The SELL Life for Lawyers

What makes someone leave the “safe” legal career path to create a firm built on values instead of billables? In this episode of The SELL.Life Podcast , I sit down with Mary Shamaly , a founding member of the Self-Employed Lawyers League and the lawyer behind Grace and Justice . Mary’s story is one of chance, courage, and conviction: How a coin toss at 16 set her on the path to law Why she nearly w...

In this episode of the Self-Employed Lawyers League Podcast, we sit down with Dicky Abraham , founder of Spurling Legal and our very first member of the League. Dicky’s journey into law was anything but traditional. From engineering, to warehouse shifts, to finally discovering a passion for law—he’s now pioneering a new approach to commercial litigation that challenges the outdated billable-hour m...

In the closing chapter, Jason and Courtney sit fireside with friends, unpacking the final lessons of self-employment. From conquering the fear of leaving a firm, to building a reputare score that drives referrals, this conversation distills everything a lawyer needs to hear before taking the leap. If you’re a lawyer considering self-employment, this is where hesitation ends. Relearning the lessons...

In this chapter we face down the people who once told us we weren’t ready. What follows is a high-stakes mediation that becomes the ultimate test of confidence, preparation, and self-belief. For self-employed lawyers, this chapter is about silencing imposter syndrome and proving to yourself that you are capable of thriving on your own terms. You’ll hear how we prepared, strategised, and turned the...

In Chapter 11, the reality of self-employment comes crashing in when work begins to overtake the very reason you left your firm in the first place: family. We share the painful lesson of missing school pick-up, bedtime routines, and the guilt that follows when your priorities slip. This chapter is about more than client work or time management — it’s about boundaries, balance, and the commitment t...

Chapter 10 takes you inside one of the most feared moments for any self-employed lawyer: the threat of a lawsuit from your old firm. Jason receives a call warning him that his former boss is furious and ready to sue if more clients follow him. What follows is a masterclass in how to handle fear, pressure, and intimidation when stepping out on your own. This chapter shows lawyers that even when you...

Many lawyers assume referrals will flow naturally if they do good work. The truth? Word of mouth is random unless you intentionally shape it. In this chapter, we break down how to make referrals predictable, not accidental or by fluke. The lesson is clear: referrals aren’t about luck. They’re about training people to think of you when the need arises. By asking the right questions, giving people t...

Most lawyers focus on getting the work done. Few stop to ask whether their service is memorable enough to generate repeat work, referrals, or five-star reviews. In this chapter, we share how we discovered the power of the “Reputare Score” — the true measure of whether your practice will stagnate, survive, or scale. The lesson is clear. Simply doing “good enough” legal work leaves you hustling fore...

For a new self employed lawyer, when the work finally arrives, it rarely trickles in. It comes crashing like a wave. In this chapter, we share the overwhelming rush of new clients and the hard lesson that more opportunity can quickly turn into chaos without systems in place. Success without structure often feels like drowning. The real challenge isn’t getting clients. It’s managing them in a way t...

Every self-employed lawyer remembers the moment they signed their first client. It’s exciting, terrifying, and filled with second-guessing. In this chapter, we walk through that turning point and uncover the most important lesson: clients don’t buy your hours, they buy peace of mind. This is where the shift from “billing time” to “valuing outcomes” becomes real. By asking better questions about wh...

Networking and coffee meetings will only get you so far if potential clients cannot find you online. In this chapter, we explore why your digital presence is often the deciding factor between a polite conversation and a paying client. The lesson is simple: people want to look you up before they trust you. If your LinkedIn profile reads like a job application instead of speaking directly to clients...

Overthinking is the silent killer of self-employment dreams. Lawyers are trained to analyse, predict, and prepare for every possible scenario, but when applied to starting your own practice, this mindset creates paralysis. Chapter 4 explains why trying to plan your way to certainty only delays results and drains momentum. Instead, progress comes from movement. This chapter shows how taking even sm...

The beginning of self-employment is the point where most lawyers hesitate. Chapter 3 focuses on how to take those first steps with clarity and direction. Too often, new solo lawyers get stuck trying to perfect every detail before launching. The result is paralysis and missed opportunity. This chapter breaks down what actually matters in the early stages. From defining your priorities to choosing a...

Most lawyers are taught to believe that leaving a firm to start your own practice is risky, while staying in employment is the safe option. Chapter 2 turns that belief on its head. The truth is, traditional firms can collapse, restructure, or let you go at any time. That means your career and financial security are never fully in your control. By contrast, building a self-employed law practice put...

This first chapter sets the foundation for the entire journey into self-employment. Too many lawyers think they can “test the waters” of starting their own law firm while still clinging to the safety of employment or backup plans. The problem? Divided attention leads to half-hearted action, and half-hearted action never creates real results.“Burning the boats” doesn’t mean being reckless — it mean...

The opening pages combine my gratitude, our mission, and invitation. First, they acknowledge the partners, families, and mentors who give lawyers the courage to leave the safety of law firms and pursue self-employment. Then they set out the purpose of the book: to challenge the belief that success for lawyers is only found in billable hours and climbing the hierarchy of traditional firms. This int...