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Just wrapped up month five of Tom Hartin’s journey building his family law practice in Long Island, NY. January started slow until late in the month when things suddenly picked up — booking four consults over three days. 

In this update, Tom shares:

• How he's doubling down - opening a second office and switching marketing partners
• Why he's making major changes despite steady (but slower than expected) growth
• His shift to Rocket Clicks for marketing and what they immediately advised
• The real numbers: $7,400 revenue and $4,000 profit for the month

Whether you're thinking about starting your own practice or already in the early stages, Tom's candid look at the ups, downs, and strategic pivots shows what it really takes to build from scratch. Hope this helps you grow your practice!

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Ready to find the accountability partner you need to build your dream family law firm the same way we grew Sterling Lawyers?

Follow these steps:

1. SUBSCRIBE TO JEFF'S NEWSLETTER: https://jsterlinghughes.com/

2. BOOK A FREE 30-MINUTE AUDIT WITH US: https://rocketclicks.com/schedule-a-family-law-quick-audit/

3. CONNECT WITH US:

LinkedIn: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Facebook: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Instagram: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls

4. TELL US WHAT YOU WANT:
Tell us in the comments if you liked this episode and what other kinds of episodes you would like to see.

Send us a text

Following up on our lawyer compensation discussion, I sat down with two key perspectives from our 2024 comp change — Katie VanDeusen (Managing Partner) who led the rollout, and Nina Kelly (Partner) who experienced it firsthand. 

Drawing from their different vantage points, we explore:

• How Katie and our leadership team rebuilt trust through careful, intentional communication
• The critical importance of 1:1 meetings before group announcements
• Why making team members feel "safe and heard" was key to success
• Nina's honest take on what it felt like receiving two major comp changes

Listen in for real insights on how to navigate one of the trickiest challenges in growing a family law firm — changing lawyer compensation without losing trust. Hope this helps you grow your practice!

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Ready to find the accountability partner you need to build your dream family law firm the same way we grew Sterling Lawyers?

Follow these steps:

1. SUBSCRIBE TO JEFF'S NEWSLETTER: https://jsterlinghughes.com/

2. BOOK A FREE 30-MINUTE AUDIT WITH US: https://rocketclicks.com/schedule-a-family-law-quick-audit/

3. CONNECT WITH US:

LinkedIn: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Facebook: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Instagram: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls

4. TELL US WHAT YOU WANT:
Tell us in the comments if you liked this episode and what other kinds of episodes you would like to see.

Send us a text

As we've grown Sterling Lawyers to 25+ attorneys and $15M in revenue, one of the toughest challenges has been getting lawyer compensation right. 

In this episode, I sit down with my partner, Jeff Kerlin, to walk through our 2024 journey of transforming our compensation model. 

We share:

• Why our original percentage-of-collections model that worked for years started breaking down
• The painful lessons we learned from rushing changes in 2022
• How Jeff Kerlin led a 14-month process to rebuild trust and create a new model that works for everyone
• Our path to creating clear growth opportunities for attorneys at every level

Listen in for an honest look at one of the most challenging aspects of running a growing family law firm. Hope this helps you grow your practice!

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Ready to find the accountability partner you need to build your dream family law firm the same way we grew Sterling Lawyers?

Follow these steps:

1. SUBSCRIBE TO JEFF'S NEWSLETTER: https://jsterlinghughes.com/

2. BOOK A FREE 30-MINUTE AUDIT WITH US: https://rocketclicks.com/schedule-a-family-law-quick-audit/

3. CONNECT WITH US:

LinkedIn: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Facebook: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Instagram: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls

4. TELL US WHAT YOU WANT:
Tell us in the comments if you liked this episode and what other kinds of episodes you would like to see.

Send us a text

Wondering how to build a killer team culture AND speed up training for your new attorneys at the same time? In this episode, I sit down with Austin Miller (one of our Partners) and Bailey Holt (our rising star Senior Associate) from our Milwaukee team to share a simple but powerful tool we stumbled on - what we call "The Big Table." 

We dive into:

• How a simple office layout change transformed our team culture
• Why our attorneys choose to work together instead of behind closed doors
• The unexpected way this setup rapidly develops new lawyers
• Real stories of how sharing space creates better outcomes for our clients

Listen in to hear how a simple furniture change created a massive impact on our team's growth and culture. Hope this helps you grow your practice!

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Ready to find the accountability partner you need to build your dream family law firm the same way we grew Sterling Lawyers?

Follow these steps:

1. SUBSCRIBE TO JEFF'S NEWSLETTER: https://jsterlinghughes.com/

2. BOOK A FREE 30-MINUTE AUDIT WITH US: https://rocketclicks.com/schedule-a-family-law-quick-audit/

3. CONNECT WITH US:

LinkedIn: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Facebook: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Instagram: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls

4. TELL US WHAT YOU WANT:
Tell us in the comments if you liked this episode and what other kinds of episodes you would like to see.

Send us a text

​​In this episode, I sit down with Antonio Jimenez, a Florida family law attorney and technologist who's created Divorce.law, which is a lead gen tool for lawyers.

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Ready to find the accountability partner you need to build your dream family law firm the same way we grew Sterling Lawyers?

Follow these steps:

1. SUBSCRIBE TO JEFF'S NEWSLETTER: https://jsterlinghughes.com/

2. BOOK A FREE 30-MINUTE AUDIT WITH US: https://rocketclicks.com/schedule-a-family-law-quick-audit/

3. CONNECT WITH US:

LinkedIn: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Facebook: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Instagram: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls

4. TELL US WHAT YOU WANT:
Tell us in the comments if you liked this episode and what other kinds of episodes you would like to see.

Send us a text

Is a massive opportunity storm brewing for family law practices?

In this show, I explore the impending stories that could reshape how we run our family law firms.

Here’s what I covered:

• Washington State’s new 10-year pilot program to test non-lawyers practicing in a limited way
• How KPMG moving into big law (through Arizona) will trickle down to people law 
• The surge of private equity firms circling small and rural law practices looking for a way to enter

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Ready to find the accountability partner you need to build your dream family law firm the same way we grew Sterling Lawyers?

Follow these steps:

1. SUBSCRIBE TO JEFF'S NEWSLETTER: https://jsterlinghughes.com/

2. BOOK A FREE 30-MINUTE AUDIT WITH US: https://rocketclicks.com/schedule-a-family-law-quick-audit/

3. CONNECT WITH US:

LinkedIn: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Facebook: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Instagram: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls

4. TELL US WHAT YOU WANT:
Tell us in the comments if you liked this episode and what other kinds of episodes you would like to see.

Send us a text

Growing a family law firm is hard. As we built Sterling Lawyers to a 25+ attorney firm doing $15M in revenue, I learned that you need clear competitive advantages to break out of the pack. 

In this show, I cover:

• Why having just one advantage wasn't enough for us
• Examples of what's working for successful family law firms across the U.S.
• How to identify your firm's unique advantages
• Deploying your advantages to increase margins

I hope this helps you build a beautiful family practice firm and have the firm of your dreams!

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Ready to find the accountability partner you need to build your dream family law firm the same way we grew Sterling Lawyers?

Follow these steps:

1. SUBSCRIBE TO JEFF'S NEWSLETTER: https://jsterlinghughes.com/

2. BOOK A FREE 30-MINUTE AUDIT WITH US: https://rocketclicks.com/schedule-a-family-law-quick-audit/

3. CONNECT WITH US:

LinkedIn: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Facebook: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Instagram: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls

4. TELL US WHAT YOU WANT:
Tell us in the comments if you liked this episode and what other kinds of episodes you would like to see.

Send us a text

Four months into his new family law practice, Tom Hartin shares some frank insights about December 2024. 

While revenue hit a new high at $10,820, new client signings were slower than expected—though that's typical for the holiday season. 

Listen in as we discuss:

• The mindset shifts needed when running your own practice and managing growth expectations
• Tom's plans for hiring his first associate (and why lead flow matters more than current case count)
• Real challenges around marketing to first responders and unexpected hurdles with union relationships
• Why Tom's planning to refine his consultation process and possibly shift from free to paid consults

If you’re considering launching your own family law practice or growing your current one, Tom’s experiences offer valuable lessons and practical strategies.

Tune in for an honest conversation about the realities of building a successful practice and the steps needed to overcome challenges along the way. 

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Ready to find the accountability partner you need to build your dream family law firm the same way we grew Sterling Lawyers?

Follow these steps:

1. SUBSCRIBE TO JEFF'S NEWSLETTER: https://jsterlinghughes.com/

2. BOOK A FREE 30-MINUTE AUDIT WITH US: https://rocketclicks.com/schedule-a-family-law-quick-audit/

3. CONNECT WITH US:

LinkedIn: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Facebook: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Instagram: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls

4. TELL US WHAT YOU WANT:
Tell us in the comments if you liked this episode and what other kinds of episodes you would like to see.

Send us a text

Obtaining great client outcomes is not enough to satisfy family law clients.

There's a mind-bending truth on what clients want more than great outcomes—it's meeting their emotional needs.

In this episode, I share:

• The truth about what clients will pay premium rates for (hint: it's not legal outcomes)
• The two things we aggressively focus on at Sterling to deliver this at scale
• Why the gap between good and great family lawyers isn't about legal skill

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Ready to find the accountability partner you need to build your dream family law firm the same way we grew Sterling Lawyers?

Follow these steps:

1. SUBSCRIBE TO JEFF'S NEWSLETTER: https://jsterlinghughes.com/

2. BOOK A FREE 30-MINUTE AUDIT WITH US: https://rocketclicks.com/schedule-a-family-law-quick-audit/

3. CONNECT WITH US:

LinkedIn: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Facebook: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Instagram: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls

4. TELL US WHAT YOU WANT:
Tell us in the comments if you liked this episode and what other kinds of episodes you would like to see.

Send us a text

Jeff Morrell, one of our Senior Partners, is back to talk about AI tools for family lawyers.

This is the presentation that Jeff gave at our annual Sterling Day event.

It's about how our firm is using AI tools to enhance efficiency and streamline operations.

Here’s what we covered:
- The  ways AI is transforming legal workflows.
- Practical tools that save us time every day.
- The development of user-friendly tools like a Chrome extension and an affidavit automation tool.
- How AI applications are reshaping tasks such as email writing and document creation.
- Personal stories illustrating the benefits of AI in overcoming challenges.
- The future of AI agents and their role in improving accuracy and reducing costs.

Hope this helps you grow your practice!

----------------------

Ready to find the accountability partner you need to build your dream family law firm the same way we grew Sterling Lawyers?

Follow these steps:

1. SUBSCRIBE TO JEFF'S NEWSLETTER: https://jsterlinghughes.com/

2. BOOK A FREE 30-MINUTE AUDIT WITH US: https://rocketclicks.com/schedule-a-family-law-quick-audit/

3. CONNECT WITH US:

LinkedIn: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Facebook: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls,

Instagram: Jeff Hughes, Tyler Dolph, & Anthony Karls

4. TELL US WHAT YOU WANT:
Tell us in the comments if you liked this episode and what other kinds of episodes you would like to see.