Why Law Firm Operations Fall Apart After 10 People
It happens like clockwork.
You’re running a lean, scrappy firm. The team is 5–8 people. Everyone knows their role — sort of. You’re growing. You hire 2–3 more people.
Then… it all starts to break.
What Changes Around the 10-Person Mark?
Informal systems stop working
The owner can’t touch every task anymore
Communication breaks down
Hiring gets reactive
People start stepping on each other’s toes — or dropping balls
Why It Feels Like a “Sudden” Breakdown
It’s not sudden. It’s structural.
The firm grew, but the systems didn’t.
Common Growing Pains:
Undefined roles and unclear org chart
No SOPs or workflows
Intake and billing inconsistencies
Owner stuck in too many decisions
Tech stack not scaling with team size
How to Scale Without the Chaos
Define who owns what (and document it)
Build a communication cadence
Get intentional about hiring
Review your tech systems and tools
Empower middle managers — with real authority
COO Support Bridges the Gap
At 10+ people, a firm needs more than hustle. It needs leadership infrastructure.
Audits your systems and team
Creates role clarity and ownership
Installs accountability and execution rhythms
Helps the owner stop being the default bottleneck
If your law firm feels like it’s cracking under the weight of growth, let’s rebuild the foundation — before you scale something broken.