Jim Pattillo is a litigation partner and litigation practice group chair at Christian & Small, a law firm based in Alabama and Mississippi. With more than 20 years of trial experience and over 70 trials to verdict, Jim represents insurers and corporate clients in high-stakes litigation and is frequently called in for complex, high-exposure matters. In addition to his practice, Jim plays a key role in the firm's growth and talent development efforts, with a strong focus on training younger lawyers, building high-performance teams, and creating a culture of accountability and excellence. He also holds a master's degree in mass communication from the University of Florida, giving him a unique perspective on how legal strategy, client communication, and business development intersect. Jim is a frequent speaker and writer on litigation strategy, trial readiness, and law firm leadership.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT SCALING A LITIGATION PRACTICE

Law firms say associates are their most important resource, but many are still treating them primarily as billing units. Work gets pushed down with no relationship behind it, and younger lawyers are left figuring things out by asking another associate or a paralegal how a partner likes things done. That might keep files moving, but it doesn't build the kind of lawyers clients ask to have on their next case.

Jim Pattillo's litigation group at Christian & Small went from three associates to roughly 15 in about four years, across three offices. That growth required more than hiring. It meant making partners accessible, helping associates understand not just the work but the business behind it, and being intentional about training rather than expecting people to pick it up by osmosis. From Monday morning team meetings to monthly associate lunches to a review process where associates tell the firm what they think they need, the investment is planned, tracked, and measured.

In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge, Elise Holtzman talks with Jim Pattillo of Christian & Small about what real investment in younger lawyers looks like, why work product quality is the best business development tool, how to maintain consistency across a growing litigation team, and what law firm leaders miss about the connection between culture and profitability.

2:09 - The false dichotomy between culture and profitability

4:16 - Why younger lawyers need to be in the office to learn

5:42 - What drove the firm's growth from 3 associates to 15

6:51 - Being intentional about training, not just hiring

11:37 - Why work product quality is your best business development tool

13:30 - How AI changes the associate role without replacing it

15:22 - The constant pull between producing and leading

19:16 - What equity partners need to understand about profitability

20:19 - The rule of thirds and helping associates see themselves as assets

25:28 - Hiring for soft skills and letting lawyers be themselves

27:56 - What associates actually need from their firms

MENTIONED IN SCALING A LITIGATION PRACTICE WITHOUT LOSING WHAT MAKES IT WORK

Christian & Small, LLP | LinkedIn

Jim Pattillo on LinkedIn

Marcie Borgal Shunk and Sona Spencer | The Death of Apprenticeship: What it Means for Lawyers and Law Firms

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