In the high-stakes world of corporate law, where billable hours dictate life, one attorney has quietly built a parallel empire from his passion for fashion. Meet Andrew Defrancesco, a New York-based lawyer who transformed his weekend thrift shopping into a six-figure eBay side hustle. According to a recent profile in Business Insider, Defrancesco’s venture, dubbed ‘Fashionably Legal,’ now generates $120,000 annually, all while he maintains his full-time legal practice.

Defrancesco’s journey began innocently enough during law school, scouring thrift stores for vintage menswear to supplement his wardrobe on a budget. What started as personal flips on eBay evolved into a streamlined operation sourcing high-end designer items from estate sales, clearances, and online auctions. He specializes in brands like Gucci, Prada, and vintage Levi’s, reselling them at markups that reflect his keen eye for value and market trends.

The Thrift-to-Profit Pipeline

Key to his success is a disciplined sourcing strategy. Defrancesco spends weekends visiting up to 10 thrift locations, using apps to scan barcodes and check real-time eBay comps. ‘I treat it like legal research—meticulous and data-driven,’ he told Business Insider. This approach yields profit margins of 50% or more on items bought for $20 and sold for $100-plus.

Beyond sourcing, logistics play a crucial role. He photographs items professionally in a home studio, crafts detailed listings with SEO-optimized titles, and ships via USPS for efficiency. Automation tools handle inventory tracking, allowing him to manage the hustle in just 10-15 hours weekly, fitting seamlessly around court appearances and client meetings.

Navigating Legal and Entrepreneurial Dualities

As a lawyer, Defrancesco is acutely aware of the legal pitfalls in e-commerce. He emphasizes compliance with eBay’s policies on authenticity, avoiding counterfeits through rigorous vetting. A piece in Yahoo Style Canada echoes this, quoting him: ‘Having a side hustle just changes your mental makeup—knowing that you don’t have to rely specifically on a 9-to-5 job that could end tomorrow.’

This mindset resonates amid 2025’s economic uncertainties, where layoffs in Big Law have pushed many attorneys toward diversification. Posts on X highlight similar stories, like a laid-off lawyer projecting $1M from his solo firm, as shared by user Miss EsqHire, underscoring the push for financial independence.

2025 Trends Fueling Legal Side Hustles

Broadening the lens, entrepreneurship among lawyers is booming. A report from EsquireX notes that economic shifts and work-life balance desires are driving attorneys to side projects. Whether consulting, content creation, or e-commerce, these ventures offer autonomy. Defrancesco’s story aligns with this, as he leverages his legal acumen for business contracts and IP protection.

Recent news from CNBC advises trademarking as a ‘bare minimum’ step, something Defrancesco did early for ‘Fashionably Legal.’ Intellectual property lawyer Darlene Harris stresses: ‘Having a trademark is like owning the deed to your house.’

Scaling Without Quitting the Day Job

Defrancesco has scaled thoughtfully, hiring a virtual assistant for packing and exploring dropshipping. His revenue hit six figures in 2024, per Business Insider, with projections for growth in 2025 amid rising vintage fashion demand. He attributes success to niche focus: ‘Menswear collectors are underserved on eBay.’

Comparisons abound in current web searches. A UX designer quit eBay corporate to build a six-figure business, as detailed in another Business Insider article, highlighting common pitfalls like underestimating marketing. Defrancesco avoided these by starting small and iterating.

Broader Implications for Professionals

The rise of platforms like eBay is empowering side hustlers nationwide. Newswire reports eBay Canada’s 2025 awards celebrating entrepreneurs, reflecting a 9% dip in UK small businesses but growth in digital hustles, per Retail Jeweller.

X sentiment echoes optimism, with users like Claire Vo sharing that building a six-figure hustle requires decades of credibility and niche help. Another post from Chris Koerner outlines steps for a 2025 business, emphasizing knowledge retention over quick riches.

Challenges and Risk Management

Yet, hurdles exist. Time management is paramount; Defrancesco sets strict boundaries to prevent burnout. Market volatility—fashion trends shift—demands adaptability. He monitors competitors via eBay analytics and diversifies into women’s accessories for stability.

Legal experts warn of conflicts with primary employment. Side Hustle Nation lists 21 ideas for lawyers, stressing non-compete clauses. Defrancesco’s hustle, unrelated to his practice, sidesteps this, but he consults ethics guidelines regularly.

Future Horizons in Side Gig Economy

Looking ahead, 2025 trends point to AI integration. Defrancesco experiments with AI for listing optimization, aligning with X posts on AI content editing as a top hustle. WWD forecasts side hustles as key wealth drivers, with personal branding central.

Defrancesco plans expansion, perhaps a dedicated website or partnerships. His story inspires, as evidenced by X user Foundational Nupe Lawyer’s thread on post-grad hustles like CV writing and legal gigs, proving diversified income’s value.

Lessons from a Dual-Career Pioneer

Ultimately, Defrancesco’s success underscores resilience. ‘It’s not about quitting; it’s about options,’ he says. For industry insiders, this model offers a blueprint: blend passion with profession, scale smartly, and hedge against uncertainty.

As entrepreneurship evolves, stories like his—amplified in outlets like Simply Business listing top 2025 hustles—signal a shift. Lawyers, once chained to firms, are rewriting their narratives, one eBay sale at a time.