We're excited to introduce our brand-new series, Legal & Lucrative.
Carla met with attorneys from across the United States, and even a few from abroad, to learn what made their firms what they are today. They share the lessons they've learned, the challenges they've faced, and the strategies that gave them the breakthrough to build the growing, thriving practices they have now.
No two firms are exactly alike, but one thing came up again and again: nobody teaches you how to run a law firm in law school. Beyond that, you'll notice common threads, like intentional leadership, strong financial management (we're partial to Profit First around here), and a willingness to keep learning. Whether you're a solo practitioner or leading a growing team, you'll find practical ideas and real-world experience you can apply to your own firm.
Each episode provides insight into the business side of the law firm. From profitability and cash flow to hiring, work-life balance, technology, and long-term growth, our guests share the insights they wish they'd known earlier in their careers.
We hope these conversations inspire you, challenge your thinking, and give you ideas you can actually put to use in building a firm that's both successful and sustainable.
Welcome to Legal & Lucrative.
Part 1
Attorney Yuliya Pashkova
Yuliya is an immigration attorney. she started her own practice after working under another attorney, seeking more freedom and control over their time. She discusses surprises like how long it took to build a steady client base, the challenge of balancing legal work with running a business without formal management training, and learning to be an employer after hiring a paralegal.
Attorney Adrienne Hines
Adrienne is a bankruptcy attorney and social media content creator. Adrienne Hines shares why she left a firm after 27 years to start her own practice, how COVID and a shift toward creative fulfillment helped spark the move, and what it’s like to give up long-held stability even with financial comfort and a supportive spouse.
Attorney Hillary Walsh
Immigration attorney Hillary Walsh shares why she started her own practice—wanting to be her own boss after nonprofit firms required Spanish skills—and how a fellow lawyer encouraged her to begin charging after years of pro bono work.
Attorney Ben Himmelstein
Ben Himmelstein explains how he started his law firm through an opportunistic transition after a leadership change at his prior firm and a former boss offered him an existing practice and litigation book.
Attorney Juliet Kay
Law firm partner Juliet Kay shares about the realities of running a practice and what law school doesn’t teach about business ownership. She discusses the difficulty of balancing client service, team management, and personal life as an owner, and share a current growth focus on increasing income due to rising costs and limited cost-cutting options.
We hope you enjoyed these interviews. We have plenty more coming, so stay tuned!
