Claim OwnershipThe Law Firm Owner Podcast
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The Law Firm Owner Podcast, powered by Velocity Work, is the go-to resource for law firm owners looking to take their business to the next level. Host and founder Melissa Shanahan shares insights and practical advice on how to organize your numbers, grow your team, increase your revenue, and achieve a better work-life balance. Through quarterly strategic planning, accountability, and coaching, Melissa shows listeners how to create sustainable success for both their firms and their personal lives. Tune in each week to join the community of law firm owners who are committed to taking their businesses from where they are now to where they want to be.
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How much of your tax strategy is actually strategy, and how much is just habit? Many law firm owners unknowingly carry outdated or incomplete tax advice that quietly erodes their income over time. In this episode, Melissa sits down with tax attorney Megan Robin to examine the myths law firm owners often believe about taxes and why those assumptions can be costly if left unchallenged. The conversation focuses on the difference between compliance and strategy, especially when it comes to the role of CPAs, accountants, and entity structures. Rather than chasing loopholes or copying what other owners are doing, the episode emphasizes the importance of understanding how financial decisions work together over time. The goal is clarity, ownership, and informed decision-making that supports both the business and the life the firm is meant to fund. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/344 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork Monday Map / Friday Wrap: https://www.velocitywork.com/monday-map
How can you regain control over your time and attention? As a law firm owner, you're likely familiar with the constant battle against busyness. You're managing clients, handling problems, keeping your team on track, and juggling deadlines. Much of it is necessary work, but busyness doesn't create results. In this episode, Melissa explains how to take back control and focus on what truly drives your firm's momentum. Your role as a law firm owner is not only to practice law but also to steward the business. Melissa shares the Monday Map, Friday Wrap framework, a simple rhythm for planning, honoring, and reflecting on your week. By applying these principles, you'll replace busyness with productivity, moving toward results instead of spinning in place. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/343 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork Monday Map / Friday Wrap: https://www.velocitywork.com/monday-map
What if you could start the new year with clarity instead of just jumping into motion? As we approach 2026, it's easy to get swept up in the rush, but the transition between years offers a rare gift of space that many law firm owners overlook. In this episode, Melissa shares a framework to help you enter the new year with intention, not just resolutions, so you can focus on what truly matters for your firm. Melissa walks through four key anchors for reflection that will guide your thinking as you gain clarity before the year turns over. These anchors aren't about pressure-filled goals, but about reconnecting with your vision, evaluating your firm's data, understanding your personal capacity, and stewarding your firm as the valuable asset it is. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/342 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
What impact is your law firm really having? While you're focused on the day-to-day, your firm is creating a ripple effect that stretches far beyond your clients and team. In this episode, Melissa invites you to reflect on the true reach of your business. She explains why understanding this ripple is essential to assessing the health of your firm and how it informs your leadership. As the year comes to a close, this episode offers a grounded approach to assess your firm's impact. Melissa explains why a thriving firm creates balanced, far-reaching ripples, while a struggling firm shows uneven effects that signal where recalibration may be needed. This is about understanding your firm's impact to guide better decisions and stronger leadership moving forward. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/341 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
How clear is your path to hitting your revenue goal? Can you connect your top-line number to actionable steps? In this episode, Melissa shares a simple, 3-step process to break down your revenue goal into manageable, actionable sub-goals that will make your target inevitable. No more guessing, just smart, data-driven planning. You'll learn how to get visibility into your practice areas, calculate the revenue needed from each, and set quarterly and monthly goals. Using a practical example, you'll have a roadmap to hit your firm's revenue goal, with a clear strategy to match. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/340 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
What happens when a law firm owner hires not from strategy but from exhaustion? In this episode, Melissa explains why hiring from desperation is one of the most expensive mistakes a firm can make and how it leads to long-term overwhelm instead of relief. When owners are buried in work, the urge to solve the pain quickly overrides the clarity needed to make the right capacity decisions. Melissa shares how slowing down to identify everything that is actually on your plate creates the visibility required before any hiring decision. By using a simple framework to separate tasks into what can be delegated and what truly requires your expertise, owners begin to see why their first instinct is usually not their best move. This clarity reveals what level of support is appropriate and prevents the common pattern of hiring too senior, too soon. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/339 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
How often do you think about taxes as part of your long-term wealth strategy rather than something you deal with once a year? In this episode, Melissa talks with tax attorney Megan Robin about why proactive tax planning matters for law firm owners who want to build and protect wealth. They explore how treating taxes as a strategic lever, rather than a deadline, opens opportunities to improve your financial position throughout the year. This conversation highlights patterns Megan sees repeatedly, from overpaying taxes due to missed opportunities to relying on broad advice that does not fit a law firm owner's specific situation. You will hear why your firm is often your most valuable asset and how intentional tax planning can strengthen both your cash flow and long-term wealth. Melissa and Megan bring clarity to an area that many owners overlook, and the guidance offered will help you think more strategically about the money you keep. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/338 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
What does it actually look like to start using AI in a meaningful way inside your law firm? That is the question Melissa explores with legal technology consultant Ernie Svenson in this follow-up conversation on the future of AI and its impact on lawyers. Instead of trying to learn every tool or waiting for the perfect moment to start, Ernie explains why consistent use is the real driver of progress and why treating AI like learning a new language helps you build confidence over time. Melissa and Ernie discuss why many lawyers approach AI implementation with hesitation and how simple, immediate payoffs can remove the barriers that keep firms from moving forward. They talk through examples of how AI can support everyday work in a law firm, how to think about choosing tools, and why the value comes from using AI in real situations rather than studying it in theory. They also explore the role of community and conversation in building practical skills, especially when the technology is evolving so quickly. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/337 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
What happens to the legal profession when technology stops being a tool and becomes a true collaborator? Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than most expected, and its impact on how lawyers think, work, and serve clients is already underway. The next decade may redefine what it means to practice law and who will be doing it. In this episode, Melissa is joined by Ernie Svenson, a senior lawyer turned legal technology consultant who helps solo and small firm owners modernize their practices. They discuss how new roles like legal knowledge engineers and no-coders are reshaping the industry, how AI could streamline dispute resolution, and why prevention may soon be more valuable than litigation. This conversation offers a grounded look at how law firm owners can adapt and lead through one of the most significant shifts the profession has ever faced. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/336 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Hiring decisions are some of the trickiest choices law firm owners make. Wait too long, and you end up buried under the work, scrambling to keep up. Hire too early, and you're sweating payroll and questioning whether the work will sustain the role. The constant back-and-forth of when to hire and who to hire can leave even the most disciplined owner feeling stuck. In this episode, Melissa shares a practical, data-backed approach that replaces guesswork with clarity. She walks you through how to calculate your buy-back rate, understand producer multiples, track net cases, and build production models that create real leverage. These tools help owners make smart, confident hiring decisions based on truth instead of gut feel, ensuring every new hire strengthens the firm's health, profitability, and long-term success. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/335 Use the Law Firm Producer Multiple Calculator here: https://producercalc.velocitywork.com/ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Most law firm owners think they understand strategic planning. They've read about goal setting, they know they should do it, and they tell themselves they already are. But true strategic planning is much deeper. It's the difference between reacting to daily fires and leading with clarity, direction, and momentum. Without a real plan, even the most dedicated owner can feel stuck, weighed down by confusion and uncertainty. In this episode, Melissa breaks down what strategic planning really is and why it changes everything. With the right structure and facilitation, strategic planning transforms how you think, decide, and lead. She explains how to connect your data, goals, and priorities to a clear roadmap, so you always know what matters most and why. Whether your future includes shorter work weeks, a specific case goal, or hitting revenue targets while maintaining balance, this episode will help you see what's possible when you plan with truth, structure, and intention. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/334 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
What if the biggest barrier to connection is not effort or intention, but capacity? Most leaders know what it takes to build strong relationships, be present, communicate clearly, and show appreciation, yet those principles only work when your own foundation is solid. When energy, sleep, or focus are depleted, even small gestures toward connection feel out of reach. In this personal conversation concluding the series with Jeff Salzenstein, Melissa shares how strengthening her body, mind, and heart created ripple effects in both her marriage and her relationship with her son. Jeff explains his Own Your Zone framework and why taking care of yourself first is the foundation for showing up fully in any relationship. They also discuss how these same principles apply in business and team culture. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/333 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
What if the very habits that built your success are now the ones holding you back? Many high achievers thrive on pushing harder, sleeping less, and powering through stress, but this approach eventually takes its toll. The strategies that once created results can become the same ones that lead to burnout, leaving you disconnected from your body, mind, and purpose. In this episode, Melissa continues the conversation with former professional tennis player and performance coach Jeff Salzenstein. They explore Jeff's Own Your Zone framework, a holistic approach that helps leaders restore the body, rewire the mind, and reconnect the heart. Whether you are ready for an overhaul or want to start with three simple shifts, this framework will help you create results that last. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/332 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
How do you create an "11 out of 10" life in work and leadership? In this continuation of Jeff Salzenstein's story, Melissa sits down with Jeff to explore how his experiences as a world-ranked tennis player and executive coach shaped his approach to performance, vision, and growth. They examine how leaders can integrate mindset, energy, and habits to achieve exponential results rather than incremental change. In this conversation, Jeff shares his approach to living an "11 out of 10" life. You'll hear how acting from your future self, visualizing the person you want to become, and bringing consistent high-energy presence creates a foundation for exponential growth. Jeff reflects on the mindset shifts, deliberate practices, and coaching interactions that helped Melissa break patterns from her past and step fully into her vision. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/331 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
How do personal challenges shape leaders and coaches? In this episode, Melissa sits down with Jeff Salzenstein to continue his deeply personal story. They explore how his experiences—from professional tennis to coaching, and from supporting his brother through intense struggles to building a high-performance business—have shaped the mindset, resilience, and perspective he brings to his work. You will gain insight into the experiences that influenced Jeff's capacity to lead under pressure, maintain perspective in complex situations, and balance ambition with purpose. His story also highlights the importance of setting boundaries and learning from both personal and professional challenges. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/330 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Most people don't actually lose momentum. They never create it in the first place. This episode explores why excitement alone isn't enough and what it really takes to build momentum that delivers results. Law firm owners often feel energized after retreats, masterminds, conferences, or coaching sessions, but without a system, that energy fades. The difference isn't willpower or discipline. You'll learn simple but powerful steps to turn potential into action, how to focus on the right priorities, protect time for what matters, stay connected to your goals, and execute consistently even when motivation dips. These strategies make the difference between ideas that fizzle and results that stick. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/329 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Are you pushing yourself toward high performance at the risk of burnout? In this episode, Melissa sits down with Jeff Salzenstein, a former top-100 tennis player turned high-performance coach. Years as a professional athlete pushed Jeff to his limits. His body eventually forced him to stop, revealing the cost of pursuing excellence without alignment. That experience shaped the mindset and frameworks he now uses to help others navigate pressure, setbacks, and transformation. Jeff shares how facing extreme challenges, personal setbacks, and the isolation of elite competition taught him lessons about resilience, focus, and alignment. Through his story, you'll discover how capacity under pressure, intentional practice, and deliberate coaching can turn struggles into sustainable growth. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/328 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Are you investing in the long game, or just chasing quick wins? Over the past 12 months, Melissa faced some of the biggest challenges and investments of her life—in business, health, and personal growth. As she reflected, she realized that all of the lessons tie back to one central theme: the difference between short-game and long-game investments. In this episode, she shares eight lessons that illustrate why thinking long-term changes everything. Melissa breaks down how long-game investments create transformation that goes beyond temporary fixes. She explores why consistent, intentional effort compounds over time, how identity shifts are at the core of real change, and why the people you surround yourself with can make or break your long-term progress. These lessons are designed to help you approach your firm, your work, and your life with clarity, patience, and strategy. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/327 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Are you creating your law firm's future intentionally? Every firm owner faces the challenge of turning vision into reality. The real work comes in bridging the gap between your goals and the daily actions that make them happen. Too often, firms get stuck in the chaos of day-to-day operations, leaving their bigger goals on the back burner. In this episode, Melissa breaks down how Velocity Work's Aim, Plan, Honor framework aligns with Dr. Benjamin Hardy's proven approach to scaling. After working with hundreds of private practice owners, Melissa has learned what truly drives growth: clarity about your future, a deliberate plan to get there, and the discipline to follow through. By the end of the episode, you'll have a concrete framework to transform your firm from a job you work into a business you lead. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/326 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Most law firm owners think scaling means working harder, hiring more people, or pushing through the chaos—but why does growth still feel unsustainable? They're pouring energy into complex systems, tolerating mediocrity, and wondering why progress is so slow. The truth is, they're making the same three fundamental mistakes that quietly sabotage their ability to scale. In this second part of the series, based on The Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy, Melissa breaks down exactly what those mistakes are and how they show up in your firm. From avoiding goal setting altogether to pursuing conflicting priorities, these errors keep you stuck in linear growth patterns. She explains the psychology behind why your brain needs clear goals, what happens when you aim too low, and why having multiple competing objectives guarantees you won't scale. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/325 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
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