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High income, low net worth—it's the dirty secret plaguing many successful family law attorneys. In this J Sterling Hughes Insider episode, Darren Wurz, founder of the Lawyer Millionaire Founders Network, reveals why attorneys making $500K+ annually still struggle to build wealth and his proven three-step system that's transformed hundreds of law firm owners into true millionaires.

Drawing from over 20 years of financial planning exclusively for attorneys, Darren exposes:

• The overspending trap that destroys wealth in both business and personal finances
• His exact three-step framework: stabilizing business finances, maximizing profitability, and growing wealth
• Why family law attorneys face unique wealth-building challenges due to irregular cash flow and high stress
• The critical hiring strategies that unlock wealth-building potential while scaling your practice
• Why making your first million is often easier than keeping it—and the mindset shift required for wealth preservation

Listen in for the complete blueprint to achieve work-optional status while building a thriving family law practice, including real client examples and specific investment strategies that account for the unique challenges of family law practice.

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Go to: www.JSterlingHughes.com for tons of Family Law Practice resources.

My purpose is to Empower Family Law Attorneys so they can build a beautiful family law practice and have the practice of their dreams.

I share my family law firm’s secrets, tactics, and strategies of how we have grown from 0 to 25 attorneys and over $15m in revenue in our first ten years.

When I am not podcasting, I am the CEO and Co-Founder of SterlingLawyers.com.

Follow me on: LinkedIn - YouTube - X - Instagram - TikTok

Send us a text

What's your family law firm actually worth if you decided to sell tomorrow? Most attorneys are shocked by the answer. In this J Sterling Insider episode, Richard James—founder of Your Practice Mastered, who's helped over 900 attorneys build scalable practices—reveals the brutal truth about law firm valuations and what drives them.

Drawing from real valuation worksheets and market data, Richard breaks down:

• The four types of law firm owners and why your exit strategy determines your valuation approach
• How value drivers like growth rate, profit margins, and LTV-to-CAC ratios can multiply your worth
• The major detractors that kill valuations: keyman risk, single channel dependence, and lack of systems
• Why most successful firms are worth far less than owners think—and the market realities limiting buyers

Listen in for Richard's exact framework that will show you exactly how to build a sellable firm—even if you never plan to sell—by maximizing the fundamentals that create sustainable profitability.

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Go to: www.JSterlingHughes.com for tons of Family Law Practice resources.

My purpose is to Empower Family Law Attorneys so they can build a beautiful family law practice and have the practice of their dreams.

I share my family law firm’s secrets, tactics, and strategies of how we have grown from 0 to 25 attorneys and over $15m in revenue in our first ten years.

When I am not podcasting, I am the CEO and Co-Founder of SterlingLawyers.com.

Follow me on: LinkedIn - YouTube - X - Instagram - TikTok

Send us a text

Want to see the exact communication system that scaled our law firm, Sterling Lawyers, to 25+ attorneys and $15+ million in revenue? In this exclusive behind-the-scenes J Sterling Hughes Insider episode, I take you inside an actual daily huddle—the 15-20 minute discipline that transformed their firm's growth and culture. 

Drawing from their real morning meeting, we unlock the framework that delivers:

• Accurate performance updates across yesterday, 5-day, and 28-day metrics that keep everyone aligned
• Timely recruiting discussions that ensure a quality teammate pipeline for sustainable growth
• Roadblock removal sessions that eliminate operational bottlenecks before they compound
• Culture reinforcement that builds empathy and teamwork across all divisions

Listen in for a real look at how their 8:30 AM Central huddle connects team members from around the world. Our unfiltered recording shows exactly how 15 minutes of daily discipline creates the communication velocity that powers million-dollar law firm growth.

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Go to: www.JSterlingHughes.com for tons of Family Law Practice resources.

My purpose is to Empower Family Law Attorneys so they can build a beautiful family law practice and have the practice of their dreams.

I share my family law firm’s secrets, tactics, and strategies of how we have grown from 0 to 25 attorneys and over $15m in revenue in our first ten years.

When I am not podcasting, I am the CEO and Co-Founder of SterlingLawyers.com.

Follow me on: LinkedIn - YouTube - X - Instagram - TikTok

Send us a text

From struggling solo to breakthrough month—Tom Hartin just hit $24,000 in revenue with 4 new clients after 9 months of building his Long Island practice. In this episode, we witness the dramatic turnaround that every startup attorney dreams about.

We dive into his explosive May success:

• Why his lead-to-consult conversion rate hit nearly 100% and what that reveals about his market positioning
• The strategic office move that gives him space to hire while maintaining his dominant Massapequa map rankings
• His bold hiring decisions to accelerate his path from practitioner to business owner
• The real math behind associate hiring: billable monthly hours monthly he needs to cover salary plus overhead

Listen in as Tom wrestles with the classic law firm owner dilemma—playing it safe with steady growth versus taking calculated risks to reach his vision faster.

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Go to: www.JSterlingHughes.com for tons of Family Law Practice resources.

My purpose is to Empower Family Law Attorneys so they can build a beautiful family law practice and have the practice of their dreams.

I share my family law firm’s secrets, tactics, and strategies of how we have grown from 0 to 25 attorneys and over $15m in revenue in our first ten years.

When I am not podcasting, I am the CEO and Co-Founder of SterlingLawyers.com.

Follow me on: LinkedIn - YouTube - X - Instagram - TikTok

Send us a text

Want to know the secret tool that transformed Sterling Lawyers from chaos to a coordinated 25+ attorney firm doing $15+ million in revenue? In this interview, I interviewed our CFO, Todd Clauer, who revealed our game-changing daily management huddle—a 30-minute meeting that revolutionized how they operate.

Drawing from 30+ years across manufacturing and professional services, Todd breaks down their proven system:

• The four-part daily agenda that keeps every division aligned
• How our color-coded metrics drive immediate action on what matters most
• Why real-time consult tracking shrunk lead-to-appointment time from 2 weeks to under 5 days
• The Friday NPS readings and shoutouts that reinforce client-first culture
• How firm-wide data access turned attorneys into business-minded partners requesting marketing increases

Listen in for the exact framework that eliminates silos, accelerates communication, and builds ownership mentality across every level of the organization. Todd's systematic approach shows how one simple daily habit can transform firm culture while driving measurable business results.

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Go to: www.JSterlingHughes.com for tons of Family Law Practice resources.

My purpose is to Empower Family Law Attorneys so they can build a beautiful family law practice and have the practice of their dreams.

I share my family law firm’s secrets, tactics, and strategies of how we have grown from 0 to 25 attorneys and over $15m in revenue in our first ten years.

When I am not podcasting, I am the CEO and Co-Founder of SterlingLawyers.com.

Follow me on: LinkedIn - YouTube - X - Instagram - TikTok

Send us a text

Tired of the feast or famine cycle that plagues most family law practices? In this video, I reveal why consistent marketing is the only way to break free from the devastating ups and downs that keep attorneys trapped in survival mode.

 We tackle:

• The three psychological traps that kill marketing momentum when you get busy
• Why redefining marketing as simply "getting attention" changes everything about how you approach growth
• The compounding benefits of daily marketing habits—from client selection power to weathering seasonal slowdowns
• Simple daily actions that count as marketing: one text to a referral source, bringing pastries to court clerks, or checking in with your marketing team

Listen in for a paradigm shift that transforms marketing from an overwhelming burden into manageable daily habits. Our practical approach shows how even the busiest solo practitioners can maintain consistent growth momentum without sacrificing client work, because today's marketing creates tomorrow's clients.

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Go to: www.JSterlingHughes.com for tons of Family Law Practice resources.

My purpose is to Empower Family Law Attorneys so they can build a beautiful family law practice and have the practice of their dreams.

I share my family law firm’s secrets, tactics, and strategies of how we have grown from 0 to 25 attorneys and over $15m in revenue in our first ten years.

When I am not podcasting, I am the CEO and Co-Founder of SterlingLawyers.com.

Follow me on: LinkedIn - YouTube - X - Instagram - TikTok

Send us a text

Wondering if mastermind programs are worth the investment? In this episode, I sit down with Richard James, founder of Your Practice Mastered, who helped transform our practice after I discovered his work during my niece's graduation ceremony. 

This discussion reveals:

• My biggest 10-year mistake was avoiding industry-specific masterminds (despite being in other groups for 20+ years)
• The "third mind" concept that separates successful masterminds from networking groups
• Richard's unexpected journey from asking "dumb questions" in a $27,000 mastermind to helping 900+ attorneys
• The critical difference between free and paid mastermind commitments
• His hybrid approach that goes beyond traditional quarterly "hot seats"

Listen in for practical guidance on choosing the right mastermind environment, whether you're seeking accountability, benchmarking opportunities, or simply that safe space where you're not building your practice alone.

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Go to: www.JSterlingHughes.com for tons of Family Law Practice resources.

My purpose is to Empower Family Law Attorneys so they can build a beautiful family law practice and have the practice of their dreams.

I share my family law firm’s secrets, tactics, and strategies of how we have grown from 0 to 25 attorneys and over $15m in revenue in our first ten years.

When I am not podcasting, I am the CEO and Co-Founder of SterlingLawyers.com.

Follow me on: LinkedIn - YouTube - X - Instagram - TikTok

Send us a text

What happens when a promising family law practice hits a plateau after nine months of steady growth? In this interview, Tom Hartin opens up about the sobering reality of building a practice on Long Island—where April brought just 5 leads, 2 consults, and 1 hire despite $6,800 in monthly expenses.

We dive deep into his current challenges:

• How his strategic Massapequa location reached #1 in map rankings within two months, but growth has stagnated
• The difficult reality of expanding to competitive Melville while burning through savings as sole income earner
• Why call volume actually decreased during peak divorce season (February-April) despite working with marketing professionals
• The pressure of supporting a family of four in an expensive market while waiting for his second location to gain traction
• His upcoming trials and the constant juggle between building the practice and serving existing clients

Listen in for an unfiltered look at the emotional and financial pressures of year one—where Tom questions his timeline expectations while remaining committed to the long-term vision. His real struggle provides crucial perspective for any attorney considering solo practice or wondering what the real growth curve looks like beyond the success stories.

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Go to: www.JSterlingHughes.com for tons of Family Law Practice resources.

My purpose is to Empower Family Law Attorneys so they can build a beautiful family law practice and have the practice of their dreams.

I share my family law firm’s secrets, tactics, and strategies of how we have grown from 0 to 25 attorneys and over $15m in revenue in our first ten years.

When I am not podcasting, I am the CEO and Co-Founder of SterlingLawyers.com.

Follow me on: LinkedIn - YouTube - X - Instagram - TikTok

Send us a text

How does a small-town family lawyer build a $3 million practice after 19 years of struggle and heartache? In this candid Masters of Family Law interview, Jonathan Breeden shares the raw truth behind his rollercoaster journey from struggling solo practitioner to thriving multi-attorney firm in North Carolina.

We explore his strategic evolution:

• How choosing an underserved suburb with fewer competing attorneys proved crucial to his initial survival
• The devastating website vendor failure that collapsed his practice and forced his wife to become his paralegal
• His transformative decision to invest in marketing during COVID, while competitors pulled back
• The heartbreaking moment when associates attempted to steal $120,000 in clients (and how he rebuilt)
• The game-changing hire of a supervising attorney that finally stabilized his attorney retention

Listen in for practical wisdom from someone who grew from $700K to $3M+ in just four years by mastering his marketing funnel, implementing systems, and embracing an abundance mindset. Jonathan's authentic journey provides actionable strategies for family law attorneys at any stage—especially those willing to work through difficult transitions to achieve their ideal practice.

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Go to: www.JSterlingHughes.com for tons of Family Law Practice resources.

My purpose is to Empower Family Law Attorneys so they can build a beautiful family law practice and have the practice of their dreams.

I share my family law firm’s secrets, tactics, and strategies of how we have grown from 0 to 25 attorneys and over $15m in revenue in our first ten years.

When I am not podcasting, I am the CEO and Co-Founder of SterlingLawyers.com.

Follow me on: LinkedIn - YouTube - X - Instagram - TikTok

Send us a text

Struggling to scale your family law practice? In this interview, I sit down with Deidra Haynes, who transformed her Indianapolis firm from $129,000 to $2.1 million in just three years—with projections of $3.7 million in 2025. 

We tackled her incredible growth about:

• How a single Facebook ad and a $1 investment changed everything when she had no clients
• The counterintuitive "Mentor Mindset" that led her to study elite PI attorneys despite practicing family law
• Her strategic evolution from answering calls herself using different names to building a sophisticated intake team
• The critical CEO transition that took her from working early hours with a full caseload to complete removal from casework
• How faith-driven decision making gave her courage to make bold investments others would consider reckless

Listen in for practical insights from someone who has walked the path from struggling solo practitioner to building a thriving firm. Deidra's authentic journey provides actionable strategies whether you're trying to break six figures or scale into the millions.

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Go to: www.JSterlingHughes.com for tons of Family Law Practice resources.

My purpose is to Empower Family Law Attorneys so they can build a beautiful family law practice and have the practice of their dreams.

I share my family law firm’s secrets, tactics, and strategies of how we have grown from 0 to 25 attorneys and over $15m in revenue in our first ten years.

When I am not podcasting, I am the CEO and Co-Founder of SterlingLawyers.com.

Follow me on: LinkedIn - YouTube - X - Instagram - TikTok