Episodes

  • What Should I Charge? Fixing Law Firm Pricing When You're Busy but Margins Are Thin with Jacquette Timmons | Ep. 167

    What Should I Charge? Fixing Law Firm Pricing When You're Busy but Margins Are Thin with Jacquette Timmons | Ep. 167
    Jan 19 2026
    In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve Riley brings back financial behaviorist and pricing strategist Jacquette Timmons to tackle the question that makes even experienced attorneys hesitate: "What should I charge?" When your firm is busy, but margins feel thin, pricing often isn't "wrong," it's inconsistent because the logic underneath it is unclear. You're working hard, saying yes to work, and staying booked, but the income doesn't match the effort. Jacquette challenges the common advice to "charge what you're worth" and explains why tying fees to your identity creates stress, guilt, and second-guessing. Instead, she reframes pricing as a business decision: you are not your offer, and your fees should reflect the value and outcomes your services create not your personal worth. She also introduces a practical way to diagnose what's really happening in your firm: treat your services like an offer portfolio. When you look at each service as an asset, you can see which offers truly function as profit centers, which drain time and energy, and whether your marketing dollars are pushing the work that's least profitable. If you want law firm pricing that supports profit, future capacity and a sustainable life, this episode offers a clear, human-centered reset. In this episode, you will hear: Why "charge what you're worth" undermines pricing confidence Separating personal identity from business offers Viewing services as a portfolio instead of a menu Average revenue per case vs actual profit per case How pricing decisions shape marketing spend and client mix The financial, personal, and emotional layers of every pricing conversation Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. ⭐Like what you hear? A quick review helps more people find the show.⭐ If there's a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com. Supporting Resources: Jacquette Timmons Episode 157: Money by Design, Not by Default with Jacquette Timmons Jacquette's Podcast: More Than Money with Jacquette TimmonsLinkedIn Instagram Atticus NewsletterMy Great Life Focus Curious about growing your own practice without burning out? Contact Atticus to see whether our law firm coaching can help you strengthen attorney success, refine your law firm business strategy, and build a practice that actually supports your life. This podcast for lawyers is part of our broader legal podcast library, offering practical insights on how to grow a law firm through stronger law firm leadership, law firm pricing and management, smarter marketing, intentional hiring, efficient operations, healthy law firm culture, and sustainable profitability, all while addressing law firm burnout and the realities of modern practice. You can also sign up for our newsletter to get practical insights on how to grow a law firm: from law firm leadership and management to marketing, hiring, operations, culture, and profitability, so you can build a Great Practice and a Great Life.
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    34 mins
  • 2026 Goal Setting for Lawyers Part 2: Design Your Lane and Stay Focused | Ep. 166

    2026 Goal Setting for Lawyers Part 2: Design Your Lane and Stay Focused | Ep. 166
    Jan 12 2026
    You can have the best intentions in the world, but without focus, they won't turn into results. In Part 2 of this two-part series, Steve Riley helps lawyers move from insight to execution by designing a practical structure for 2026. Instead of piling on resolutions, Steve makes a counterintuitive case for choosing just two goals: one Great Life goal and one Great Practice goal. Nothing more. He explains why this kind of restraint isn't limiting, it's liberating, and why it dramatically increases the odds of real change. The episode builds on the driving framework introduced in Part 1. Your written goals are the map. Your attention is the steering wheel. Your working memory is the windshield. And your weekly structure is the lane that keeps you moving forward. Steve revisits the four "dangerous Ds" that derail high performers and shows why most lawyers aren't failing at discipline, they're failing at design. Steve then shares practical steering strategies for staying in your lane, including turning big annual goals into small, protected focus blocks, using simple "if-then" plans to recover quickly when distractions hit, and scheduling weekly reflection so you don't live the same year on repeat. Along the way, he shares memorable stories and hard-earned lessons, including why chasing every opportunity is like a dog trying to catch ten squirrels, and how many firm owners end up losing by winning when success comes at the cost of health, family, or energy. The episode also connects these ideas to the My Great Life Focus, designed as a weekly lane specifically for lawyers who want progress without burnout. If you've ever wondered why good years keep repeating instead of building momentum, this episode offers a clear, disciplined path forward and a practical way to design a year that actually moves the needle. In this episode, you will hear: Why great goals fail without focus, structure, and executionThe four dangerous Ds that quietly derail progressWhy choosing fewer goals leads to better resultsHow to design a personal lane that protects attention and energyTurning big annual goals into weekly focus blocksSimple steering strategies to stay on track without burning out Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. ⭐Like what you hear? A quick review helps more people find the show.⭐ Supporting Resources: Steve RileyEp. 165: 4 Ways Your Goals Get Hijacked and How to Stop It – Part 1Study: Learning by Thinking: How Reflection Aids PerformanceWorksheet: 2025 Rearview Mirror Check worksheetWorksheet: 2026 Steering ProtocolLimited-time offer! My Great Life Focus: Get a one-year supply (4 quarterly focusers) for $99.90 (50% off) with this link. Valid through January 31, 2026. Claim the offer → If there's a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com. Curious about growing your own practice without burning out? Contact Atticus to see whether our law firm coaching can help you strengthen attorney success, refine your law firm business strategy, and build a practice that actually supports your life. This podcast for lawyers is part of our broader legal podcast library, offering practical insights on how to grow a law firm through stronger law firm leadership and management, smarter marketing, intentional hiring, efficient operations, healthy law firm culture, and sustainable profitability, all while addressing law firm burnout and the realities of modern practice. You can also sign up for our newsletter to get practical insights on how to grow a law firm: from law firm leadership and management to marketing, hiring, operations, culture, and profitability, so you can build a Great Practice and a Great Life.
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    34 mins
  • 2026 Goal Setting for Lawyers Part 1: Why Your Plan Gets Hijacked | Ep. 165

    2026 Goal Setting for Lawyers Part 1: Why Your Plan Gets Hijacked | Ep. 165
    Jan 5 2026

    Most lawyers don't struggle with setting goals. They struggle with protecting them.

    As a new year begins, many high performers find themselves frustrated, tired, and wondering why carefully written plans never quite survive real life. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Steve lays the groundwork for designing a stronger 2026 by first assessing what really happened in 2025. Before you set new goals, you need a structure that can actually protect them.

    Using a simple driving metaphor, Steve breaks goal execution into four core elements: your map, your steering, your windshield, and your lane. Together, they explain how distractions, interruptions, and cognitive overload quietly pull lawyers off track, often without them realizing it until months later.

    This episode is a strategy session, not a pep talk. It invites you to take a rearview mirror look at how you actually operated in 2025 so you can build a more resilient plan for 2026 that will not get hijacked the same way.

    Next week, tune in for Part 2, where Steve helps you set your 2026 goals and build the lane to protect them.

    In this episode, you will hear:

    • Goal setting versus goal protecting and why most plans fail
    • The difference between writing goals and actually doing them
    • Map, steering, windshield, and lane as focus fundamentals
    • How cognitive overload quietly derails execution
    • The four "Ds" that hijack attention during the year
    • Why 2025 wasn't a failure but was a teacher

    Subscribe & Review
    Never miss an episode. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.
    ⭐Like what you hear? A quick review helps more people find the show.⭐

    Supporting Resources:

    • Steve Riley: atticusadvantage.com/team/steve-riley
    • Download: 2025 Rearview Mirror Check worksheet
    • Limited-time offer! My Great Life Focus: Get a one-year supply (4 quarterly focusers) for $99.90 (50% off) with this link. Valid through January 31, 2026. Claim the offer → gn477.infusionsoft.app/app/orderForms/My-Great-Life-Focus-Podcast-Year-Bundle
    • Distracting adults during task makes them behave like children (Wan and Sloutsky study): news.osu.edu/distracting-adults-during-task-makes-them-behave-like-children

    If there's a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com.

    Curious about growing your own practice without burning out? Contact Atticus to see whether our law firm coaching can help you strengthen attorney success, refine your law firm business strategy, and build a practice that actually supports your life. This podcast for lawyers is part of our broader legal podcast library, offering practical insights on how to grow a law firm through stronger law firm leadership and management, smarter marketing, intentional hiring, efficient operations, healthy law firm culture, and sustainable profitability, all while addressing law firm burnout and the realities of modern practice.

    You can also sign up for our newsletter to get practical insights on how to grow a law firm: from law firm leadership and management to marketing, hiring, operations, culture, and profitability, so you can build a Great Practice and a Great Life.
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    30 mins
  • The Best of 2025: Great Life (Top 5 Moments) | Ep. 164

    The Best of 2025: Great Life (Top 5 Moments) | Ep. 164
    Dec 29 2025
    As 2025 wraps up, Steve revisits five standout moments from some of our most impactful Great Life conversations this year. Like Part 1, this episode is built as a highlight reel, with short clips pulled from full-length interviews, but this time the focus is on building a great life so your great practice can grow quicker and easier. The goal is simple: give you the best ideas from 2025 in one place, so you can reconnect with what matters, protect your energy, and approach the new year with more clarity and intention. You'll hear: Lea Anne Groover on gaining clarity and focus through simple daily structure, movement, and intentional prioritizationDr. Deborah Day on why sleep, exercise, and nutrition are non-negotiables for sustained performance under pressureBrother Curtis on navigating anxiety by bringing it into the light with perspective, trust, and supportMatthew Emerzian on the mattering mindset and finding purpose, meaning, and significance in everyday workBlinn Bates on planning real breaks through intentional absence and why "forced exile" strengthens both life and business As you listen, treat this like a personal reset session. Steve tees up five questions to keep in mind: What tiny daily habit can restore clarity and focus?What routine keeps you in a healthy peak state during intense weeks?How do you stop running on anxiety and choose a sustainable performance state?How do you keep meaning, what "great life" means to you, front and center at work and at home?How can you design your firm so you can truly step away? If a clip makes you think, "I needed to hear that," check the show notes and jump into the full episode for the complete conversation. In this episode, you will hear: Five standout Great Life moments from 2025A tiny daily movement habit that supports clarity, energy, and focusThe Top 3 daily focus method for reducing overwhelm and prioritizing what mattersTrial-season self-care: sleep hygiene, nutrition, exercise, and why alcohol undermines recoveryAnxiety as "fog," and how trusted support and better language can reduce its gripThe mattering mindset, values, and meaning in stressful seasons"Forced exile" as a true time-off strategy and a systems test for a healthier firm and lifeBest of 2025: Attorney Success & Law Firm Growth Highlights Follow and Review: Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. ⭐Like what you hear? A quick review helps more people find the show.⭐ Supporting Resources: Part 1 Episode 163 – The Best of 2025: Great Practice (Top 5 Moments) https://atticusadvantage.com/podcast/best-of-great-practice-top-5-moments-2025/ Episode 141: Your Firm Gets Stronger When You Do with Lea Anne Groover: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/your-firm-gets-stronger-when-you-doLea Anne Groover: groover.law/attorneys/lea-anne-grooverGroover Law: groover.lawEpisode 85: Exercise: Is it a Waste of a Billable Hour? with Jonathan White: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/exercise-is-it-a-waste-of-a-billable-hour-with-jonathan-whiteEpisode 99: Do Happy Lawyers Make More Money? with Kevin Snyder: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/do-happy-lawyers-make-more-money-with-kevin-snyderMy Great Life Focus: mygreatlifefocus.com Episode 155: Handling Stress in Your Law Firm: Routines, Boundaries, Debriefs with Dr. Deborah Day: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/law-firm-stressDr. Deborah Day: www.psychologicalaffiliates.com/deborahdaypsydPsychological Affiliates: www.psychologicalaffiliates.com Episode 116: Breaking Free from Fear: Finding Clarity and Resilience in Your Life with Brother Curtis: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/breaking-free-from-fear-finding-clarity-and-resilience-in-your-lifeBrother Curtis Almquist, SSJE: www.ssje.org/br-curtis-almquistSociety of Saint John the Evangelist, Massachusetts: www.ssje.org Episode 145: How the Every Monday Matters Mindset Can Reignite Your Law Practice with Matthew Emerzian: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/every-monday-matters-matthew-emerzianMatthew Emerzian: www.matthewemerzian.comEvery Monday Matters: www.everymondaymatters.com Episode 134: What Surviving a Plane Crash Taught Me About Running a Law Firm with Blinn Bates: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/what-surviving-plane-crash-taught-me-about-running-law-firmBlinn Bates: woodsandbates.com/william-blinn-bates-jrWoods & Bates, P.C.: woodsandbates.com Workshop: The Path to a Great Practice and Great Life: atticusadvantage.com/workshops/the-path-to-a-great-practice-great-life (Get $500 off with code Podcast500) Sign up for the Atticus newsletter! If there's a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com. Curious about growing your own practice? Contact Atticus to see whether our law firm coaching can help you strengthen attorney success, refine your law firm business strategy, and build a practice that actually supports your life. You can also sign up for our newsletter to get ...
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    35 mins
  • The Best of 2025: Great Practice (Top 5 Moments) | Ep. 163

    The Best of 2025: Great Practice (Top 5 Moments) | Ep. 163
    Dec 22 2025
    As 2025 comes to a close, Steve revisits five standout moments from five of our most impactful Great Practice conversations this year. This episode is built as a highlight reel, with short clips pulled from full-length interviews that focused on the business side of running a law firm. The goal is simple: give you the best ideas from 2025 in one place, so you can spot the next upgrade your firm needs and put it into action. As you listen, treat this like a working session. Steve tees up five areas to pay attention to, and each clip gives you a practical lens you can apply right away. When a segment makes you think, "That is exactly what we need," pick one idea to implement this week, then use the show notes to jump into the full episode for the complete conversation. You'll hear: John Morgan on building a systems-first, 21st-century firm through automation and transparency, and what it looks like to scale without relying on individual heroicsChris Murphy on upgrading your case mix by choosing your lanes, setting intake criteria, and confidently saying no to the wrong work while referring it out the right wayLori Pulvermacher on turning hiring into real capacity with a 90-day onboarding plan that defines what "winning" looks like at 30, 60, and 90 daysBarb Betts on asking for introductions instead of transactional referrals, and how to do it with language that feels natural and creates real permissionRobert Rose on building repeat referrals with a scalable partner program, using simple relationship "rings" and value touches that keep you top of mind If a specific moment hits home, check the show notes to jump into the full episode with that guest and take the next step from insight to implementation. Next week, we'll share Part 2: Best of 2025, Great Life. In this episode, you will hear: Five standout Great Practice moments from 2025Scaling with systems, not heroicsAutomation and transparency for consistency and leverageNiche discipline, intake criteria, and confidently saying noHiring into capacity with a 30/60/90-day onboarding planAsking for introductions and building referral momentum through relationshipsBuilding repeat referrals with a structured partner content programBest of 2025: Great Practice Moments on Law Firm Growth & Management Follow and Review: Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. ⭐Like what you hear? A quick review helps more people find the show.⭐ Supporting Resources: Part 2 – The Best of 2025: Great Life (Top 5 Moments) https://atticusadvantage.com/podcast/best-of-great-life-top-5-moments-2025/ Grow or Die: John Morgan's Relentless Strategy for Law Firm Expansion – Part 1: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/grow-or-die-john-morganJohn Morgan: www.forthepeople.com/attorneys/john-morganMorgan & Morgan: www.forthepeople.comLitify: www.litify.comInjury.com: www.injury.com The Client Upgrade System That Changes Everything with Chris Murphy: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/client-upgrade-systemChris Murphy: atticusadvantage.com/team/chris-murphyScalli Murphy Law, P.C.: www.scallimurphy.com Onboarding as a Competitive Advantage: 7 Essential Tips for Law Firms with Lori Pulvermacher: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/strategic-onboarding-for-law-firmsLori Pulvermacher: atticusadvantage.com/team/lori-pulvermacherDownload: New Hire Onboarding Guide for Law Firms: atticusadvantage.com/worksheets/new-hire-onboarding-guide Beyond Word of Mouth: Systemizing Referral Marketing with Barb Betts: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/beyond-word-of-mouth-systemizing-referral-marketingBarb Betts: www.barbbetts.com The Biggest Marketing Mistakes Lawyers Make and How to Fix Them with Robert Rose: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/marketing-mistakes-lawyers-make-with-robert-roseSeventh Bear: https://www.seventhbear.com/ Reach Out To a Practice Advisor: atticusadvantage.com/contact-us If there's a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com. Curious about growing your own practice? Contact Atticus to see whether our law firm coaching can help you strengthen attorney success, refine your law firm business strategy, and build a practice that actually supports your life. You can also sign up for our newsletter to get practical insights on how to grow a law firm: from law firm leadership and management to marketing, hiring, operations, culture, and profitability, so you can build a Great Practice and a Great Life.
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    36 mins
  • Dealing with Toxic People in Law Practice with Dr. Deborah Day | Ep. 162

    Dealing with Toxic People in Law Practice with Dr. Deborah Day | Ep. 162
    Dec 15 2025
    In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve Riley welcomes back forensic psychologist Dr. Deborah Day for a direct, real-world look at the difficult people lawyers face every single day. High-conflict clients, drama-driven opposing counsel, partners who escalate everything, and even judges who seem to thrive on chaos are not outliers. As Dr. Day explains, roughly one in three people you interact with will behave as if they have a personality disorder, which is exactly why conflict feels endless in law practice. Dr. Day breaks down how to spot these patterns quickly and respond without getting pulled into the emotional spiral. She shares specific moves that lower intensity in the moment, such as a steady voice, grounded body language, eye contact that anchors the room, and the simple phrases that stop hostility before it becomes a threat. She walks through practical ways to structure your office, your meetings, and your documentation so you're never caught off guard and your team stays protected. The conversation also takes an honest look at lawyer mental health. Dr. Day explains how chronic exposure to conflict chips away at resilience, how to recognize when stress is sliding toward burnout, and how to check in with a colleague who seems overwhelmed without crossing professional lines. She offers a grounded, compassionate roadmap for staying centered in a profession where conflict is the default setting. If you've ever left a meeting wondering how a routine conversation turned into a battle, or why certain clients consistently drain your energy, this episode gives you the clarity and tools to take your practice, your boundaries, and your well-being back under control. In this episode, you will hear: The real 1-in-3 statistic inside the litigation world"Bad day" vs. enduring dysfunctional pattern — how to tell in one or two interactionsInstant de-escalation tactics: tone, seating, Zoom setup, and "curious questions"Documentation strategies that protect your reputationThe "do-not-work-with" list top professionals quietly keepCluster B red flags every litigator recognizes instantlyWhen and how to bring in a mental-health consultant without offending anyoneSimple weekly habits that prevent burnout and keep you and your team resilient Follow and Review: Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. ⭐Like what you hear? A quick review helps more people find the show.⭐ Supporting Resources: Dr. Deborah Day: www.psychologicalaffiliates.com/deborahdaypsyd Psychological Affiliates: www.psychologicalaffiliates.com Episode 155: Handling Stress in Your Law Firm with Dr. Deborah Day: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/law-firm-stress Facebook: www.facebook.com/debdayma Instagram: www.instagram.com/debdayma X: x.com/deborahdayma Personality Disorders Study: www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/personality-disorders Family Law Group Program: atticusadvantage.com/coaching/family-law My Great Life Focus: mygreatlifefocus.com If there's a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com. Curious about growing your own practice? Contact Atticus to see whether our law firm coaching can help you strengthen attorney success, refine your law firm business strategy, and build a practice that actually supports your life. You can also sign up for our newsletter to get practical insights on how to grow a law firm: from law firm leadership and management to marketing, hiring, operations, culture, and profitability, so you can build a Great Practice and a Great Life.
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    52 mins
  • Before They Sue: How Smart Firms Avoid Malpractice with Brad Wiewel | Ep: 161

    Before They Sue: How Smart Firms Avoid Malpractice with Brad Wiewel | Ep: 161
    Dec 8 2025
    On this week's episode of Great Practice, Great Life, you're in for a ride. Steve Riley sits down with attorney Brad Wiewel, whose career took a wild turn in 1979 when a client's husband fired a bullet into Brad's car because Brad was fighting too hard in a divorce case involving a stripper. That single ka-pow moment launched Brad's 45-year obsession with what he calls Defensive Law; a proactive, slightly paranoid, and incredibly effective system for protecting yourself, your team, and your license when clients lie, forget, or turn on you. This is hands down the most practical malpractice-prevention episode we've recorded, and it applies to every practice area: PI, family, estate planning, elder law, business—all of it. Brad walks through the exact tools that have kept him grievance-free and malpractice-suit-free for more than four decades. You'll hear about the bulletproof fee agreements packed with bold disclaimers, including the now famous "we can fire you for personality conflicts" clause he makes clients read aloud. You'll learn why every third party, kids, financial advisors, new spouses, sign a non-representation letter the second they enter the room. He shares his library of 100+ one-page "Against My Advice" disclosures clients sign when they insist on risky decisions, the settlement confirmation letter every PI lawyer should require before accepting a dime, and how he turns high-risk fact patterns into written client admissions that stop surprises in court or in front of the bar. And yes, he reveals his dead-simple signing ceremony protocol: hand clients the stack, leave the room for 15 minutes, come back to flawless signatures. No drama. No complaints. No gaps. Brad doesn't deal in theory; he built one of the largest estate planning practices in Texas on these systems. He credits them for never having a single successful grievance or malpractice claim in 45 years. If you've ever lost sleep wondering, "Did I document that conversation well enough?" or heard a former client shout, "You never told me that!", this episode gives you the exact playbook to make those nightmares disappear. Fair warning: After this conversation, you'll never look at a client the same way again. (You'll see every single one as a potential plaintiff, and you'll sleep like a baby because your files will finally be bulletproof.) In this episode, you will hear: The wild "stripper and the bullet" story that birthed Defensive LawWhy every client is a potential plaintiff (and how to sleep anyway)The 5 documents that have kept Brad 45 years grievance-freeFee-agreement clauses that kill most problems on day oneThe 60-second fix when kids or advisors sit in your meeting100+ one-page "I'm doing this against your advice" disclosuresThe settlement letter every PI lawyer must get signedHow to make clients admit the real facts — in writingThe signing-room trick that makes clients happily sign everythingAn instant checklist to make your entire practice bulletproof Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. ⭐Like what you hear? A quick review helps more people find the show.⭐ Supporting Resources: Brad Wiewel: www.texastrustlaw.com/learn-about-us/attorney-brad-wiewelTexas Trust Law, PLLC: www.texastrustlaw.comAtticus Workshops: atticusadvantage.com/workshops Atticus NewsletterThe Path to A Great Practice Great Life Workshop: atticusadvantage.com/workshops/the-path-to-a-great-practice-great-life If there's a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com. Curious about growing your own practice? Contact Atticus to see whether our law firm coaching can help you strengthen attorney success, refine your law firm business strategy, and build a practice that actually supports your life. You can also sign up for our newsletter to get practical insights on how to grow a law firm: from law firm leadership and management to marketing, hiring, operations, culture, and profitability, so you can build a Great Practice and a Great Life.
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    41 mins
  • From Burnout to 200 Days Off: How Kent Berk Rebuilt His Firm to Run Without Him | Ep. 160

    From Burnout to 200 Days Off: How Kent Berk Rebuilt His Firm to Run Without Him | Ep. 160
    Dec 1 2025
    Time management for lawyers isn't just a productivity hack, it's the key to freedom. What if you could take around 200 days off a year without your firm collapsing, and actually increase law firm profitability in the process? That's exactly what Arizona probate, trust, and estate litigator Attorney Kent Berk has pulled off. In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life., Kent joins Steve to share how he went from overwhelmed and burned out, ready to walk away from his law practice, to leading a focused, profitable firm built on smart law firm business strategy and intentional law firm leadership. You'll hear how coaching, accountability, and a handful of mindset shifts helped him protect his time, reduce stress, and drive serious law firm growth. Steve and Kent break down the operational side of that transformation: revamping human resources, tightening law firm hiring practices, building an in-house training engine with AI-driven modules and real assessments, and aligning compensation with clear KPIs. With support from Practice Advisor Daniel Struna and the Atticus team, Kent redesigned his law firm operations so his team can train, make decisions, and move cases forward even when he's not in the office. From rethinking compensation structures and productivity metrics to embracing healthy conflict as a leadership tool, Kent's story is a practical blueprint for attorneys who want to step into a more intentional role, whether that's CEO, marketing director, or true firm leader. He shows how grit, clarity, boundaries, and a strong law firm culture can lead to exceptional client experiences and a life you actually enjoy. Whether you're overwhelmed or simply ready for your practice to support a better life, this episode delivers concrete strategies for attorney success, healthier law firm management, and meaningful, sustainable change. In this episode, you will hear: Kent Berk's transition from burnout to a balanced, profitable legal practiceStrategies for reducing stress through delegation, in-house training, and AI-enhanced operationsThe importance of a growth-oriented mindset and redefining roles within a law firmEnhancing firm efficiency by refining human resources, aligning compensation with performance, and leveraging technologyHow to connect traditional pricing models with clear productivity metrics to improve financial performanceEmbracing conflict and mistakes as opportunities for team growth and improvementThe benefits of taking significant time off to enhance creativity, focus, and firm profitability Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. ⭐Like what you hear? A quick review helps more people find the show.⭐ Supporting Resources: Kent Berk: berklawgroup.com/team/kent-berk Berk Law Group: berklawgroup.com Daniel Struna, Esq., Practice Advisor & Attorney: atticusadvantage.com/team/daniel-struna Law Firm Coaching: atticusadvantage.com/coaching Team Leader Certification Program: atticusadvantage.com/law-firm-team-leader-certification The Berk Brief (YouTube Series): www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4HbIYjUOpFG9W1JbnMlqBZ3M8YkwMxb_ The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz: www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319 Blog "Why Law Firms Lose Top Talent (And How to Fix It)": atticusadvantage.com/blog/why-law-firms-lose-top-talent Onboarding Guide: atticusadvantage.com/worksheets/new-hire-onboarding-guide If there's a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com. Curious about growing your own practice? Contact Atticus to see whether our law firm coaching can help you strengthen attorney success, refine your law firm business strategy, and build a practice that actually supports your life. You can also sign up for our newsletter to get practical insights on how to grow a law firm: from law firm leadership and management to marketing, hiring, operations, culture, and profitability, so you can build a Great Practice and a Great Life.
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    50 mins