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Inventive JourneyAuthor: Devin @ Miller IP
Buckle up for real stories from startup founders and small business heroes who survived the chaos, laughed at the mistakes, and still built something awesome. Each episode dives into the wild ride of turning ideas into impactcomplete with hard lessons, lucky breaks, and plenty of caffeine. Entrepreneurs, this is your pit stop for honest insights and unexpected laughs. Language: en-us Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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đ Exit Ramp or Partnership: The Career Crossroads Every Big Law Attorney Faces
Wednesday, 11 February, 2026
Every Big Law attorney eventually faces a defining momentâwhether they talk about it openly or keep it quietly tucked away. Itâs the point where the partner track feels closer than ever, yet somehow less appealing. Titles loom. Expectations shift. Compensation math stays murky. And the question becomes unavoidable: Is this really what success looks like?In this episode of Inventive Journey, host Devin Miller sits down with attorney Matthew Fornaro to explore that exact crossroads. Matthew shares his candid journey from Big Law associate to firm owner, unpacking the realities most attorneys donât learn until theyâre already deep inside the system.The conversation pulls back the curtain on partnership economicsâhow bonuses are calculated, why firm-wide performance can outweigh individual results, and how âmaking partnerâ often comes with strings attached that arenât discussed in recruiting brochures. Matthew explains why the prestige of Big Law doesnât always translate into autonomy, clarity, or control.From there, the discussion shifts to what happens when attorneys choose the exit ramp. Starting a firm doesnât mean instant freedomâit means responsibility. Revenue resets to zero. Systems disappear. You become the attorney, marketer, operations manager, and strategist all at once. Matthew walks through what those early years actually look like, including lean periods, uncomfortable learning curves, and the slow process of building momentum.A major theme of the episode is the business education gap in law. Law school teaches legal analysis, not client acquisition or firm management. Matthew shares how targeted entrepreneurship programs and hands-on experience helped him close that gap, turning trial-and-error into systems and sustainability.Technology also plays a key role in modern firm ownership. Matthew discusses how toolsâespecially when used responsiblyâcan dramatically reduce overhead, improve efficiency, and allow solo and small firm attorneys to compete without recreating Big Law infrastructure. Heâs also clear about the limits: AI is a tool, not a replacement for judgment, and careless use can do real damage.This episode isnât antiâBig Law. Itâs proâintentional decision-making. Some attorneys thrive on the partner track. Others realize that ownership, flexibility, and equity matter more than titles. The real risk isnât choosing one path over the otherâitâs drifting into a future by default.If youâre an attorney questioning the long-term tradeoffs of partnership, curious about firm ownership, or simply trying to define success on your own terms, this conversation offers an honest, grounded perspective from someone whoâs lived both sides.To chat about this one-on-one, grab a free consult at strategymeeting.com
