CASE STUDY
From Trapped in the “Family Law Cycle” to Building a Fulfilling Estate Planning Business
After 15 years in family law litigation, Bret Glenn knew there had to be a better way to practice law. While the income from family law was consistent, he was burnt out and ready for a change. That’s when he discovered NewLaw, transformed his practice, doubled his income, and finally found the work-life balance he'd been seeking.
ABOUT THE LAWYER
Bret Glenn
THE PROBLEM
Trapped in the "Family Law Black Hole"
After being medically discharged from the Air Force, Bret wasn’t sure what to do. He knew he wanted to be an attorney, but was unsure what area of law he wanted to practice.
After he got his law degree, he fell into family law because it was the path of least resistance and the money was consistent. However, what began as a convenient entry point quickly became a trap that ensnared him for years.
Family law meant constant conflict, court-dictated schedules, and a practice that left him feeling emotionally exhausted.
Bret found himself imprisoned in a vicious cycle: make good money, but sacrifice time and freedom to do it. He knew there had to be a better way, and when he got married, he and his wife went shopping for an estate planning attorney.
He quickly realized that there was a huge opportunity for well-trained estate planning attorneys to fill this crucial gap in the marketplace.
FINDING NEWLAW
Finding a Way Out Through Estate Planning
In 2019, Bret discovered NewLaw while searching for better estate planning options for his own family.
Although he immediately recognized the potential, there was fear around moving forward. Besides, family law was good money and replacing it was going to be difficult.
Eventually, he made his decision: he would build a hybrid practice, keeping family law clients until he had enough stability in the estate planning business to make the switch. To break free from family law, Bret took a contractor position with the Air Force that provided stable income while he built his estate planning practice.
But that all changed in Fall 2023, when he attended an event with NewLaw that challenged his beliefs about what was possible. After that event, he found the courage to fully commit to estate planning.
As his wife told him, "It's time for you to believe in yourself."
THE SOLUTION
Full Commitment Leads to Rapid Growth
Once Bret made the decision to fully commit to estate planning through NewLaw, everything changed. The program provided:
- Comprehensive estate planning training, CLEs, and PFL® designation
- Proven systems and support for successful practice management at all stages of growth, from solo all the way to 7 and 8-figures
- A community of like-minded and entrepreneurial attorneys
- Ongoing coaching and resources for growth
With this foundation and his newfound commitment, Bret was able to book out his calendar for three months immediately after deciding to focus solely on estate planning as a PFL® firm leader.
“Doing estate planning was the complete opposite (of family law). I had time, I enjoyed the topic, I enjoyed meeting with my clients. Instead of trying to resolve conflict when it was too late, here I had an opportunity to engage clients in the beginning before there was a problem and use that family law experience that I had to help them with their future planning.”
THE OUTCOME
Freedom, Purpose, and Double the Income in Just One Year
Since fully committing to estate planning in October 2023, Bret has doubled his income while working fewer hours, gained control of his calendar, and is on a clear path to building a $3 million firm.
Most importantly, Bret has rediscovered his love for practicing law.
Working with NewLaw has allowed him to build the practice he always wanted - one where he chooses his clients, controls his schedule, and makes a positive impact in his community.
Bret Glenn
PERSONAL FAMILY LAWYER
"If you're tired of the rat race where your calendar is dictated by a third party and you're ready to gain control of your life, control of your finances, and control of your practice... NewLaw is something you really need to take a look at."
Now it's your turn
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