How to Run A Successful Law Firm, Even If At First You Fail
What’s your first instinct when you fail?
Do you speak it over yourself by labeling yourself as a failure?
Or, do you give yourself grace?
The key to having not only a great practice but also a great life is to give yourself grace.
Remember, all you have to do is simply start again. This is what will propel you forward and lead to progress.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with my dear friend Victor Medina about this and other key strategies for running a successful law practice.
Victor is a fantastic attorney who has built an amazing practice himself. What makes his story so unique is that not only has he walked the path of growth obstacles, but he also leads the practice growth program as an adjunct practice advisor.
Victor’s Career History
Victor has an amazing story full of ups and downs. He didn’t go to law school right out of the box but got a job selling photocopiers after college.
During his years in sales, he met his wife, who encouraged him to go back to school and get another degree. It was from that that Victor decided to go to law school.
After graduating, he worked for a large law firm. The hours were crazy and he and his wife had had their first son, so he started looking for something new. He ended up buying a law practice and spent about a year and a half transitioning the clients over to himself.
Monday through Thursday he would practice law and, on Fridays, he’d receive coaching from the previous firm’s owner. This man trained him in such a way that, a year later, he was one of the top school attorneys in the state.
Growth Obstacles
Over the course of taking over this firm and running it, Victor had to overcome many obstacles. One of these was that he viewed his firm from the perspective of a lawyer, not a business owner.
By working with a mentor, Victor got his first taste of thinking about his practice as a businessman instead. This led him to put more money and time into marketing and expand his practice into higher-yield areas.
Another obstacle he had to overcome was hiring. What he came to learn through that process was that to hire great employees, you need to be a leader that’s worth following.
A boss mentality has a short-lived effect. Instead, you have to become worthy of what you want people to give you. Look inward and determine if you are.
Finally, Victor struggled with the idea that from discipline is born creative art. He would expect inspiration to land upon him with very little work or discipline on his part to make it happen. He had to realize there was a recipe to it.
You must understand the same in your practice. You have to consistently apply sound principles to gain momentum.
If you want to learn more about how to overcome obstacles while growing your practice, check out Episode 005: Give Yourself Grace, and Begin Again Tomorrow with Victor Medina.
Steve Riley
Certified Practice Advisor & Attorney
Steve Riley has coached attorneys for more than 20 years. His one-on-one coaching focuses on a limited number of top producing attorneys committed to taking their practices to new levels of excellence, profit, and personal success. He also presents at group coaching workshops around the country for individual law firms, state bar associations, and other legal organizations.