{"id":133439,"date":"2025-09-16T15:14:42","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T23:14:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/09\/16\/what-no-one-tells-you-about-running-a-law-firm-part-i\/"},"modified":"2025-09-16T15:14:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T23:14:42","slug":"what-no-one-tells-you-about-running-a-law-firm-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/09\/16\/what-no-one-tells-you-about-running-a-law-firm-part-i\/","title":{"rendered":"What No One Tells You About Running A Law Firm (Part I)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ed. note<\/u>: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership with our friends at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>MothersEsquire<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. Welcome Elise Buie <\/em>back to our pages. Click <\/em><\/strong>here<\/em><\/strong><\/a> if you\u2019d like to donate to MothersEsquire.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

When I went to law school, there was no class teaching young law students how to run a business. Such classes are still an anomaly, though, for the life of me, I cannot understand why. Having founded a law firm devoted to family law about a decade ago (later expanding into estate planning), classes on running a law firm \u2014 even one \u2014 would have been a godsend. I also strongly believe this type of class should be a requirement, not an elective.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why? Because lawyers\u2019 paths change. Plus, owning a law firm can be one of the most rewarding, not to mention effective, ways to blend life and work. If you\u2019re hellbent on excelling at both, law firm ownership offers a real chance to make that happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I have found this to be especially true for lawyer moms like myself. Lawyers who, like I once did, find themselves struggling to do it all<\/a> in an industry that hasn\u2019t caught up (or caught on) to women\u2019s workplace struggles due to the gender inequality that persists at home and in the office.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But, as is painfully evident, it\u2019s not entirely the legal profession\u2019s fault. Our infrastructure in the U.S. falls short of supporting families like other countries do by, for example, offering parental leave for mothers and<\/em> fathers across the board. We need to catch up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Until then, many people continue to turn to law firm ownership as a means to afford themselves control alongside flexibility, as I did. Long before remote working was in vogue, I started a fully remote law practice. I haven\u2019t regretted going remote since, not for one minute, because being remote meant I could be the mom and lawyer I envisioned.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say starting a law firm and leading it to success was easy or that there hasn\u2019t been a steep learning curve. There has been. I will be the first to say that being a law firm CEO is not for the faint of heart. You have to not only want it but also be prepared for it in more ways than one. Twenty-two, actually, if I\u2019m counting, which I\u2019ll cover in this first part of a two-part series to give them the attention they deserve.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before I get into any of those, though, you should be honest with yourself if you\u2019re considering taking this leap. Look in the mirror and say, \u201cDo I have what it takes to be the CEO of my law firm?\u201d If you aren\u2019t sure, here\u2019s what I can tell you: The CEO role may not be for you if:<\/p>\n

Plan To Spend The Next 1,000-Plus Hours Reading Business\/Self-Improvement Books<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have you ever seen the 1988 film \u201cCocktail\u201d? In it, bartender Brian Flannigan (Tom Cruise) always has a business book stashed behind the bar. Why? He wants to have his own bar one day. The message? You don\u2019t need school to learn. But you do need to read books \u2014 a lot of them.<\/p>\n

Time To Tackle Your Money Mindset<\/strong><\/p>\n

Law firms don\u2019t come cheap. You have to invest in them, you have to invest in yourself, and you have to invest in the people you hire to help them grow. If you don\u2019t want to part with money to enable this growth, law firm ownership will not be for you. Mind you, the investment doesn\u2019t end when you hang the proverbial shingle outside the door. Growth pays, but it costs, too.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Not Enough To Love Practicing Law<\/strong><\/p>\n

Law is a noble career. It is an art form. Many people love that about law practice and would never want to give that up. If that\u2019s you, and you have your heart set on owning a law firm, understand you may have to give up that love of legal practice because there are only so many hours in the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You Think 2,400 Billable Hours Per Year Sounds Difficult? (Oh, Sugar \u2014 Try 5,000)<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve heard about work-life balance\/integration (or, as I like to say, life-work balance\/integration<\/a>). Yes, I believe in the concept. But I also had to work for it. So will you. There\u2019s just no easy way around it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You Value Your Freedom<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your dream of being a law firm CEO will hold you captive, but you won\u2019t mind that so much if you\u2019re serious. Just keep in mind that you won\u2019t feel free until you get what you want.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Say Buh-Bye To Imposter Syndrome<\/strong><\/p>\n

Imposter syndrome is real. For me, impostor syndrome comes in the body of a mean girl named Eloise. If you want to be a law firm CEO, fire the employees who poison the well, starting with the one in your head. It took me a while, but I finally got up the nerve to fire Eloise, and I haven\u2019t missed her since.<\/p>\n

You Can\u2019t Handle The Truth (Think \u2018A Few Good Men\u2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n

To succeed as a law firm CEO, you have to be willing to ask yourself the hard questions. You also need to prepare yourself to answer the hard questions from others along the way that you seek support from, like coaches and mentors. If you think you\u2019re a hot mess now and own that, good for you. That\u2019s a sign you are not yet in the position to go solo. However, it doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t work on becoming someone who\u2019s ready to take that leap. We all have the power within us to pull ourselves together.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Get Ready To Experience Regular, Large, Public Failings<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you fail, understand that it\u2019s going to be in public. I\u2019ve already done it a few times. Que sera sera. Pro tip: Get the support of others on your way to becoming a law firm CEO, the people who will cheer you on no matter what. The ones who will be sad if you don\u2019t succeed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, there will also be those waiting to see you fail, waiting to enjoy it. There\u2019s really not much you can do to avoid that. But if law firm ownership is what you\u2019re after, develop a thick skin first. You\u2019re gonna need it.<\/p>\n

Managing People Can Drain Your Bucket, Then fill It Right Back Up<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fact: Hiring is soul-sucking. It\u2019s tedious and can take a lot of time to get right. When you don\u2019t, it can be even more grueling. Firing people doesn\u2019t feel good (to most people), either. I\u2019m not arguing any of this.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But managing people can also be gratifying as you begin to see the team you\u2019re assembling take shape. If you\u2019re going to become a law firm CEO, you need to be able to picture a time when this will happen and recognize that every obstacle you hit until then will make those moments that much sweeter.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u200bYou Thought \u2018The Devil Wears Prada\u2019 Was A Powerful Example Of Good Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re itching to say, \u201cThat\u2019s all,\u201d and be dismissive like Miranda, don\u2019t bother with this career route. As a law firm CEO, it\u2019s incumbent on you, if you want to build a strong team and have that life-work balance\/integration you dream about<\/a>, to become a mentor first. So be prepared to teach, share, appreciate, and, by that, lead. When doing so becomes second nature, even in the hardest of moments, you\u2019ll know this is what you\u2019ve been working toward all along. And why.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

Stacey Freeman contributed to the writing of this article.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Elise Buie is a Seattle-based divorce and family lawyer, founder of <\/strong><\/em>Elise Buie Family Law Group<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, a law firm devoted to family law and estate planning, writer, and public speaker\u200b. A champion for maintaining civility throughout the divorce process, Elise advocates for her clients and the best interests of their children, helping them move forward with dignity and from a position of strength.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The post What No One Tells You About Running A Law Firm (Part I)<\/a> appeared first on Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ed. note<\/u>: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership with our friends at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>MothersEsquire<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. Welcome Elise Buie <\/em>back to our pages. Click <\/em><\/strong>here<\/em><\/strong><\/a> if you\u2019d like to donate to MothersEsquire.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

When I went to law school, there was no class teaching young law students how to run a business. Such classes are still an anomaly, though, for the life of me, I cannot understand why. Having founded a law firm devoted to family law about a decade ago (later expanding into estate planning), classes on running a law firm \u2014 even one \u2014 would have been a godsend. I also strongly believe this type of class should be a requirement, not an elective.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why? Because lawyers\u2019 paths change. Plus, owning a law firm can be one of the most rewarding, not to mention effective, ways to blend life and work. If you\u2019re hellbent on excelling at both, law firm ownership offers a real chance to make that happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I have found this to be especially true for lawyer moms like myself. Lawyers who, like I once did, find themselves struggling to do it all<\/a> in an industry that hasn\u2019t caught up (or caught on) to women\u2019s workplace struggles due to the gender inequality that persists at home and in the office.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But, as is painfully evident, it\u2019s not entirely the legal profession\u2019s fault. Our infrastructure in the U.S. falls short of supporting families like other countries do by, for example, offering parental leave for mothers and<\/em> fathers across the board. We need to catch up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Until then, many people continue to turn to law firm ownership as a means to afford themselves control alongside flexibility, as I did. Long before remote working was in vogue, I started a fully remote law practice. I haven\u2019t regretted going remote since, not for one minute, because being remote meant I could be the mom and lawyer I envisioned.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say starting a law firm and leading it to success was easy or that there hasn\u2019t been a steep learning curve. There has been. I will be the first to say that being a law firm CEO is not for the faint of heart. You have to not only want it but also be prepared for it in more ways than one. Twenty-two, actually, if I\u2019m counting, which I\u2019ll cover in this first part of a two-part series to give them the attention they deserve.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before I get into any of those, though, you should be honest with yourself if you\u2019re considering taking this leap. Look in the mirror and say, \u201cDo I have what it takes to be the CEO of my law firm?\u201d If you aren\u2019t sure, here\u2019s what I can tell you: The CEO role may not be for you if:<\/p>\n

Plan To Spend The Next 1,000-Plus Hours Reading Business\/Self-Improvement Books<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have you ever seen the 1988 film \u201cCocktail\u201d? In it, bartender Brian Flannigan (Tom Cruise) always has a business book stashed behind the bar. Why? He wants to have his own bar one day. The message? You don\u2019t need school to learn. But you do need to read books \u2014 a lot of them.<\/p>\n

Time To Tackle Your Money Mindset<\/strong><\/p>\n

Law firms don\u2019t come cheap. You have to invest in them, you have to invest in yourself, and you have to invest in the people you hire to help them grow. If you don\u2019t want to part with money to enable this growth, law firm ownership will not be for you. Mind you, the investment doesn\u2019t end when you hang the proverbial shingle outside the door. Growth pays, but it costs, too.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Not Enough To Love Practicing Law<\/strong><\/p>\n

Law is a noble career. It is an art form. Many people love that about law practice and would never want to give that up. If that\u2019s you, and you have your heart set on owning a law firm, understand you may have to give up that love of legal practice because there are only so many hours in the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You Think 2,400 Billable Hours Per Year Sounds Difficult? (Oh, Sugar \u2014 Try 5,000)<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve heard about work-life balance\/integration (or, as I like to say, life-work balance\/integration<\/a>). Yes, I believe in the concept. But I also had to work for it. So will you. There\u2019s just no easy way around it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You Value Your Freedom<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your dream of being a law firm CEO will hold you captive, but you won\u2019t mind that so much if you\u2019re serious. Just keep in mind that you won\u2019t feel free until you get what you want.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Say Buh-Bye To Imposter Syndrome<\/strong><\/p>\n

Imposter syndrome is real. For me, impostor syndrome comes in the body of a mean girl named Eloise. If you want to be a law firm CEO, fire the employees who poison the well, starting with the one in your head. It took me a while, but I finally got up the nerve to fire Eloise, and I haven\u2019t missed her since.<\/p>\n

You Can\u2019t Handle The Truth (Think \u2018A Few Good Men\u2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n

To succeed as a law firm CEO, you have to be willing to ask yourself the hard questions. You also need to prepare yourself to answer the hard questions from others along the way that you seek support from, like coaches and mentors. If you think you\u2019re a hot mess now and own that, good for you. That\u2019s a sign you are not yet in the position to go solo. However, it doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t work on becoming someone who\u2019s ready to take that leap. We all have the power within us to pull ourselves together.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Get Ready To Experience Regular, Large, Public Failings<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you fail, understand that it\u2019s going to be in public. I\u2019ve already done it a few times. Que sera sera. Pro tip: Get the support of others on your way to becoming a law firm CEO, the people who will cheer you on no matter what. The ones who will be sad if you don\u2019t succeed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, there will also be those waiting to see you fail, waiting to enjoy it. There\u2019s really not much you can do to avoid that. But if law firm ownership is what you\u2019re after, develop a thick skin first. You\u2019re gonna need it.<\/p>\n

Managing People Can Drain Your Bucket, Then fill It Right Back Up<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fact: Hiring is soul-sucking. It\u2019s tedious and can take a lot of time to get right. When you don\u2019t, it can be even more grueling. Firing people doesn\u2019t feel good (to most people), either. I\u2019m not arguing any of this.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But managing people can also be gratifying as you begin to see the team you\u2019re assembling take shape. If you\u2019re going to become a law firm CEO, you need to be able to picture a time when this will happen and recognize that every obstacle you hit until then will make those moments that much sweeter.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u200bYou Thought \u2018The Devil Wears Prada\u2019 Was A Powerful Example Of Good Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re itching to say, \u201cThat\u2019s all,\u201d and be dismissive like Miranda, don\u2019t bother with this career route. As a law firm CEO, it\u2019s incumbent on you, if you want to build a strong team and have that life-work balance\/integration you dream about<\/a>, to become a mentor first. So be prepared to teach, share, appreciate, and, by that, lead. When doing so becomes second nature, even in the hardest of moments, you\u2019ll know this is what you\u2019ve been working toward all along. And why.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

Stacey Freeman contributed to the writing of this article.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Elise Buie is a Seattle-based divorce and family lawyer, founder of <\/strong><\/em>Elise Buie Family Law Group<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, a law firm devoted to family law and estate planning, writer, and public speaker\u200b. A champion for maintaining civility throughout the divorce process, Elise advocates for her clients and the best interests of their children, helping them move forward with dignity and from a position of strength.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership with our friends at\u00a0MothersEsquire. Welcome Elise Buie back to our pages. Click here if you\u2019d like to donate to MothersEsquire. When I went to law school, there was no class teaching young law students how […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":133440,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-133439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xira.com\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/NY_Diversity_Inclusion_610x400-ONUCx6.jpg?fit=610%2C400&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=133439"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133439\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/133440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=133439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=133439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=133439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}