THE PROFITABLE LAW FIRM The First 30 Days Set the Tone for the Entire Years Plan

Every January feels full of possibility.

There’s a sense that things can be cleaner, calmer, more controlled. That this will be the year the firm finally runs the way it should.

But here’s what I’ve seen time and again:

The firms that have a better year don’t rely on motivation. They rely on what they plan in the first 30 days.

Because January doesn’t just start the calendar, it exposes what carried over from last year.

Why the First Month Matters More Than You Think

By the time February hits, most firms are already back in motion. Matters are active. Clients need attention. Decisions get made quickly.

If clarity isn’t established early, the year fills itself quickly, often in ways you didn’t intend.

January is different. It’s the one window where you can slow things down just enough to ask:

• What’s actually working?

• What’s quietly creating friction?

• What are we carrying forward that shouldn’t come with us?

  
  

When those questions go unanswered, firms don’t fail but they just drift along.

What the First 30 Days Should Really Be Used For

This isn’t about big planning retreats or elaborate forecasts. It’s about grounding the firm before momentum takes over.

Here’s where firms that start the year well tend to focus:

1. Getting honest about where the numbers stand

Not perfect numbers, real numbers.

That means understanding:

• your cash position

• outstanding invoices

• work-in-progress

• trust balances that actually reconcile

• prior-year items that still need cleanup

  
  

Clarity here removes anxiety. Guessing creates it.

2. Cleaning up before adding new pressure

January is not the time to pile on new goals without resolving old issues.

Unreconciled accounts, billing backlogs, lingering trust questions don’t disappear on their own. They compound.

Firms that address these early spend the rest of the year managing forward instead of constantly looking back.

3. Resetting a few key systems

You don’t need to fix everything. You need to fix what causes repeated friction.

Most firms benefit from tightening:

• billing routines

• trust workflows

• month-end reviews

• how financial information gets reviewed and discussed

  
  

Consistency matters more than complexity.

4. Deciding what not to repeat

One of the most valuable January exercises is identifying patterns you don’t want to carry forward:

• types of matters that drained time

• pricing decisions that didn’t hold up

• workflows that relied too much on memory

• bottlenecks that kept showing up

  
  

If nothing changes, the year will look familiar, no matter how hard you work.

What This Means for the Rest of the Year

Firms that start the year with clarity tend to experience something subtle but powerful as the months pass:

Fewer surprises. Better decisions. Less stress around money. More confidence in the numbers.

They’re not perfect, but they’re grounded.

And that grounding makes it easier to lead, delegate, and grow intentionally instead of reactively.

If You Want Help Starting the Year on Solid Ground

If you’d like a second set of eyes on your books, trust workflows, or financial systems as the year gets underway, I offer start-of-year consultations designed to bring clarity early.

It’s a straightforward conversation to help you:

• identify blind spots

• prioritize what actually matters

• set the year up with intention instead of urgency

  
  

If that would be helpful, feel free to reach out and schedule a time.