Kim Was Drowning in Decisions—Until She Built a System That Worked

For lawyer Kim Memmesheimer, beginning her personal agency wasn’t the laborious half. Maintaining all of it operating—and understanding what to do subsequent—was.

With assist from Lawyerist Lab, Kim discovered the boldness, construction, and techniques she wanted to cease reacting and begin main. In the present day, her agency is rising deliberately, aligned along with her values, and constructed to final.

Beginning Over—And not using a Map

After 27 years in observe, Kim left a standard agency she known as “5 dinosaurs and a fax machine” to launch Seven Rivers Legislation Workplace in 2022. She introduced enterprise savvy, authorized experience, and a transparent imaginative and prescient of what to not do.

However she shortly hit a wall.

Regardless of levels in enterprise and HR expertise, Kim discovered herself overwhelmed by the day-to-day of operating a contemporary observe:

No operational techniques—only a inventory worker handbook

Inherited workforce members—however no alignment

Choice fatigue—she needed to make each name, massive or small

Time strain—all the things felt pressing, nothing felt strategic

Confidence dips—staffing, budgeting, and development all felt dangerous

“I knew what I didn’t need to be. However I wanted assist determining the place I used to be going.”

What Modified in Lawyerist Lab

Kim discovered Lawyerist by way of The Small Agency Roadmap and weblog. She joined Lab and instantly felt the shift. Between skilled teaching, peer assist, and sensible instruments, she started constructing a agency that mirrored her values and imaginative and prescient.

Actual Teaching, Proper When She Wanted It

Kim leaned on Lab coaches like Amy, Sara, and Leticia for robust calls—particularly round staffing and hiring. They didn’t hand her solutions—they helped her belief her instincts.

“Lab gave me the boldness to make laborious choices—and the assist to know I wasn’t alone.”

Rebuilding Her Group with Intention

Kim changed two underperforming bookkeepers and employed a brand new one who match her agency’s wants with referrals by way of Lawyerist. She got here away from the 2024 LabCon with all of the procedures she wanted to terminate one other underperforming long-time worker, who finally left on her personal after adequate teaching. She additionally made her first full-time rent utilizing Lab’s hiring instruments.

Operational and Monetary Upgrades

Launched flat-fee consults with service credit score (no extra free time)

Closed the workplace to the general public on Fridays for deep work

Automated shopper updates to cut back “The place’s my stuff?” emails

Started implementing Revenue First budgeting rules

A More healthy Mindset for Progress

Let go of underperforming employees—with out guilt

Shifted efficiency metrics from hours to collections

Began speaking brazenly about cash along with her workforce

Embraced “doing nothing” as a legitimate strategic alternative

What Progress Appears to be like Like

Since becoming a member of Lab, Kim’s agency has grown—strategically and sustainably:

1 full-time rent, aligned and energized

1 customized workplace relocation, designed for consolation and entry

40+ automated updates added to workflows

12+ books learn from Lab’s library

2 workforce members changed with stronger suits

3+ tech instruments added or upgraded—with peer enter

Her workforce is sharper, her shoppers are higher served, and he or she lastly feels in command of the enterprise she constructed.

“Now I get to design the agency I would like as an alternative of reacting to what I don’t need.”

What’s Subsequent

Kim isn’t chasing fast development or shiny tendencies. She’s centered on constructing a agency that displays her values, protects her time, and helps her workforce.

Over the subsequent quarter, she’s finalizing a Revenue First price range, integrating extra AI to streamline her techniques, and coaching her affiliate on the enterprise foundations which have helped her lead with readability.

However most of all, she’s making house—for deep work, sensible choices, and the enjoyment of operating a enterprise that lastly works for her.