Balancing Act: Working In vs. On Your Small Law Firm

Most law firm owners think the harder they work in the firm, the more successful it will be. But the truth is, too much time inside the day-to-day can strangle growth just as much as ignoring client work altogether.

A Real-Life Example

One of my clients came to me exhausted. They were billing 60+ hours a week, personally handling every client intake, and still felt like revenue was unpredictable. They were stuck in the firm, and the result was constant firefighting with no time to fix the underlying issues.

The Framework: The Two Hats of Law Firm Ownership

Every owner wears two hats:

• In the Firm: client cases, drafting, court, daily tasks.

• On the Firm: systems, finances, team building, growth planning.

The key is balance. Neglect either hat, and your practice suffers.

The Fix

We started with two changes:

1. Protected two hours a week of non-negotiable “CEO time.”

2. Delegated client intake to trained staff with a clear script.

These small moves freed up headspace for strategy without harming client service.

The Results

Within 90 days, the firm saw:

• Predictable monthly revenue.

• A steadier workload with fewer emergencies.

• The owner working fewer hours while feeling more in control.

Closing

The goal isn’t a perfect 50/50 split between working in and on your firm. It’s about being intentional. Even a few protected hours weekly can change everything.