October 1, 2024
October 1, 2024
October 1, 2024
October 1, 2024
In this eye-opening episode of the NewLaw Podcast for Entrepreneurial Lawyers, Ali Katz uncovers the crucial lessons missing from traditional legal education and how this may be holding you back. She explores why the standard law school model leaves many lawyers unprepared to build sustainable, fulfilling practices and dives deeper into the essential skills & strategies needed to truly thrive in your legal career.
Through her personal journey of overcoming BigLaw burnout and creating the New Law Business Model, Ali shares the skills & strategies you need to reclaim your passion for practicing law. Discover why so many lawyers feel stuck, learn the hidden truths about the profession, and unlock actionable steps to build a practice—and a life—you love.
This episode isn’t just about identifying what’s broken; it’s about giving you the tools and mindset to fix it.
So take the time to listen to this empowering episode right now.
🔑K𝘦𝘺 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘛𝘰 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 🔑
1️⃣ 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹’𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗺: Essential skills like business systems, client relationships, and work-life balance are often overlooked, leaving lawyers unprepared for the realities of practice.
2️⃣ 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁: Understand how traditional models prioritize billable hours over meaningful client connections, creating chronic stress and dissatisfaction.
3️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝘄: Transition from transactional law to relational lawyering by focusing on trust-building and flat-fee billing to create more value for clients—and yourself.
4️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: Learn how New Law Business Model’s step-by-step process helps lawyers systematize their operations, reduce overwhelm, and achieve financial freedom.
5️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀: Real-life success stories like Robert Galliano, who scaled his fees by 1,000% and achieved a 100% client engagement rate, show you what’s possible when you adopt these strategies.
So if you're ready to stop surviving and start thriving in your law practice, CLICK THE BIG BUTTON BELOW to discover how the New Law Business Model can help you transform your career—and your life.
Transcript
It's another Tuesday evening and you're the last one in the office – again. You're still sitting at your desk staring at what appears to be an endless pile of work. You silenced your phone hours ago, but a single notification catches your eye. It's from home.
The text reads: "You coming home for dinner?"
Your stomach sinks because it's another promise broken, another memorable moment missed. You drop your head into your hands with exhaustion & embarrassment and ask yourself:
"Is this really what I worked so hard for in Law School?"
These days, you feel more like a paper-pusher trapped in a system that doesn't care about you—or your clients. The daily grind drains your…
These days, you feel more like a paper-pusher trapped in a system that doesn't care about you—or your clients. The daily grind drains your energy and leaves little room for the purpose & passion that brought you to this profession in the first place.
If the picture that's just been painted in your mind right now sounds familiar, you're not alone. And today, you and I are going to have a heart-to-heart about what put you in this position and why it doesn't have to stay this way.
Welcome to The NewLaw Podcast for Entrepreneurial Lawyers, where our mission is simple: to transform the practice of law by providing world-class training and services to legal professionals embodying the Personal Family Lawyer® promise around the world.
I'm Ali Katz and I've been in your shoes. I know exactly what it's like to feel trapped by the traditional legal system -– overworked, undervalued, & questioning if this is what you signed up for. I know the pressure, the burnout, and the disillusionment that comes from working within a system that feels stacked against you.
But I also know what it's like to break free.
Yes…I know what it feels like to take back control, align your practice with your vision & values, and finally find joy in the work you do.
In each episode of this popular podcast, we'll uncover the hidden challenges holding you back and share actionable strategies to create the law practice you deeply desire & deserve -– all while making a meaningful impact in the lives of those who need you the most.
In today's episode, we'll explore why traditional law school left you unprepared for the business and relational side of practicing law — and how that's impacting your career and (maybe more importantly) your life. When you stay right there and keep listening, I'll show you the first steps to reclaiming your purpose and building a practice that works for you, not against you.
So, if you've ever felt trapped, undervalued, or disconnected from the very reason you became a lawyer in the first place, then this episode is your invitation to something better.
Segment #1: The Hidden Curriculum of Law School
Let's take a moment for you to reflect back to your first day of law school.
Do you remember the excitement, the ambition, and the belief that you were stepping into a career that would let you make a difference in the community you cared about?
Now, let's fast forward to today — how does that compare to your reality?
The truth is, law school prepared you to understand the law, to draft contracts, and to analyze case precedents. But what they didn't teach you—what they should have taught you—are the very things you need to thrive in practice. Like how to run a business. How to build meaningful relationships with your clients. And how to create a practice that supports your life, instead of consuming it.
Instead, you were taught to focus on billable hours, mastering the adversarial process, and delivering work product at breakneck speed. But when it came to the skills that make or break a sustainable career—like time management, marketing, & even setting fees—you were left to figure it out on your own.
Take my story, for example. I graduated first in my class, landed a job at a prestigious firm, and worked harder than ever to prove myself. But no one told me how to manage a practice or balance my time between my personal & professional lives. I was buried under billable hours and stuck in a cycle that left me exhausted, disconnected, and questioning why I'd chosen this path in the first place.
And I know I'm not the only one. Every week, I talk to lawyers who share the same struggles. The frustration of feeling unprepared. The exhaustion of trying to do it all on their own. And the fear that this is just how it has to be from today forward.
But what if I told you it doesn't have to stay this way?
What if I told you there's a model—a framework—that fills in the gaps and helps you build a practice you can actually love? Well, we'll talk about that in just a moment. But first, let's dive deeper into what these gaps are really costing you.
Segment #2: The Costs & Consequences of Staying Stuck
I know it's not easy to admit when things aren't working. You tell yourself, 'This is just how the life of a lawyer is. It's supposed to be this way.'
But deep down, you can't shake the feeling that something's not right. And the longer you stay stuck in the status quo, the more it costs you — not just professionally — but personally too!
Let's start with what it's costing you as a person.
How many moments have you missed with your family because you were buried under deadlines you couldn't control?
How many times have you promised your kids you'd make it to dinner, only to get pulled back into the office for another couple of hours?
And it's not just time you're sacrificing. It's your health, too. Late nights, skipped meals, constant stress— you know that they add up. You wake up the next morning feeling drained before the day even begins, wondering how much longer you can keep this up.
Then there's the toll it takes on your practice.
You're working harder than ever, but are you really growing? Or are you stuck in the same place, month after month, just trying to stay afloat?
And let's talk about client relationships. When you're stretched thin, it's impossible to give every client the attention they deserve. That can lead to dissatisfaction — and we all know unhappy clients don't stick around long, let alone refer you to others.
But perhaps the most painful cost of all is the emotional one.
You started this journey because you wanted to make a difference. You wanted to help people and to build something meaningful. But somewhere along the way, the spark that once burned bright is now closer & closer to burning out.
And now, you're left wondering: 'Is this really what I signed up for?'
It's time for a reality check because if nothing changes, what does the next 6-12 months look like for you?
More missed moments, more sleepless nights, more of the same frustrations. And if you're not careful, that feeling of staying stuck can end up amplifying your anxiety about your disillusionment with the profession altogether. The passion that brought you here could slip away entirely.
But here's the thing: it doesn't have to stay this way.
The costs you're paying right now — your time, your health, your relationships — are not the price of success. They're the price of a broken system. And I'm here to tell you that there's a better way.
In just a moment, I'm going to share how you can start reclaiming your time, your practice, and your purpose. But first, I want to introduce you to someone who did just that. Someone who broke free from this cycle and found a way to thrive. Stay with me here — I think you'll find their story inspiring.
Segment #3: The Way Forward
Take a moment and imagine this…
What if your workday didn't feel like a relentless grind? What if your clients weren't just transactions, but trusted relationships built on connection and shared values? What if you could build a practice that didn't just keep you afloat — but actually fulfilled you?
Here's the truth: This isn't some far-fetched dream. It's not only possible — it's entirely within your reach.
The New Law Business Model isn't just a system—it's the result of years of trial & error, lessons learned the hard way, and breakthroughs that didn't just transform my practice, they transformed my life.
Early in my legal career, I was just like you—overwhelmed, exhausted, and questioning if this was really the life I wanted. I didn't have a guide, so I made mistakes, stumbled through the dark, and eventually found a way out.
But here's what you should realize — you don't have to go through those same trials & tribulations. I've taken everything I learned, refined it, and turned it into a proven process that's already helped 100's of lawyers escape burnout, build thriving practices, and rediscover their passion for law.
What started as a solution for my own struggles has now (many years later) grown into something much bigger—a movement. The New Law Business Model is about redefining what success looks like for lawyers, shifting from the grind of transactional law to the freedom & fulfillment of relational lawyering.
It's about building a law practice rooted in relationships with connections in your own community. It's about doing it in a way that works for you, your clients, and your life. It's about leaning into your purpose and being rewarded with a profitable law practice.
And I'm here to show you how you can do it, too.
Let's go through some of the core components that make up the proven process behind the New Law Business Model right now:
CORE COMPONENT #1: Relational Client Partnerships
Imagine working with clients who trust you so deeply that they come to you not just for their immediate needs, but for their family's future – year after year. That's the power of relational law—it builds loyalty and trust that no DIY platform or algorithm can replicate.
CORE COMPONENT #2: Flat-Fee Services
What if you could break free from the hours-for-dollars grind and create flat-fee packages that give your clients clarity and give you control over your time? With NLBM, you'll learn how to shift your pricing structure to reflect the true value of your expertise.
CORE COMPONENT #3: Systematized Operations
Running a law firm doesn't have to mean running yourself ragged. With the right systems in place, you can streamline your operations, delegate effectively, and focus on the work you love—while still being highly profitable.
Let me introduce you to Robert Galliano. After 25 years in practice, Robert was ready to quit. He was undercharging, overworking, and feeling completely stuck. But once he embraced the New Law Business Model, everything changed. He increased his fees by 1,000%, achieved a 100% client engagement rate, and eventually sold his practice for $1 million.
His story is proof that it's never too late to turn things around. And if Robert can do it, so can you.
Right now, you might be thinking, 'That sounds amazing, Ali, but where do I even start?'
And I get it—change can feel overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be. With NLBM, we guide you step by step, giving you the strategy, systems, & support you need to create the law practice and the life you've always wanted.
In the next episode, we're going to dive even deeper into why the traditional model isn't working—and how you can start breaking free from it today.
But if you're ready to take that first step right now, I've got something special for you. It's a free resource I created just for lawyers like you, called 'What They Should Have Taught You in Law School.' This guide will give you practical insights to start transforming your practice immediately.
The Final Segment: Are You Going To Stay Stuck at the Status Quo?
If you've made it this far into the episode, I want you to take a moment to recognize something: you're already ahead of so many lawyers out there.
Why? Because you're here. You're investing time in yourself, reflecting on what isn't working, and exploring what could. That takes courage. And it's the first step to creating a law practice—and a life—you love.
Listen…
You didn't go to law school to feel burned out, undervalued, or stuck in a system that isn't working. But the truth is, it doesn't have to stay this way. There's a better path—a way to practice law that aligns with your values, serves your clients at the highest level, and gives you back control over your time and your life.
So here's what I want you to do right now. If anything I've shared today resonates with you, if you're tired of the daily grind and ready for a better way, then download a free copy of my book: The New Law Business Model: Revealed.
It's packed with actionable insights that can help you start making changes today. You can find it at: newlawbusinessmodel.com/revealed-book
And if you're soooo sick & tired of the status quo and ready to dive deeper, I'm inviting you to get instant access to my 15 minute video where I'll show you exactly how to add 6-figures (or more) to your business and fall back in love with your law practice — all while showing care & compassion for those in your own community who need you the most.
Simply go to: NewLaw.co/Grow
And don't forget to tune in next time for Episode 39: How Traditional Law is Burning Out Good Lawyers—and What You Can Do About It!
We're going to pull back the curtain on the systemic issues that keep so many lawyers feeling stuck and show you how to start breaking free.
In the end, our 609+ Personal Family Lawyer firm leaders who are part of the New Law Business Model movement are living proof that you simply don't have to settle for staying stuck at the status quo.
You don't have to accept burnout, you don't have to accept overwhelm, and you don't have to accept that feeling like your work doesn't matter. The life—and the practice—you've always dreamed of is within your reach.
I want you to hear this loud and clear: you're not alone in this journey anymore.
Every single step you take toward building a practice you love is a step toward reclaiming your purpose, reigniting your passion, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of those who need you most.
And I'm here to guide you, every step of the way.
So, take a deep breath and know that change is possible. You're stronger than you realize and you have what it takes to create something extraordinary - for you and your loved ones. Until next time, hold onto this truth: the best is yet to come—and it starts with you.