#49 The Courage to Scale Back: Finding More Satisfaction with Less Work
In this episode of Lawyers Who Learn, David Schnurman, CEO of Lawline, has a conversation with Laura Cowan, founder of 2-Hour Lifestyle Lawyer (2HLL) and author of the newly released book "Lifestyle Lawyer Revolution." Laura shares her fascinating journey from working as a CPA at Ernst & Young and hedge funds to making a bold career change at age 35 to attend law school.
After her mother's passing in 2015, Laura established a successful estate planning practice in New York City, growing it to a seven-figure business within three years. When COVID hit, she relocated to Rhode Island and was forced to reimagine her practice virtually. This transition led to a profound realization: she could maintain a successful practice working just a few hours a day while enjoying a more balanced lifestyle.
Laura explains how this epiphany evolved into her coaching business, 2HLL, where she now teaches other attorneys how to create and build similar virtual estate planning practices that prioritize lifestyle while still generating substantial income. Her framework, which focuses on achieving $10,000 monthly revenue through just 2-4 clients per month, currently has a waitlist and has attracted over 500 lawyers to her program.
Throughout the interview, Laura emphasizes the importance of estate planning workshops for client acquisition, the value of investing in coaching, and her philosophy that "a rising tide lifts all ships." She discusses how her approach differs from other legal coaching programs that focus solely on maximizing revenue, noting that many attorneys are seeking balance rather than just financial growth. The conversation concludes with insights about her new book, which codifies her unique approach to practicing law in the post-COVID era.