Blog - Page 2 of 3 - EPiC Peer Groups

Setting Boundaries: A Key Strategy for Achieving Work-Life Balance in Law Firms

In the legal profession, long hours and constant client demands can make it difficult to disconnect. But without clear boundaries, it’s easy for work to spill into every corner of your life—leading to burnout, stress and diminished performance.

Why Boundaries Matter More Than Ever

Balancing work and personal life isn’t just a luxury, it’s essential for long-term success and well-being. One of the most effective ways to achieve this balance is by setting intentional boundaries between your professional responsibilities and personal time.

Simple, Practical Steps to Start Today

Start by treating personal time with the same level of importance as a client meeting. Block off time for family dinners, rest or activities that help you recharge—and protect it. That might mean silencing your phone in the evenings or physically handing it off to a trusted family member during meals to avoid the temptation of checking emails.

In high-pressure environments like law firms, it’s natural to feel the need to always be available. But being constantly “on” isn’t sustainable. Boundaries help reduce stress, improve focus, and allow you to return to work more engaged and productive.

Make a commitment to yourself: identify one boundary you can set this week—whether it’s logging off at a certain hour or dedicating an evening to uninterrupted personal time. Small changes can make a meaningful impact on your overall well-being and performance.

Communicating Core Values: A Step-by-Step Guide

You’ve defined your core values—great. Now what?

Too often, firms treat core values like a checklist item. Define them once, maybe add them to the website, and move on. But values don’t work that way. If they’re not actively communicated and lived out, they fade into the background—fast.

So, how do you make sure your team actually sees, understands, and embraces your values?

Here’s a simple, step-by-step approach to make your firm’s core values part of the everyday experience—not just a framed poster in the hallway:

1. Make Them Impossible to Miss

Put them where people can see them—office walls, screen savers, digital dashboards. Visibility reinforces consistency.

2. Talk About Them in Meetings

Bring them into the conversation. Share real examples of how someone on the team embodied a value. This helps your values feel real, not abstract.

3. Work Them Into Internal Comms

Whether it’s your team newsletter, Slack messages, or your intranet—core values should be popping up regularly. Repetition builds awareness.

4. Tie Them to Performance

Want your team to take values seriously? Measure what matters. Recognize and reward team members who truly reflect the firm’s values in their work.

5. Hire With Values in Mind

Culture fit starts at the interview. Be upfront with candidates: “These are the values we live by here.” Hire people who are already aligned with that vision.

The Bottom Line

Core values don’t mean much if they’re just sitting in a document no one reads.

But when you weave them into how you talk, work, and grow together—they become the heartbeat of your firm.

Start with one of these steps today and build a culture where your values aren’t just stated—they’re lived.

The Power of Core Values in Estate Planning Law Firms

What Does Your Law Firm Really Stand For? Why Core Values Aren’t Just Buzzwords

When was the last time you asked yourself, “What are we really about?” Not just the services you offer or the clients you serve, but the principles that guide how your team shows up every day.

Core values aren’t just nice words on a wall or a section on your website. They’re the heartbeat of your firm. They shape your culture, influence hiring decisions, guide how you handle conflict, and even determine how you celebrate wins! In short: they make the difference between a group of individuals and a united, mission-driven team.

But here’s the catch: values only work if you actually live them.

Core values don’t mean much if they’re just sitting in a document no one reads.

But when you weave them into how you talk, work, and grow together—they become the heartbeat of your firm.

That means adding them into your daily operations. Talk about them in meetings. Recognize team members who embody them. Display them in your workspace. When your team clearly understands what you stand for, you’re not just building a law firm, you’re creating a culture people want to be part of.

Ready to take the first step?

Start by defining your core values and then commit to integrating them into everything you do. It’s one of the simplest ways to boost morale, increase accountability, and move your firm forward with clarity and purpose.

Virtual Peer Group Simulation on 1.21.25: Pre-Register Now!

🚨 Only 10 Spots Available! 🚨

Are you ready to elevate your estate planning law firm? Our limited EPiC Peer Group Simulation is back, but with only 10 spots available, this will sell out fast! 🚀

Why Attend?

✅ Collaborate with high-performing law firm owners
✅ Get strategies that increase revenue and efficiency
✅ Walk away with actionable steps to transform your practice

What Past Attendees Are Saying: 🗣 “I just attended the [Simulation] conducted by Thomas and Nate. It was very apparent that joining EPiC Peer Group is going to be a game changer for my practice. I get the sense that peer groups like this will be the equivalent of the collegiality of the WC listserv on steroids. I’m looking forward to getting involved.” – SA

Early Bird Discount: Register by January 10 to save $50!
🎟️ Early-bird rate: $199
📅 Event time & date: 10:30 am – 4:00 pm CST, January 21, 2025
💻 Location: Virtual
🔗 Pre-Register here

Bonus for Early Registrants: Sign up by January 5 and get exclusive access to some of our highly rated All Hands webinars (a benefit typically only reserved for members)!

This WILL sell out—don’t miss your chance!

Virtual Peer Group Simulation on 10.22.24: Pre-Register Now!

🚨 Only 10 Spots Available! 🚨

Are you ready to elevate your estate planning law firm? Our limited EPiC Peer Group Simulation is back, but with only 10 spots available, this will sell out fast! 🚀

Why Attend?

✅ Collaborate with high-performing law firm owners
✅ Get strategies that increase revenue and efficiency
✅ Walk away with actionable steps to transform your practice

Early Bird Discount: Register by October 11 to save $50!
🎟️ Early-bird rate: $199
📅 Event time & date: 10:30 am – 4:00 pm CDT, October 22, 2024
💻 Location: Virtual
🔗 Pre-Register here

Bonus for Early Registrants: Sign up by October 11 and get exclusive access to some of our highly rated All Hands webinars (a benefit typically only reserved for members)!

This WILL sell out—don’t miss your chance!

Peer Group Simulation on Nov. 7

Scan the QR code above to register or click link below.

EPiC Peer Group, a peer group program for estate planning law firm owners, will hold a free peer group Simulation so that interested candidates can experience the solution firsthand.

The Simulation will be held 11 a.m.-3 p.m. CT, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, and will be presented virtually via Zoom meeting. We limit participation to make the session manageable and productive.

The Simulation will be presented in a workshop environment, aimed at inspiring you to get started on your personal and practice goals for 2024.

Thomas M. Fafinski, EPiC founder and facilitator, will lead a discussion on how to drive marketing, sales and client retention results, building lead dashboards, and sales and marketing metrics.
We will discuss technology solutions that may help to streamline your processes and improve your practice.
We will conclude with the cornerstone of peer groups: collaboration with fellow members and professional facilitators about your firm’s deepest needs, questions and concerns.

Take home solutions that will help you achieve your personal and professional goals—and expand your professional network in the process.

EPiC is a peer group—or mastermind—membership organization. Each group is comprised of members with practices that are in similar stages of development. In a small-group setting, among attorneys in a similar revenue position, participants are encouraged to share what they’ve learned that works (and doesn’t work) for their practice while supporting each other against a backdrop of honest discussion.

If you decide you want to participate in the solution after experiencing it on Nov. 7, we will determine which group is the right fit for you—one in which members are from firms of similar size, revenue and development stage, and not within your geographic area of competition.

To participate, register here.

Mini Peer Group Simulation set for June 27

EPiC Peer Group, a peer group program for estate planning law firm owners, will hold a free peer group Simulation so that interested candidates can experience the solution firsthand.

By popular demand, we are offering an abbreviated, 3-hour Simulation mini-session for those who have been unable to commit to our typical 6-hour Simulation due to schedule constraints.

The mini Simulation will be held 10 a.m.-1 p.m. CDT, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, and will be presented virtually via Zoom meeting. We limit participation to make the session manageable and productive.

The Simulation will be presented in a workshop environment, aimed at inspiring you to get started on your personal and practice goals for the next 12 months.

Thomas M. Fafinski, EPiC founder and facilitator, will lead a discussion on how to drive marketing, sales and client retention results, building lead dashboards, and sales and marketing metrics.
We will discuss technology solutions that may help to streamline your processes and improve your practice.
We will conclude with the cornerstone of peer groups: collaboration with fellow members and professional facilitators about your firm’s deepest needs, questions and concerns.

Take home solutions that will help you achieve your personal and professional goals—and expand your professional network in the process.

If you decide you want to participate in the solution after experiencing it on June 27, we will determine which group is the right fit for you—one in which members are from firms of similar size, revenue and development stage, and not within your geographic area of competition.

To participate, register here.

Peer Group Simulation—Second Date Added: March 28

Due to the strong response we received to our Peer Group Simulation on March 21, we have closed registration for that session and added a second date the following week!

We are accepting a limited number of participants to our second Simulation, to be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

Nathan W. Nelson and I will facilitate the virtual session, with the goal of allowing participants to experience the peer group solution firsthand and engage in the sharing of best practices relating to the business operations of an estate planning law firm.

There is no fee for participation and no obligation to join a peer group thereafter. We limit participation to make the session manageable and productive. Learn more about the program here.

If you would like to participate, please email me at tfafinski@virtuslaw.com or register here.

Peer Group Simulation on Mar. 21

EPiC Peer Group, a peer group program for estate planning law firm owners, will hold a free 1-day peer group simulation so that interested candidates can experience the solution firsthand. We limit participation to make the session manageable and productive. The date of the session is March 21, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT. The session will be presented via Zoom meeting.

The simulation will be presented within a workshop environment, aimed at inspiring you to get started on your personal and practice goals for the next 12 months.

-Thomas M. Fafinski will lead a discussion on how to drive marketing, sales and client retention results, building lead dashboards, and sales and marketing metrics.
-Nathan W. Nelson J.D. LL.M will lead a conversation on measuring and tracking productivity, production processes, financial metrics and financial dashboards.
-We will discuss technology solutions that may help to streamline your processes and improve your practice.
-We will conclude with the cornerstone of peer groups: collaboration with fellow members and professional facilitators about your practice’s deepest needs, questions and concerns.

Take home solutions that will help you achieve your personal and professional goals—and expand your professional network in the process.

EPiC is a peer group membership organization. Each group is comprised of practices that are in similar stages of development. In a small-group setting with attorneys in a similar financial position, participants are encouraged to share what they’ve learned works (and doesn’t work) for their practice while supporting each other in an environment of honest discussion.

If you decide you want to participate in the solution after experiencing it on March 21, we will determine which group is the right fit for you—one in which members are from firms of similar size, revenue, number of employees, and not within your geographic area of competition.

To participate, register here.

Q3 Meetings Recap: Success with a Side of Sun, Sea and Big Sky Country

Members of three EPiC peer groups, which convene in person on a quarterly basis, met in August for two days of focused analysis, reflection and brainstorming. Each group worked together to solve problems and better their own—and each others’—practices.

We can confidently say that Q3 was a home run, given the average meeting score: 9.26 out of 10! Another smashing success to add to the books.

Q3 brought one group to Seattle, another to Portland, OR, and the third to Great Falls, MT.

While each group dynamic is unique, one thing they all share is a commitment to push each other to reach new levels of success. This quarter produced fruitful discussion on a variety of relevant topics affecting both the estate planning industry as a whole and members on an individual basis.

But EPiC is about more than just work, work, work. Typically there is a group outing or two during the two-day session. Here are a couple of shots from our groups in Seattle and Great Falls, enjoying their spectacular surroundings!