By Jason D. Lazarus | Peak Practice by Synergy
✨Jennifer Gore✨ of Sweet James LLP , founder of one of the fastest-growing women-led personal injury firms in the U.S., joined me on the Trial Lawyer View by Synergy podcast to explore how trauma, grit, and business acumen converge to shape law firm growth. What started as a conversation about our life-changing accidents became a masterclass in building a resilient, scalable practice.
If you want to lead with authenticity, scale sustainably, and build a brand that can weather the chaos of life and litigation—this one’s for you.
From Collision to Calling
Both Jennifer and I have experienced devastating accidents due to the negligence of others. These moments don’t just injure the body—they redefine your mission. For Jennifer, a serious car crash in college became the seed of her career. For me, a cycling accident left me in the ICU in a medically induced coma, reshaping my understanding of what injured clients endure.
These lived experiences taught us something powerful: empathy is the key.
We can’t teach our teams to be trauma survivors. But we can share our stories to help them serve with purpose.
You Don’t Need to Be the CEO—But Someone Must Be
Jennifer credits much of her success to treating her firm like a business from day one. She broke from the “practice vs. business” mindset, understanding that even the best legal talent will struggle without systems, leadership, and financial discipline.
The number one reason lawyers get disbarred isn’t bad lawyering, she said. “It’s mismanagement of their law firm.”
This is the Peak Practice mindset: marrying great legal work with operational excellence.
Coaching, Masterminds, and the Myth of the Lone Wolf
Jennifer’s growth didn’t happen in a vacuum. She immersed herself in coaching programs, surrounded herself with top trial lawyer mentors, and invested in her personal development.
She didn’t just scale her firm. She scaled herself.
Her coaching practice, Evergreen, grew organically from that journey. Now, she’s mentoring other law firm owners to avoid the same pitfalls.
The Danger of Departments of One
One of Jennifer’s most powerful insights: “The worst number in business is one.”
If one person in your firm owns a function and they leave, everything breaks. Her solution? Redundancy, cross-training, and scalable systems. This operational depth isn’t just about peace of mind. It’s about empowering your team and giving them the freedom to take ownership.
Want to go on vacation and not have your inbox explode? Build a team that can cover each other.
Branding Is Just Being Boldly You
Jennifer’s take on marketing is refreshingly simple: be yourself, and be excellent at it. Her LinkedIn presence is a mix of vulnerability, expertise, and value. Not everyone will love your style. That’s okay. You’re not trying to be everything to everyone.
“Nobody can compete with me on being me.”
That’s the essence of powerful personal branding.
Final Thought: You Were Built for This
Whether you’re a lawyer who came to this work through personal pain, or someone scaling a firm from scratch with no blueprint—you have what it takes.
You don’t have to do it alone. Surround yourself with people who’ve walked the path, lean into your uniqueness, and don’t be afraid to run your firm like the business it is.
This is what Peak Practice is all about: operational clarity, strategic partnerships, and a relentless commitment to better outcomes for you and your clients.
Join the Peak Practice Movement
If you’re a personal injury lawyer ready to scale, streamline, or step into your role as CEO, let’s talk. Subscribe to the newsletter, join the Peak Practice Community, and learn how synergy. can help you eliminate settlement bottlenecks, resolve complex liens, and maximize recoveries. Learn more here: https://partnerwithsynergy.com/peak-practice/
If you want to listen or watch the Trial Lawyer View by Synergy podcast episode with Jennifer Gore for even more insights, you can do so here: https://triallawyerview.com/podcast/jennifer-gore/
If you want to grow and scale your law firm more effectively, consider partnering with synergy. for lien resolution. Learn more at: https://partnerwithsynergy.com/liens/
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