Ep. 221: The Exit Blueprint — How to Build a Law Firm You Can Actually Sell

What happens when you're finally ready to step away from the law firm you've spent decades building?In Episode 221 of the Renegade Lawyer Podcast, Ben Glass welcomes back attorney, CPA, and Law Practice Exchange founder Tom Lenfestey to discuss one of the most overlooked topics in the legal profession: exit planning.Drawing insights from his new book, The Exit Blueprint: The Law Firm Owner's Playbook for Selling, Succession, and Life After Law, Tom explains why the biggest challenge isn't finding a buyer—it's figuring out who you are when you're no longer running the firm.Ben and Tom explore what makes a law firm truly valuable, how lawyers can create businesses that thrive without them, and why waiting until retirement is often too late.In this episode:✅ Why lawyers struggle with succession planning✅ The emotional side of selling a law firm✅ How to increase your firm's value years before an exit✅ The role of systems, SOPs, and AI in building transferable businesses✅ What buyers are looking for in today's market✅ Private equity's growing interest in legal practices✅ Common deal killers and valuation mistakes✅ How to create a meaningful life after lawWhether you're planning to retire in twenty years or considering a transition today, this conversation offers practical guidance for building a law firm that serves your life—and leaves a lasting legacy.Guest: Tom LenfesteyBook: The Exit Blueprint: The Law Firm Owner's Playbook for Selling, Succession, and Life After Lawhttps://a.co/d/0d4256oIWebsite: https://www.thelawpracticeexchange.comBen Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury and long-term disability insurance attorney in Fairfax, VA. Since 2005, Ben Glass and Great Legal Marketing have been helping solo and small firm lawyers make more money, get more clients and still get home in time for dinner. We call this TheGLMTribe.comWhat Makes The GLM Tribe Special?In short, we are the only organization within the "business builder for lawyers" space that is led by two practicing lawyers. One thing we're sure you've noticed is that despite the variety of options within our space, no one else is mixingthe actual practice of law with business building in the way that we are.There are no other organizations who understand the highs and lows of running a small law firm and are engaged in talking to real clients. That is what sets GLM apart from every other organization, and it is why we have had loyal members that have been with us for two-decades.