When Jed Barden joined Lawyerist Lab, his agency wasn’t failing. But it surely wasn’t sustainable both. He and his spouse (and regulation associate), Heather, had been caught in survival mode—doing all the pieces themselves, not sure how one can develop with out burning out.
With strategic teaching, group assist, and a better hiring course of, Jed turned agency right into a streamlined, sustainable enterprise—with out sacrificing his private life.
The Story Behind Barden & Barden
Jed Barden has practiced regulation for almost 20 years. For the previous 9 years, he’s co-led Barden & Barden, a plaintiff-side private damage and employment agency he constructed with Heather.
Like many attorneys, they began with grit, good intentions—and no formal enterprise coaching.
“I labored at companies with mediocre operations,” Jed stated. “You don’t learn to run a enterprise in regulation college—and also you don’t be taught it at most small companies both.”
Survival Mode, And not using a Map
By the point Jed joined Lawyerist Lab, he knew how one can follow regulation. What he didn’t know was how one can construct a sustainable enterprise. For years, he and his spouse wore each hat: authorized work, admin, advertising and marketing, administration.
Hiring was one of many agency’s greatest friction factors. Jed noticed the necessity to construct a crew, however Heather was hesitant—particularly from a monetary standpoint. With out outdoors steerage, they saved pushing by, attempting to do all of it themselves.
“We weren’t trying to scale recklessly. We had been on the lookout for readability and confidence.”
That’s when Jed found the Lawyerist Podcast —and located a group of like-minded attorneys constructing smarter, extra intentional practices.
What Modified in Lab
Jed joined Lawyerist Lab—and noticed an instantaneous distinction. Lab gave him the instruments, teaching, and group to lastly break the cycle. Right here’s what made the most important influence:
1. Weekly Teaching and Accountability
“Seeing the capabilities of the enterprise visually was a game-changer.”
With common teaching, Jed had an knowledgeable sounding board to assist navigate robust choices—particularly round hiring. His coach, Sara, helped he and Heather align, transfer previous hesitation, and construct the crew they wanted.
2. The Accountability Chart
“Seeing the capabilities of the enterprise visually was a game-changer.”
With assist from Sara, Jed created an accountability chart—mapping out each position within the agency and figuring out what may (and may) be delegated.
3. Smarter, Extra Assured Hiring
Lab helped Jed:
- Rent their first totally distant assistant, a paralegal for Heather, and a advertising and marketing and gross sales supervisor
- Construct a simpler hiring course of
- Be taught from previous missteps and refine their standards
The outcome: A extra succesful, aligned crew—and a brand new affiliate lawyer with a confirmed monitor document who’s becoming a member of full-time this fall.
4. Higher Circumstances, Not Simply Extra
“We’ve shifted from ten $10,000 instances to 10 $100,000 instances.”
With the precise techniques in place, Barden & Barden not chases quantity. They concentrate on higher-value instances with extra influence—and fewer chaos.
5. A More healthy Life, Not Only a More healthy Agency
“Lab gave me psychological readability—and permission to prioritize the remainder of my life.”
Jed has at all times valued household time and wellness. However Lab gave him the attitude—and confidence—to guard it. No guilt. No burnout. Simply higher boundaries and a better follow.
The Outcomes
Since becoming a member of Lab, Barden & Barden has:
- Moved from survival to technique: They now function with clear objectives, techniques, and delegation.
- Constructed a stronger crew: They employed a number of new crew members, refined their hiring course of, and are bringing on a brand new lawyer to assist Jed and Heather with the authorized work.
- Upgraded their caseload: Fewer, higher-value instances imply extra influence and fewer stress.
- Clarified enterprise roles: The accountability chart guides choices and delegation.
- Protected private time: Jed now has house for household, train, and restoration—with out sacrificing outcomes.
Why It Labored
Lab didn’t simply give Jed instruments. It gave him perspective.
Between teaching, peer assist, and easy frameworks just like the accountability chart, he went from overwhelmed to empowered.
“The folks in Lab are the cool attorneys,” Jed stated. “They’re not attempting to outwork everybody. They’re attempting to construct higher lives.”
Able to Take Again Your Time?
In the event you’re uninterested in grinding with out technique, caught within the hiring weeds, or craving extra freedom, it’s time to get out of survival mode.
Join Lawyerist Lab. Construct the agency—and the life—you truly need.
Final up to date July twenty eighth, 2025