When Jed Barden joined Lawyerist Lab, his agency wasn’t failing. Nevertheless it wasn’t sustainable both. He and his spouse (and regulation companion), Heather, had been caught in survival mode—doing all the pieces themselves, not sure methods to develop with out burning out.
With strategic teaching, group help, and a wiser hiring course of, Jed turned a very good agency right into a streamlined, sustainable enterprise—with out sacrificing his private life.
The Story Behind Barden & Barden
Jed Barden has practiced regulation for practically 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 legal professionals, they began with grit, good intentions—and no formal enterprise coaching.
“I labored at corporations with mediocre operations,” Jed stated. “You don’t learn to run a enterprise in regulation faculty—and also you don’t be taught it at most small corporations both.”
Survival Mode, With out a Map
By the point Jed joined Lawyerist Lab, he knew methods to follow regulation. What he didn’t know was methods to construct a sustainable enterprise. For years, he and his spouse wore each hat: authorized work, admin, advertising, administration.
Hiring was one of many agency’s largest friction factors. Jed noticed the necessity to construct a staff, however Heather was hesitant—particularly from a monetary standpoint. With out exterior steering, they stored pushing by means of, attempting to do all of it themselves.
“We weren’t seeking to scale recklessly. We had been searching for readability and confidence.”
That’s when Jed found the Lawyerist Podcast —and located a group of like-minded legal professionals constructing smarter, extra intentional practices.
What Modified in Lab
Jed joined Lawyerist Lab—and noticed a direct 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 features of the enterprise visually was a game-changer.”
With common teaching, Jed had an knowledgeable sounding board to assist navigate robust selections—particularly round hiring. His coach, Sara, helped he and Heather align, transfer previous hesitation, and construct the staff they wanted.
2. The Accountability Chart
“Seeing the features 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 gross sales supervisor
- Construct a simpler hiring course of
- Be taught from previous missteps and refine their standards
The consequence: A extra succesful, aligned staff—and a brand new affiliate lawyer with a confirmed monitor report 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 suitable programs in place, Barden & Barden now not chases quantity. They deal with 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 all the time valued household time and wellness. However Lab gave him the angle—and confidence—to guard it. No guilt. No burnout. Simply higher boundaries and a wiser follow.
The Outcomes
Since becoming a member of Lab, Barden & Barden has:
- Moved from survival to technique: They now function with clear targets, programs, and delegation.
- Constructed a stronger staff: They employed a number of new staff 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 selections 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 help, 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?
Should you’re bored with 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 really need.
Final up to date July twenty eighth, 2025
