How Jed Barden Doubled His Hiring Capacity and Took Back His Life

When Jed Barden joined Lawyerist Lab, his firm wasn’t failing. But it wasn’t sustainable either. He and his wife (and law partner), Heather, were stuck in survival mode—doing everything themselves, unsure how to grow without burning out.

With strategic coaching, community support, and a smarter hiring process, Jed turned a good firm 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’s co-led Barden & Barden, a plaintiff-side personal injury and employment firm he built with Heather.

Like many lawyers, they started with grit, good intentions—and no formal business training.

“I worked at firms with mediocre operations,” Jed said. “You don’t learn how to run a business in law school—and you don’t learn it at most small firms either.”

Survival Mode, Without a Map

By the time 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 every hat: legal work, admin, marketing, management.

Hiring was one of the firm’s biggest friction points. Jed saw the need to build a team, but Heather was hesitant—especially from a financial standpoint. Without outside guidance, they kept pushing through, trying to do it all themselves.

“We weren’t looking to scale recklessly. We were looking for clarity and confidence.”

That’s when Jed discovered the Lawyerist Podcast —and found a community of like-minded lawyers building smarter, more intentional practices.

What Changed in Lab

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 made the biggest impact:

1. Weekly Coaching and Accountability

“Seeing the functions of the business visually was a game-changer.”

With regular coaching, Jed had an expert sounding board to help navigate tough decisions—especially around hiring. His coach, Sara, helped he and Heather align, move past hesitation, and build the team they needed.

2. The Accountability Chart

“Seeing the functions of the business visually was a game-changer.”

With help from Sara, Jed created an accountability chart—mapping out every role in the firm and identifying what could (and should) be delegated.

3. Smarter, More Confident Hiring

Lab helped Jed:

• Hire their first fully remote assistant, a paralegal for Heather, and a marketing and sales manager
• Build a more effective hiring process
• Learn from past missteps and refine their criteria

The result: A more capable, aligned team—and a new associate attorney with a proven track record who’s joining full-time this fall.

4. Better Cases, Not Just More

“We’ve shifted from ten $10,000 cases to ten $100,000 cases.”

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. A Healthier Life, Not Just a Healthier Firm

“Lab gave me mental clarity—and permission to prioritize the rest of my life.”

Jed has always valued family time and wellness. But Lab gave him the perspective—and confidence—to protect it. No guilt. No burnout. Just better boundaries and a smarter practice.

The Results

Since joining Lab, Barden & Barden has:

• Moved from survival to strategy: They now operate with clear goals, systems, and delegation.
• Built a stronger team: They hired several new team members, refined their hiring process, and are bringing on a new attorney to help Jed and Heather with the legal work.
• Upgraded their caseload: Fewer, higher-value cases mean more impact and less stress.
• Clarified business roles: The accountability chart guides decisions and delegation.
• Protected personal time: Jed now has 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 in Lab are the cool attorneys,” Jed said. “They’re not trying to outwork everyone. They’re trying to build better lives.”

Ready to Take Back Your Time?

If you’re tired of grinding without strategy, stuck in the hiring weeds, or craving more freedom, it’s time to get out of survival mode.

Join Lawyerist Lab. Build the firm—and the life—you actually want.

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