Ever drafted the “I’m out” email and saved it as “send after bonus”? In this episode, Jonathan Hawkins returns to talk about the messy middle of law firm life: when to leave, how to leave without stepping on landmines, and how to know if “partner” is a leap or a leash. We get into the kitchen-table talk at home, what you can and can’t say to clients before you give notice, and the quiet costs of equity that no one puts in the brochure.

We also dig into the parts owners whisper about: slowing down departures without playing games, conflict waivers when friends want to be partners, when to update the partnership agreement, and what M&A really looks like for smaller firms, especially in PI. If you’re plotting an exit or trying to keep your team from plotting theirs, this one will feel familiar and useful.

Jonathan’s new book, The Law Firm Life Cycle, is our guide throughout, with simple checklists and plain-English frameworks you can use the minute the episode ends.

• Book: The Law Firm Life Cycle: Counsel for Every Stage of Your Law Firm’s Journey — Paperback ISBN-13: 9781964046808 (Amazon paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1964046807
  • Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FT3K1WMY
  • B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1148475106
• Book landing page: https://www.lawfirmgc.com/law-firm-life-cycle/
• Website: https://www.lawfirmgc.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hawkins-law-firm-general-counsel/

If this episode sparks a decision, start with the book chapter on planning your exit, then replay the section on client communications and do the kitchen-table talk tonight. Your future self will thank you.

____________________________________
Brian Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury lawyer in Fairfax, Virginia. He is passionate about living a life of his own design and looking for answers to solutions outside of the legal field. This podcast is his effort to share that passion with others.

Want to connect with Brian?

Follow Brian on Instagram: @thebrianglass
Connect on LinkedIn

Picture a new client on day 17. They signed last week. Their neck still hurts. Their inbox is quiet. The silence makes the story in their head louder. Did the firm forget me?

That moment is where this episode lives. From the first call through the first 30 days and beyond, Brian Glass sits with Gyi Tsakalakis and Abogado Jared Jaskot to map a simple system for better client communication and steadier client engagement. They show how to set client expectations on day one, why a real voice every 30 days calms anxiety, and how a welcome kit or closeout letter can anchor the relationship. You will hear where digital tools help and where they don’t. Chatbot for intake, sure. Automation for reminders and scheduling, yes. But the real wins come from mixing law firm technology with a human check-in that proves you are working the file.

If you care about legal marketing that feels like service, legal practice management that your team can keep, and a client experience that earns five-star reviews, this is your playbook. We cover using SMS over email when it fits, capturing preferences early, routing DMs back into your system, and building evergreen videos that answer common questions without repeating yourself. Keywords you will hear throughout: client communication, client expectations, digital tools, chatbot, automation, and the habits that make a modern practice run.

Recorded at Kaleidoscope 2025 by 8AM (formerly, Affinipay) with Brian, Gyi, and Jared.

____________________________________
Brian Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury lawyer in Fairfax, Virginia. He is passionate about living a life of his own design and looking for answers to solutions outside of the legal field. This podcast is his effort to share that passion with others.

Want to connect with Brian?

Follow Brian on Instagram: @thebrianglass
Connect on LinkedIn

You’ve hired the bookkeeper. You’ve got the tax pro. You’re making money. So… why does it still feel like you're flying blind and low-key drowning?

In this episode, Brian sits down with Kelley Brubaker, a Fractional CFO who’s been called the Numbers Whisperer for law firms, and not in a “look at this pretty P&L” kind of way. She helps firm owners ditch the chaos, decode the metrics that actually matter, and stop scaling their misery.

They get into:

• Why your P&L is lying to you (and what to use instead)
• The KPI trap most lawyers fall into (and how to escape it)
• What “scaling” really means and why most firms do it backwards
• When to stop DIY-ing your finances and hire a grown-up

If you’ve ever said “I just want to grow,” without knowing what the hell that means, this is your wake-up call!

Connect with Kelley:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Profit Scale Thrive
📅 Book a Curiosity Call

____________________________________
Brian Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury lawyer in Fairfax, Virginia. He is passionate about living a life of his own design and looking for answers to solutions outside of the legal field. This podcast is his effort to share that passion with others.

Want to connect with Brian?

Follow Brian on Instagram: @thebrianglass
Connect on LinkedIn