How Dawn Pritchard Built a Profitable Firm from Scratch in Less Than 3 Years 

From Start-Up Stress to Sustainable Success 

When Dawn Pritchard opened her own law firm after 20 years in practice, she faced the daunting reality of starting from zero. In just two years of working with Lawyerist Lab, she turned that challenge into a thriving, process-driven firm—one that grew her client base, stabilized her finances, and gave her back precious time outside the office. 

The Challenge: Starting a Firm with Nothing but Experience 

Dawn Pritchard, founder of Dawn Pritchard Law PC, had two decades of legal experience. But like many first-time firm owners, she quickly learned that practicing law and running a business are two very different jobs. 

No clients. 

No systems. 

No roadmap. 

Every day brought new challenges: finding clients, setting up financial systems, managing workflows, and trying to design processes that kept her organized and efficient. The weight was real. She knew she needed more than inspiration—she needed a plan and a support system. 

Finding a Blueprint in Lawyerist Lab

Dawn discovered Lawyerist when she was gifted a copy of The Small Firm Roadmap. After finishing the book, she knew she couldn’t build a sustainable firm on inspiration alone. At Clio Con, she connected with the Lawyerist team and soon joined Lab. 

Instead of guessing her way forward, Dawn gained structure, coaching, and accountability: 

• Quarterly Planning Retreats turned vague goals into focused 90-day action plans. 

• One-on-One Coaching delivered step-by-step guidance on finances, marketing, and systems. 

• A Community of Firm Owners provided real-world solutions to problems she couldn’t solve alone. 

Lab gave her more than advice—it gave her momentum.

The Results: Growth That Stuck

In less than three years, Dawn’s firm transformed from a start-up into a sustainable business: 

• 100% client growth in the second year since joining Lab. 

• Hours a week saved by streamlining operations and documenting processes. 

• Financial stability through budgeting tools and accountability—no more feast-or-famine stress. 

• Work-life balance restored, with time back for her other passion, singing and songwriting, while her firm continued to grow. 

“The quarterly planning retreats were huge for me. I wouldn’t have thought to prioritize that kind of structure on my own.” 

Why Dawn’s Story Matters 

Dawn’s success isn’t a lucky break. It’s proof of what’s possible when a motivated lawyer pairs drive with a proven system. Lawyerist Lab provided the plan, guidance, and community she needed to turn a daunting start into measurable success. 

Ready to Build Your Firm—and Your Life? 

You don’t have to do this alone. Lawyerist Lab helps small firm owners like you create profitable, sustainable practices without burning out in the process. 

Join Lawyerist Lab today and start building the firm—and the life—you’ve been working toward. 

Last updated August 27th, 2025