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About

How to Manage a Small Law Firm

How to Manage a Small Law Firm is a special place. It’s a unique community of highly entrepreneurial owners of solo, small, and large law firms.

To protect the important work we do and provide a safe place for our members to discuss their businesses, we have strict policies for the type of people we’ll work with. This means that everyone you meet either in our discussion forum or at any of our live meetings is probably someone with whom you’re going to feel comfortable discussing your challenges, celebrating your successes, and enjoying the camaraderie that comes from investing time with quality people that take pride in having a great business that serves their life. 

RJon Robins

About

RJon Robins

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It’s 2006. I've developed a pretty good regional reputation helping law firm owners who have become trapped by their business, to get un-trapped and then scale - but my wife’s sudden illness has blindsided me.

I can't function. I’m falling apart. All because inexplicably, immaturely, and quite stupidly I failed to follow my own (excellent) advice about building a business that works for you.

My wife is in severe pain and can't get out of bed.

We’re broke and about to lose our home. The stress is unbearable.

Growing up was turbulent. My father made his fortune from real estate and white-collar crime. Yes, you read that correctly.

One night I awoke to the sound of bullets hitting our house. A business associate had sent someone to kill my father. Although he escaped, he later lost his fortune, remade it, and lost it again. And then the law caught up with him. This is why I can tell you exactly what it’s like to visit your father in jail.

And just for fun, I also had a ringside seat as my mother and stepfather built and lost a fortune in a business that was at least legal; but then saw them fight off creditors for many agonizing years.

In case you’re keeping score, this was all before the age of 25 by which time I’d lived at no less than 15 different home addresses.

Maybe it was the business my father was in or the way he lived his life. Or maybe it was the way my mother and stepfather lived theirs. Or maybe it was all the moving around. Either way, I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t feel like an outsider looking in. One thing I can tell you for certain, I leaned pretty heavily on my superpower to survive all those turbulent years.

My superpower is clarification. I’ve been doing this my whole life without even realizing what it would someday do for me. As a kid, I'd sit at the dining table listening to my parents' conversations and try to help them avoid an argument when “he” stopped meaning him, and “she” stopped meaning her and pretty soon my parents were having two totally disconnected conversations. Sometimes they’d laugh and give me a compliment for catching the misunderstanding. Other times I’d be told, “mind your own business.” I still remember how helpless it felt having to swallow my words while the train wreck slowly unfolded in front of me - I learned to hide my superpower.

Fast forward to 2006. That’s the year I married my wife. It’s also the year she got sick. One minute life was great. So great. The next minute, Ale got so sick she lost 25% of her body weight over 18 agonizing months.

Despite preaching and teaching the virtues of building a sustainable business that works for you even when you’re not working, I’d stupidly failed to follow my own (excellent) advice. I know it was really, really stupid of me.

My so-called business was really just me working from the dining room table. I was making a lot of money, but there were no systems. No procedures. No scale. And so, within weeks of stepping away to begin nursing Ale back to health, quite predictably, everything fell apart.

We quickly burned through our savings and then went the credit. Despite selling everything of value, we lost our home to foreclosure. It was humiliating. Especially since by then I’d already been a Small Law Practice Management Advisor with The Florida Bar’s Law Office Management Assistance Service. I was lucky enough to have worked there for four years under the world-famous JR Phelps who taught me all about how to start, market, manage, grow and scale-up a small law firm. Then he set me loose with more than NINE THOUSAND (9,000) solo & small law firm owners from every walk of life and firms in every practice area you can imagine. I know this sounds like an improbable number but it’s a fact. I’d spend about half the month in the office fielding calls from owners of small law firms who needed help with starting, marketing, managing, growing, controlling and figuring out how to make their law firms more profitable. Or sometimes, just how to get their small law firms to work for them instead of letting the firm ruin their life.

In a typical day I’d speak with anywhere from 5-7 law firm owners x 5 days-a-week = 25/week. I was in office about half of every month so that’s about 50 law firm owners I had the opportunity to work with per month x 12 = 600 per year x 4 years = 2,400 one-on-one telephonic consulting, strategy and tactical solutions between 1999-2002.

And when I wasn’t in the office I’d be out in the field conducing onsite consultations on behalf of The Florida Bar when the Disciplinary Committee found that a lawyer’s violations of Bar Rules stemmed from systematic law firm management problems and not bad intentions.

And I stopped counting back in 2002 BEFORE going on the road for several years to bar associations & law schools on The National CLE Law Firm Management Tour sponsored by Microsoft, Lexis-Nexis, Law Pay & Ruby Receptionists.

And that was before I built the team that built How To Manage A Small Law Firm into the largest & fastest growing firm in the world dedicated exclusively to helping to manage small law firms.

But back in 2007 I was broke!

That’s the year Ale recovered andI pivoted into info products while doing whatever consulting jobs I could find to pay the bills.

Although money was tight, the great blessing of the year was Ale's health improved. Which was a double blessing because she was able to begin painting again and, believe it or not, that’s how we survived, by selling her paintings.

By 2011, we’d sold all the paintings and Ale couldn’t keep up with demand. Because it turns out the same marketing & sales strategies I’d been using to help law firm owner build million and multimillion-dollar law firms worked well for selling paintings, too.

My business was finally gaining some momentum, and that’s when Ale made a tough decision I’ll always be grateful for, to postpone her art career and join me in the business. But she had one SERIOUS condition: “Yes or Yes. You’re going to find a way to make this happen.”

That was in 2012. That year I allowed myself NO excuses and gross revenues shot up to one million dollars.

We celebrated by shopping for new furniture, and at the store, my wife scribbled me a note:

"Take all your excuses, and shove them up your ass – T.A.Y.E. A.S.T.U.Y.A!"

That became our rallying cry. That also became the name of our son who was born in 2015.

Today, How To Manage A Small Law Firm works for me. I only work in it about 90 days a year, and it’s well into the 8 figures.

All because I stopped making excuses.

I know this is probably one of the longest bios you’ve ever read. And I thank you for making it to the end. That tells me you’re probably more likely than most people about saying “YES” to the question that was put to me all those years back: Are you willing to live for a few years the way most people aren’t, so you can know what it’s like to live the rest of your life the way most people can’t? So let me offer you one piece of advice here at the end of my bio: If you want it badly enough (whatever “it” is), you can make it happen. You just have to be ready to take all your excuses, and shove them up your ass.

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Alejandra Leibovich

About

Alejandra Leibovich

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Alejandra Leibovich is a successful author, business owner and entrepreneur, designer, and musician. Her work as a senior art director at Nickelodeon, VH1, and MTV received some of the most coveted awards in the industry. Her art was broadcast at the Miami Art Basel, San Diego Comic-Con, and MOCA. As co-founder of How to Manage Enterprises, listed as one of INC 5000's fastest-growing companies in the U.S., her efforts have yielded multi-million-dollar companies and are inspiring many others to think and act differently. Ale was born in Argentina, and she has always been the new girl in town. These experiences led Ale to use her amazing skills to help others to think out of the box while challenging herself and others to go for their dreams.

LOOPTROPOLIS,” Ale's podcast and album, can be found in major podcasting players and major music streaming services such as Apple Music, Pandora, or Spotify. You can get her not boring book on leadership. Feel Warm Inside. Funny Quotes for Serious Leadership, at Amazon. This book is a funny, honest, and imaginative view of life and leadership that will help you on your very serious journey of becoming the leader you were meant to be. It doesn’t matter if you are an experienced leader of a team or if it’s just you and your cat. Get it at Amazon.

You can always catch her up to something here at HTM and at http://aleloop.com.

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EXECUTIVE TEAM

Mat Schwarz

Mat Schwarz

Chief Branding Officer

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Vivian Sidi

Vivian Sidi

Chief Human Resources Officer

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Dean Coscia

Dean Coscia

Chief Technology Officer

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Nelson Mendoza

Nelson Mendoza

Chief Finance Officer

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Oscar Ferenczi

Oscar Ferenczi

General Manager

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Sherri Mansell

Sherri Mansell

Director of Finance - BTDS

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Steve Barclay

Steve Barclay

Director of Operations

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Erika Ferenczi

Erika Ferenczi

Director of Programs

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OUTSOURCED

CEOs/CFOs/COOs

Andrew Million

Andrew Million

Practice Management Advisor

Terry McDougall

Terry McDougall

Practice Management Advisor

Michele Pecorilli

Michele Pecorilli

Practice Management Advisor

Lucia Martin

Lucia Martin

Practice Management Advisor

Duke Cooper

Duke Cooper

Practice Management Advisor

Brian Ainsley Horn

Brian Ainsley Horn

Practice Management Advisor

Dawn Mobley

Dawn Mobley

Practice Management Advisor

Stephanie Luongo

Stephanie Luongo

Practice Management Advisor

Warren Collier

Warren Collier

Practice Management Advisor

Jose R Sevilla

Jose R Sevilla

Practice Management Advisor

Jon Sullivan

Jon Sullivan

Practice Management Advisor

Victor Santoro

Victor Santoro

Practice Management Advisor

Jose Luis Perdomo

Jose Luis Perdomo

Practice Management Advisor

Mart Ratliff

Mart Ratliff

Practice Management Advisor

Emily Britton

Emily Britton

Practice Management Advisor

Eric Herbert

Eric Herbert

Practice Management Advisor

Evelyn Aucoin

Evelyn Aucoin

Practice Management Advisor

James Brown

James Brown

Practice Management Advisor

Jason Plumer

Jason Plumer

Practice Management Advisor

Jeremy Driver

Jeremy Driver

Practice Management Advisor

Jessica Douglas

Jessica Douglas

Practice Management Advisor

Keith Simper

Keith Simper

Practice Management Advisor

Nichole Hanscom

Nichole Hanscom

Practice Management Advisor

Paul Angelle

Paul Angelle

Practice Management Advisor

Todd Rogers

Todd Rogers

Practice Management Advisor

Tracie Behr

Tracie Behr

Practice Management Advisor

Thomas Wright

Thomas Wright

Practice Management Advisor

Arnel Ortega

Arnel Ortega

Practice Management Advisor

Beth Freeman

Beth Freeman

Practice Management Advisor

Brian Robinson

Brian Robinson

Practice Management Advisor

Bruce Hall

Bruce Hall

Practice Management Advisor

Charles Luna

Charles Luna

Practice Management Advisor

Clarissa Maldonado

Clarissa Maldonado

Practice Management Advisor

Gerard Stoia

Gerard Stoia

Practice Management Advisor

our team

Glen Broughman

Glen Broughman

Accountability Coordinator

Isabella LaQuatra

Isabella LaQuatra

Fractional Chief Marketing Officer

Tiffany Muller

Tiffany Muller

Accountability Coordinator

Sal Guarino

Sal Guarino

Accountability Coordinator

Edwin Smith

Edwin Smith

Accountability Coordinator

Denise Fougere

Denise Fougere

Accountability Coordinator

Kristi Hughes

Kristi Hughes

Marketing Director

Allison Bradley

Allison Bradley

Marketing Project Manager

Sarah Antinone

Sarah Antinone

Bookkeeping Liaison

Rachel Basile

Rachel Basile

Bookkeeping Liaison

Kelley Smith

Kelley Smith

Bookkeeping Liaison

Amber Rojek

Amber Rojek

Bookkeeping Liaison

Hannah Dyer

Hannah Dyer

Bookkeeping Liaison

Victoria Stanek

Victoria Stanek

Recruiter

Lina Rodriguez

Lina Rodriguez

Executive Assistant

Trevonna Parker

Trevonna Parker

Bookkeeping Liaison

Kathrine Fitzgerald

Kathrine Fitzgerald

Sales Development Representative

Melissa Waters

Melissa Waters

Staff Accountant

Willie Williams

Willie Williams

Junior Helpdesk Specialist

Taurean Casey

Taurean Casey

CRM Marketing Specialist

Tami Cumpston

Tami Cumpston

Team & Project Manager

Steph Borel

Steph Borel

Digital Marketing Solutions & Systems Architect

Paula Prada

Paula Prada

Human Resources Coordinator

Orion Carrington

Orion Carrington

Recruiter

June Grave de Peralta

June Grave de Peralta

Staff Accountant

Jill Garcia

Jill Garcia

Senior Accountant

Jessica Humphrey

Jessica Humphrey

Payroll Manager

Ellie Lewitt

Ellie Lewitt

Internal Control & Quality Manager

Annette Guy

Annette Guy

Staff Accountant

Nicholas Correa

Nicholas Correa

Accounts Receivable Clerk

Radwan Hayek

Radwan Hayek

Staff Accountant

Riva Benjamin

Riva Benjamin

Member Admin Coordinator

Veronica Zambrano

Veronica Zambrano

Internal and Quality Controls Manager

Nancy Albert

Nancy Albert

Event Venue Manager

Pamela Christenberry

Pamela Christenberry

SLFU Program Administrator

Raul Longoria

Raul Longoria

Creative Designer

Robert Musso

Robert Musso

Accounts Receivable Manager

Jeff Carman

Jeff Carman

IT Administration Manager

Jon Marc Lyttle

Jon Marc Lyttle

Senior Web Developer

Mike Elrick

Mike Elrick

Sales Advisor

Gina Hussar

Gina Hussar

Copywriter

Jackie Niemic

Jackie Niemic

Recruiter

Joan Zajac

Joan Zajac

Staff Accountant

Jonathan Gonzalez

Jonathan Gonzalez

Software Developer

Juan Navarro

Juan Navarro

Staff Accountant

Juan Reyna

Juan Reyna

Staff Accountant

Judy Weiner

Judy Weiner

Programs Admin Assistant

Laurie Malin

Laurie Malin

Staff Accountant

Margot Strachan

Margot Strachan

Marketing Project Manager

Marshall Cook

Marshall Cook

Events Director

Amiyah Edwards

Amiyah Edwards

Member Admin Coordinator

Autumn Tall

Autumn Tall

Events Administrative Coordinator

Andre Morris

Andre Morris

Onboarding Specialist

Brandy Setzer

Brandy Setzer

Onsite Event Supervisor

Christina White

Christina White

Portfolio Project Manager

Dahyana Romero

Dahyana Romero

S/B Staff Accountant

Daniel Fanego

Daniel Fanego

IT Helpdesk Specialist

Eric Lingenfelter

Eric Lingenfelter

Technology Integration Director

Erin Duncan Marshall

Erin Duncan Marshall

Video Services Director of Operations

Gavin Snider

Gavin Snider

Operations Administrator

Jack Bower

Jack Bower

Programs Operations Director

Daniel Ferro

Daniel Ferro

Senior Accountant

Alison Marshall

Alison Marshall

Video Editor/Producer

Viviana Galvis

Viviana Galvis

Office Coordinator

Marie Paulson

Marie Paulson

Programs Administrative Assistant

Ryan Brown

Ryan Brown

Programs Administrative Assistant

Trey Demoville

Trey Demoville

Programs Operations Manager

Renee Cheatham

Renee Cheatham

Junior Recruiter

Wesley Houdyshell

Wesley Houdyshell

Video Services Director & Content Producer

Patty Horne

Patty Horne

Scheduling Coordinator

Alex Martinez

Alex Martinez

Senior It Manager

Debora Goldenberg

Debora Goldenberg

Shared Family Office Policy & Procedures Coordinator

Renee Julien

Renee Julien

Slfu Member Engagement Specialist

Samuel Bazylenko

Samuel Bazylenko

Staff Accounting Liaison

Jimbo Marshall

Jimbo Marshall

Video Services Creative Director

Zoey Cook

Zoey Cook

Administrative Assistant

Delisi Friday

Delisi Friday

Chief Of Staff

Bonni Gonzalez

Bonni Gonzalez

Creative Marketing Director

Julie Wees

Julie Wees

Events Coordinator

Brittany Mansell

Brittany Mansell

Customer Service Representative

Marissa Lloyd

Marissa Lloyd

Customer Success Manager

Rohan Dussa

Rohan Dussa

Data Analyst

Karli Mcnamee

Karli Mcnamee

Project Manager

Lilli Wendt

Lilli Wendt

Executive Assistant For Programs

Candice Saltzman

Candice Saltzman

Sr. Talent Acquisition Manager

Dillon Marshall

Dillon Marshall

Product Launch Coordinator

Nydia Russo

Nydia Russo

Customer Service

Adriana Sarmiento

Adriana Sarmiento

COO Assistant

OUR CANADIAN

TEAM

Tania Music

Tania Music

Referral Program Manager

Fahad Mahmood

Fahad Mahmood

Digital Marketing Coordinator

Lorena Lopez Davidson

Lorena Lopez Davidson

Event Coordinator

Andy Voth

Andy Voth

Operations and Systems Specialist

Tracy McGinnis

Tracy McGinnis

Operations Project Manager