Meet Holly Moore of Moore Family Law

A How to Manage 18-month Reflection

Holly Moore was drowning. Her law firm had been helping family law clients for 10 years. But something was wrong.

“I had no systems, no policies, no defined procedures, and I had no idea about who to hire or even when to hire or the right person to look for. “

“My firm was in chaos.”

Holly was considering a career change around the time she learned about HTM.

“Family Law practice is very draining. When you add the chaos and you do not have the help you need, it’s a disaster. I knew I had to do something or die of a heart attack.

Holly and her firm took the plunge July 17th of 2017. At first, she thought to herself “That won’t work or I don’t want to do that!” Remembering her commitment to her husband, her firm and herself, she went all in and trusted the process.

HTM showed her while building a law firm is not easy, it IS simple. She learned to build a very basic structure of systems throughout the seven parts of her business.

“It was groundbreaking–The Moore Law Firm changed in every way,” says Holly.

The chaos was gone and my staff grew happier. Her systematic and structured firm allowed her to triple the firm’s revenue. Plus, one amazing unexpected benefit was the shift in Holly’s personal life. She was able to abandon the practice of working around the clock, cramming court preparation, and living a frenetic, unhealthy existence. She now works a normal work week schedule.

The beginning of becoming a Happy Lawyer with a healthy firm begins with being fiercely

honest and self-aware. She says there are two questions attorneys must be able to answer with conviction:

1. Why are you in the law firm business?

2. Why does it matter?

Without the WHY, Holly explains, no one does what’s uncomfortable. And without tackling what’s uncomfortable, growth rarely happens.

“Working with HTM to get my firm on a structured, solid path improved my family and my team. I have always had core values in my firm, and I always knew my why, but now our team is excited about the mission too. It’s awesome to love what I do again.”

TOUGH QUESTIONS, HONEST ANSWERS WITH HOLLY MOORE

Was it harder than you imagined?

“Yes, of course it was harder. It’s all a part of growth. Growth for your firm and even more, growth for you as a person.”

What was harder, living the day-to-day to chaos of your former firm or putting How to Manage to work in your firm?

“There is no question. Living the chaos far more difficult, not only for me but for my entire team.”

What would you say to a person who is on the fence about taking the plunge?

“I’d say get out of your comfort zone and go for it. Today, my firm is a machine that not only serves me and my needs, but feeds six or seven families.”

When you are told by a colleague: “I don’t know if I can swing the cost,” how do you answer?

“You cannot afford NOT to do this life changing thing. The benefits–structure, smooth procedures, policies, satisfied clients, stable staff– offers you a chance to enjoy life and work again.”
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You know how when you feel like your back is up against the wall, you sometimes make decisions you’re not 100 percent happy with? The emotional pressure of a financial situation causes you to take on a client that you know will be a nightmare. Anxiety about an appointment turns into a $20 parking fee you could have avoided by leaving on time. A quick judgment about an employee’s performance presents itself as a heated or bitter reaction … and they walk out on you. You get the idea. The question is, in the context of your law firm and business, where do these issues stem from? Emotional decision making happens when you operate without a plan. In business and in life. Wandering aimlessly, with only a faint idea of where you want to be in two, three, five or even 10 years, doesn’t allow your mind to fix on a goal. And without a goal, you can’t make a plan. What separates the successful from the floundering is a steadfast decision to set a goal and work toward it — tirelessly, day and night. Obstacles appear, successful lawyers keep going. Setbacks happen, they keep going. Milestones are reached … they keep going. Why? Because they know they still have a long road ahead, and that winning the race is about focus and endurance. They are playing for something greater than themselves — goal that almost always improves the lives of everyone around them. When you create a formal plan for your law firm and life, you take the emotion out of it. You look at cold hard facts, real numbers and, often times, a harsh dose of reality. (That $100K in annual revenue isn’t going to pay a hefty mortgage or college tuition.) Then, hopefully, a spark happens. For the first time, you are able to step away, separate yourself from your feelings and realize what you need to do to make your dreams come true. For most attorneys, the business planning process is completely foreign. And that’s surprising, considering most lawyers are very logical people, trained to focus on facts and remove the emotional component from a client’s situation in law firm client care so they can help them resolve a pressing legal issue.

So Why Can’t We Do This for Ourselves?

The day-to-day grind of running a law firm consumes your every thought. Because … until you have a greater plan and purpose, you have nothing else to focus on. Emotional decision making is what keeps a law firm in a revenue slump. It’s what creates employee turnover, and what drives our industry’s skyrocketing depression and substance abuse rates. At How to Manage a Small Law Firm we provide you with an outside Managing Partner, CEO, COO, CFO, or a combination of the preceding. The first order of business is to write your business plan and take you through a 12-week crash course in business acumen. You are immersed in a community of our members — attorneys … just like you. So you can be real, sharing and screaming, “Why is this happening?!” whenever you need to. It’s OK, they’ve been there. Everyone has challenges, everyone has curveballs thrown at them, everyone has cash flow issues. But there’s a point when you have to make a decision to change your course and take matters into your own hands. There is no magic bullet CLE program that can teach you these skills in one hour or even one day. That’s a fact. Every successful business owner has had a stable of mentors to turn to, draw support from, and call upon when times got tough. To build a profitable law firm — one that doesn’t kill your soul in the process — you must remove the emotional component and think like a business owner. The need to focus on metrics, law firm sales and delivery — and finally be honest with yourself about the fees you need to charge — is no longer an option, it’s a requirement. So, here’s how to start building a better tomorrow for yourself, and everyone you care about.

Start Here

So, here’s how to start building a better tomorrow for yourself, and everyone you care about. Download our free “Business Plan Workbook,” then take a good hard look at where you are today and where you want to be tomorrow. Be honest. Don’t adjust numbers to make them feel comfortable or safe. Because at the end of the day you won’t be cheating anyone but yourself. When you’re ready for help or have a question, schedule an appointment with our team and we’ll be here to help. How to Manage a Small Law Firm has built its business on helping small law firm owners grow their organizations from less than $50,000 a year to millions in annual revenue. We believe that building a sustainable law firm doesn’t have to result in depression, guilt, or self-sacrifice. Our goal is to see our members making money, of course, but also building happier lives for themselves and their staff. We start with your goals in mind and work backwards to create a plan that works for you.

How many times have you said this to yourself?

“I’ll get it done later.”

But, did you actually do it?

It’s okay, admit it. I’m not here to judge you. It is important, however, that we get to the bottom of this.

Before we continue, let’s agree on one thing…NO MORE EXCUSES.

If it was up to me I’d say you’re having a hard time keeping track of what needs to be done and keeping things organized. This might have been good excuse before, but we’re past that because you’re about to know better.

And I really hope you’re paying attention because the growth of your law firm depends on it.

Okay, enough ranting. Watch the video above and learn how EASY it is to get over that mountain of things I have to do.

You’re in for a pleasant surprise.

There’s no room for error in the practice of law, but there is in BUSINESS. Either way, get it together!