retail Center that previously housed Sunshine & Daisies Boutique, which is now focused solely on e-commerce.

“Now, we have two offices in Greene County, but that office does touch more down into the Lawrence County area,” Rook said, pointing to the towns of Aurora and Marionville. “We get feedback from clients calling in from those areas asking what the closest office is to them. So, we realized we had a little bit of a hole there.”

She declined to disclose startup costs or lease terms with Plaza Southwest LLC, noting the Republic office is currently open to clients by appointment only.

Clientele for Ozarks Elder Law’s legal services, which include estate and asset planning protection, is older adults and people who are disabled. Rook said the company employs 27, including six attorneys.

The Republic office opening follows the firm’s expansion into Polk County last year. Rook said Ozarks Elder Law began operating about a year ago in temporary space at 910 E. San Martin St. in Bolivar. That was preceded by the 9-year-old firm adding Lebanon and Branson offices in late 2019, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. It also has offices in Springfield, Nixa, Ozark, Joplin and Marshfield.

“We’ve always said we want to be accessible to people,” Rook said, adding she has no current plans to further expand the firm’s footprint. “We don’t ever want getting on the highway to come to Springfield to be a barrier.”