Attorneys today aren’t just practitioners. They’re brands, strategists, and business owners. They’re building personal practices within larger ecosystems, shaping the trajectory of their careers with the same intentionality that their clients bring to their businesses. For a growing number of partner-level attorneys, this means the traditional image of a lawyer working within rigid firm structures no longer reflects the reality or the opportunities of a modern legal practice.
The evolution of the legal industry is giving rise to what some call the Entrepreneurial Attorney: a lawyer who blends legal experience with business vision, and who thrives in platforms designed to support both.
What is an Entrepreneurial Attorney?
Not all attorneys are entrepreneurial (and that’s ok). More traditional models still work for many lawyers and their clients. That said, 70% of lawyers operate in solo or small firm settings, meaning they’re already managing the day-to-day business operations, marketing, and financial health of their practice in addition to delivering legal services. This entrepreneurial reality is already part of their professional DNA.
To embrace that growth-focused mindset that’s needed to run the business side of a legal practice, attorneys should have:
- Depth of experience
Experience applies to both legal work performed and client management. Knowing how to manage workload, collaborate with other attorneys, and communicate effectively with clients takes years to master. An experienced attorney, typically at the partner level, has the deep knowledge necessary to thrive in an entrepreneurial environment.
- Portable book of business
A portable book of business demonstrates an attorney’s ability to attract, retain, and grow a loyal client base over time. In a modern, entrepreneurial law firm, a portable book creates a strong foundation for growth, allowing the attorney to leverage resources, collaborate across practice areas, and expand their client portfolio within a supportive platform.
- Adaptability to Market Trends
Entrepreneurial attorneys stays two steps ahead of industry, economic, and regulatory changes, adjusting their services, strategies, and client outreach to meet evolving needs. This agility not only protects existing client relationships, but also positions the attorney to capture new opportunities as the market shifts. It creates longevity and sustainability within their practice.
At Practus, you can catch our attorneys staying ahead of regulatory changes through the legal insights section on our News page. Attorneys share updates on the market, how changes could affect clients, and resources to help clients prepare.
Adaptability applies to changes in the law as well as client expectations: 78% of clients want more flexible pricing models from lawyers. The rise of AI is only furthering this initiative. Entrepreneurial attorneys who can think outside of the billable hour and adapt to these preferences (whether through alternative fee arrangements, subscription services, or customized billing) are better positioned to attract and retain clients in a competitive market.
The entrepreneurial mindset doesn’t replace great legal work; it enhances it.
By running a practice like a business, attorneys can make smarter decisions around tailored fee arrangements, client selection, and holistic representation across practice areas… as long as attorneys have the right platform to do so.
The Role of the Modern Law Firm for Partners
Unlike traditional firms that impose rigid structures, a modern law firm for partners acts as a platform—providing infrastructure, resources, and collaboration opportunities without dictating how attorneys run their practices.
Firms that provide attorneys with access to resources like top-tier legal software, marketing professionals, SEO strategists, and a built-in network of attorneys give entrepreneurial partners a competitive advantage while helping them amplify their own brand and continue building their practice.
This type of law firm model offers entrepreneurial attorneys the opportunity to:
- Set pricing structures that align with client needs
- Access a national (or global) network of cross-practice area engagement
- Maintain their own book of business while benefiting from shared firm resources
Providing the tools is just the start. True growth happens when attorneys connect those resources through meaningful collaboration with peers.
Collaboration Inside the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Entrepreneurial attorneys succeed in environments where complementary practice areas work seamlessly together. In a modern law firm for partners, this collaboration isn’t left to chance—it’s built into the firm’s structure, culture, and incentives.
When attorneys with different practice areas join forces, clients benefit from holistic, strategic solutions that go beyond the scope of a single practice area. For example:
- A corporate services lawyer can collaborate with an intellectual property attorney to help a startup scale quickly while protecting its assets from day one.
- A financial services law partner can work with a tax attorney to execute complex transactions like ETF conversions with precision and efficiency.
In these environments, collaboration extends beyond legal work to include business development and brand growth. Internal trainings, peer-to-peer strategy sharing, and coordinated marketing efforts allow attorneys to grow their personal practices while enhancing the firm’s reputation within the legal industry.
The result is an ecosystem where attorneys aren’t operating in isolation; they’re supported by a network of peers who make each other’s practices stronger, more efficient, and more profitable.
The Future Belongs to the Entrepreneurial Attorney
As the profession continues to evolve, attorneys who embrace an entrepreneurial mindset are finding themselves better positioned to adapt, grow, and lead. The best law firms for entrepreneurial attorneys recognize that their role is not to control the attorney’s business, but to amplify it through resources, collaboration, and freedom.
The rise of the entrepreneurial attorney isn’t a trend—it’s a shift in how the practice of law is defined. And in modern law firms for partners, it’s the new normal.
Learn more about Practus LLP and how it supports the entrepreneurial attorney here.
