When Jed Barden joined Lawyerist Lab, his firm was not bankrupt. But it wasn’t sustainable either. He and his wife (and law partner), Heather, were stuck in survival mode, doing everything themselves, not knowing how to grow without burning out.
Through strategic coaching, community support, and a smarter recruiting process, Jed transformed a good business into a streamlined, sustainable business, without sacrificing his personal life.
The story behind Barden & Barden
Jed Barden has practiced law for nearly two decades. For the past nine years, he has co-directed Barden and Bardena plaintiffs’ side personal injury and employment business that he started with Heather.
Like many lawyers, they started with courage, good intentions and no formal business training.
“I’ve worked at companies with poor operations,” Jed said. “You don’t learn how to run a business in law school, and you don’t learn it in most small firms either. »
Survival mode, without map
When Jed joined Lawyerist Lab, he knew how to practice law. What he didn’t know was how to build a sustainable business. For years, he and his wife wore all hats: legal work, administration, marketing, management.
Hiring was one of the company’s biggest sticking points. Jed saw the need to build a team, but Heather was hesitant, especially from a financial standpoint. Without outside guidance, they continued to move forward, trying to do everything themselves.
“We weren’t looking to move recklessly. We were looking for clarity and confidence.”
That’s when Jed discovered the Lawyerist podcast and discovered a community of like-minded lawyers creating smarter, more intentional practices.
What changed in the laboratory
Jed joined Lawyerist Lab and saw an immediate difference. Lab gave him the tools, coaching and community to finally break the cycle. Here’s what had the biggest impact:
1. Weekly coaching and accountability
“Seeing business functions visually was a game changer. »
Through regular coaching, Jed had a think tank of experts to help him make tough decisions, including hiring. His coach, Sara, helped him and Heather align, overcome their hesitations, and build the team they needed.
2. The responsibility table
“Seeing business functions visually was a game changer. »
With Sara’s help, Jed created a responsibilities chart, outlining each role in the company and identifying what could (and should) be delegated.
3. Smarter and safer recruitment
The lab helped Jed:
- Hire their first fully remote assistant, a paralegal for Heather and a marketing and sales manager
- Building a more efficient recruitment process
- Learn from past missteps and refine their criteria
The result: A more knowledgeable and aligned team and a new associate attorney with proven experience who will join full-time this fall.
4. Better cases, not just more
“We went from ten files worth $10,000 to ten files worth $100,000. »
With the right systems in place, Barden & Barden no longer chases volume. They focus on higher value cases, with more impact and less chaos.
5. Healthier living, not just a healthier business
“The lab gave me mental clarity and permission to prioritize the rest of my life.”
Jed always valued family time and wellness. But Lab gave him the perspective (and confidence) to protect him. No guilt. No burnout. Just better boundaries and smarter practice.
The results
Since joining Lab, Barden & Barden has:
- Moving from survival to strategy: They now operate with clear goals, systems and delegation.
- Building a stronger team: They’ve hired several new team members, refined their hiring process, and are bringing on a new attorney to help Jed and Heather with their legal work.
- Improvement in their workload: Fewer high-value files mean more impact and less stress.
- Clarified business roles: The accountability chart guides decisions and delegation.
- Protected personal time: Jed now has a space for family, exercise and recovery, without sacrificing results.
Why it worked
Lab didn’t just give Jed tools. It gave him perspective.
Between coaching, peer support, and simple frameworks like the accountability chart, he went from overwhelmed to empowered.
“The people at the Lab are nice lawyers,” Jed said. “They’re not trying to outdo everyone. They’re trying to build better lives.”
Ready to take back your time?
If you’re tired of grinding without a strategy, stuck in the weeds, or craving more freedom, it’s time to get out of survival mode.
Join the Lawyer Lab. Build the business – and life – you really want.
Last updated July 28, 2025
