So You Want to Start a Law Firm
The On-Demand Course!
Six Lessons designed to help you launch your very own legal practice.
Stop dreaming and let's do this!
So You Want to Start a Law Firm? That’s a phrase that has been in my mind for a few years now.
Hi, my name is Clarissa Rayward and I am a lawyer just like you! I know what it’s like to start a law firm from the ground up, because I’ve done it myself. I founded Brisbane Family Law Centre years ago and have since built a busy, successful collaborative practice in Family Law.
When I’m not being a family lawyer, I’m working with lawyers just like you through my business, Happy Lawyer Happy Life. I’ve supported over 500 lawyers across Australia – through ‘The Club’, online courses, and private coaching – to build firms that align with their values and the life they want to lead.
Starting your own firm is a big step, and one of the biggest challenges is knowing where to begin. While there are plenty of practice management tools to handle the technical side, it’s much harder to find practical guidance on everything else—branding, marketing, finances, and how to grow a firm that actually works for you. That’s why I created ‘So You Want to Start a Law Firm?’
This on-demand course is designed to guide you through the process, step by step. Across Six Lessons, you’ll plan, dream, and take real action to turn your idea into reality. I’ve also teamed up with experts who’ve helped me build my own firm, bringing you resources, workbooks, and practical strategies on everything from technology and finance to marketing and websites.
Now more than ever, knowing how to grow and communicate your practice online is essential. This course will help you find the right approach for you—so you can build a firm that fits your vision and supports the life you want to lead.
Gain access to Six Lessons, each designed to help you plan, dream, and take real action to turn your idea into a reality!
Work through the course at your own pace, whenever and wherever it suits you.
Course Outline:
📌 Lesson One: Where do you begin?
📌 Lesson Two: People – Team, Clients & Partners
📌 Lesson Three: Brand, Marketing & All That Business Stuff
📌 Lesson Four: Products & Services
📌 Lesson Five: Technology & Systems
📌 Lesson Six: Your Magic Number – Why Business is a Numbers Game!
You’ll also receive bonus resources from the Happy Lawyer Happy Life Knowledge Vault, carefully selected to support you on your journey.
Six Lesson Workbooks designed to turn your ideas into an actionable plan.
You will have access to...
Six pre-recorded workshops plus and six expert-led sessions covering key aspects of starting a law firm.
A library of bonus resources from the HLHL Knowledge Vault to support you on your journey.
Six Lessons On- Demand Course
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Six Workbooks
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Six Pre-Recorded Masterclasses
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Six Pre-Recorded Expert-Led Workshops
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Access to a Library of Bonus Resources from the HLHL Knowledge Vault
THE PRESENTER
Clarissa Rayward is a lawyer and business owner who is known for her innovative and energising presentation style. Clarissa has trained hundreds of lawyers both in Australia and overseas in all aspects of running a modern law firm from pricing structures to wellness. You can expect much learning along with a lot of fun** along the way (**aka there will probably be dancing… Because what is a legal presentation without some dancing…)
CLARISSA RAYWARD
Accredited Family Law Specialist, Collaborative Lawyer, Mediator
Director, Brisbane Family Lawyer Centre
Hi! My name is Clarissa Rayward, I am the Director of Brisbane Family Law Centre and I am now a ‘mostly’ happy lawyer- but it wasn’t always this way. A few years ago I found myself ready to throw in the law towel as I was a deeply unhappy lawyer.
I was not waking up and bouncing out of bed to get to the office; I was actively looking for reasons not to have to be there. I was finding myself struggling to do things in my job that I had been doing for years – even the simple stuff was becoming tedious and hard. I was spending most of my time worrying, and most of that worry was focused not on what I felt or thought but on what others would think, feel or say about me. I was, in turn, distracted in my marriage, feeling disconnected from my daughter and finding my friendships becoming harder to enjoy. I describe this as me feeling ‘unhappy’.
Rather than throwing in that law towel I made a decision to change my approach to my life in law. Over the next 2 years I actively made changes that have resulted in me finding a way to stay in this career and largely be ‘happy’ again.
As I began to write, talk and share my own challenges with unhappiness I started to hear from many other lawyers, just like you, who were also looking for new and better ways to stay in the law, be great lawyers and manage to lead a great life all at the same time. I soon realised I was not alone and I wanted to do something to ensure that the many great lawyers around me were not also finding themselves deeply unhappy and leaving the law. So with some help from a few friends I launched a podcast- Happy Lawyer Happy Life- where each week I interview fellow lawyers to open a dialogue on just what it has taken for them to find happiness in this challenging career. I have also written a book by the same name- sharing my research and learnings on happiness as a lawyer.
Then a few lawyers asked me if I could ‘teach’ them what I did and voila- after a trial run with some friends, I created this course designed to help you better manage your law career and find happiness along the way.
I am a lawyer who is just like you- I have worked hard to get where I am and want to ensure that I can stay in this profession for many years to come but have a great life with my family and friends along the way.
Chances are if you are reading this you are feeling some (or all!) of what I felt a few years ago. If so come and join “The Club” or join us at the end of the year on the Gold Coast for our annual Happy Lawyer Happy Life Retreat.
If you’re a law firm owner or leader looking to grow your business, build your personal brand, and find happiness in and beyond the law, THE CLUB is for you.
This online mastermind program connects like-minded lawyers who are committed to building modern, fulfilling legal practices.
Our annual law conference held over three days and full of business, law and life learning – designed to help you become the best lawyer you can be.
Think ‘TEDx’ for lawyers – our handpicked speakers are here to inspire, educate and challenge the way you think about law and business.