What I learned running a law firm as junior lawyer

00:00 Introduction
00:43 Sponsorship and Guest Introduction
01:31 Caralee's Journey to Law
03:19 Balancing Family and Law School
06:02 Taking Over the Law Firm
08:37 Niching Down and Marketing Strategies
13:22 Hiring and Avoiding Burnout
18:46 Scalable Law and Helping Other Firms
23:16 Systematizing Data in Law Firms
23:59 Common Mistakes in Law Firm Data Management
26:23 Tools and Strategies for Data Management
27:56 Marketing Insights for Law Firms
29:39 Balancing Business and Legal Work
31:53 Starting Your Own Law Firm
33:43 Building Brand Authority
37:35 Effective Marketing Strategies
39:21 Quickfire Questions and Final Thoughts


Caralee Fontenele shares her incredible journey from starting law school in her 30s to taking over a law firm with significant debt and transforming it into a thriving seven-figure practice. Her story highlights determination, smart decision-making, and a passion for helping other law firm owners grow their businesses while avoiding burnout.

We cover:

How she balanced studying law, raising three children, and working full-time
The challenges and strategies behind turning a struggling law firm into a profitable business
The importance of niching down and building brand authority in a competitive legal market
Smart hiring practices, systematization, and empowering teams to achieve scalability
Building Scalable Law, a program that helps law firm owners grow their practices with confidence

Whether you’re a junior lawyer with entrepreneurial aspirations or a seasoned firm owner seeking fresh ideas, Caralee’s insights provide a practical blueprint for balancing business success and personal well-being.


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ABOUT US
File Notes is a limited podcast series with influential legal professionals, discussing their career journeys, lessons learned, unique insights, and diving deep into their areas of expertise.

Our aim is to uncover insights that might help upcoming legal professionals think about their own careers and practical advice that they can use in their day to day.