Your space to grow beyond the billable hour.

Practice Builder

January – June 2026
Virtual + Downtown Sacramento

A six-month program for attorneys in the Sacramento region with 5-8 years of experience  — building the skills, habits, and systems that create strong practices and sustainable careers.

Registration Deadline: January 16, 2026

Practice Builder is limited to 20 participants. The program combines virtual panels, self-paced activities, coaching, and in-person workshops in downtown Sacramento.

Design a growth plan your future self will thank you for

What you'll walk away with...

Your Sweet SpotClarity on the clients and work that energize you, plus a way to talk about what you do that feels natural, not forced.
More VisibilityInside and outside your firm, people know who you are and what you bring.
Stronger RelationshipsWith colleagues, clients, and contacts who matter most.
Conversation ConfidenceActively listen, ask good questions, and earn trust.
Client InsightUnderstand the client's world and connect your advice to business goals beyond the legal matter.
Peer CohortA network of peers who push you to think bigger and back you up
BD HabitsSimple routines that make networking and marketing manageable.
Future MomentumMotivation to grow a practice you feel in control of, not the other way around.

What's in it for the firm? Participants emerge with greater ownership and focus. They are learning to think like business partners and future leaders, not just technical experts. As they align their growth toward the work they enjoy, they become more motivated, resilient, and successful — outcomes that serve both the individual and the firm.

Train today for the lawyer you want to be tomorrow.

Law practice is evolving. AI is reshaping legal work, client loyalty is thinner, and hybrid schedules mean fewer chances for shadowing and informal feedback. For early-career attorneys, that can feel uncertain and isolating, but it’s also a moment to take ownership. You don’t need a promotion to start shaping the practice, and life, you want.

What hasn’t changed: clients still hire people, not firms. Expertise matters, but credibility, curiosity, trust, and genuine care make the difference. These deeper relationship muscles need exercise to move beyond transactions and connect on a human level, where people make decisions about trust, respect, and collaboration.

Marketing and BD are the training ground for a stronger career. The core moves that drive client growth also build capacity for leadership, collaboration, and long-term well-being. And they matter for every path: partnership, in-house, solo practice, or a different direction altogether. How you condition your visibility, relationships, and reputation today shapes the opportunities you'll attract — and the control you’ll have over your future practice.

Practice Builder moves that learning earlier — growth by design, not default. It focuses on the skills and habits beyond the billable hour that serve lawyers at every stage of their careers. For associates, it’s about taking ownership and building toward the practice you want. For firm leaders, it’s a smart investment in the future — supporting attorney well-being, unlocking leadership potential, and cultivating lawyers who want to grow with you.

Meet your facilitators...

Jennifer Forester

Heather Ward

Your co-facilitators bring decades of experience inside law firms, working directly with attorneys and leaders. They’ve led retreats, trainings, and strategy sessions that are practical, engaging, and built for busy lawyers.

Jennifer Forester is a business development coach and trainer who helps lawyers and teams build practices. An ICF-certified coach, she’s known for her approachable style and focus on sustainable, self-directed growth.

Heather Ward is a legal marketing and communications strategist who guides firms through brand-building and business development. As a consultant and fractional CMO, she helps professionals market themselves with clarity and confidence.

What the program includes...

In-Person WorkshopsHalf-day intensives on BD foundations, marketing tactics, and systems to keep your growth going. Being in the room together creates focus and connection you can’t get from a screen.
Private CoachingFour individual sessions (45 minutes each, via Zoom or Phone) to focus on your practice, cut through the noise, and find strategies that fit. A coach gives you space to think out loud, test ideas, and turn learning into action.
Peer AccountabilityStructured check-ins with a cohort partner that keep you moving, sharpen your thinking, and reinforce learning through advice and feedback.
Virtual PanelsCandid conversations with law firm leaders and in-house counsel.
Toolkit for GrowthPractice Blueprint – Define the clients and work that energize you and shape your future practice.

Business Plan & Time Budget – Stay intentional with your goals and protect time for consistent growth activities.

Relationship Tracker – Manage and grow the connections that support your career.

Marketing & Visibility Planner – Map your speaking, writing, and networking activities to build a strong professional reputation.

Plus/Delta Worksheet – Reflect on what worked, what to adjust, and what to try next.

Designed for the Way Adults Learn

Over six months, you’ll spend about 30 hours on the program. That time blends hands-on workshops, individual coaching, and candid conversations with firm leaders and clients. Peer check-ins and weekly steps keep you moving. It’s a mix of practice, self-discovery, and support — the kind of learning that actually sticks.

 

Topics & Timing

Strong practices are built on clarity, consistency, and connection. This session introduces a proven framework for business development and core tools for career growth — the Business Plan, Time Budget, and Relationship Tracker. We’ll explore behavioral science and positive psychology to learn how small habits and resilient mindsets create the right conditions for motivation and momentum. We’ll also discuss “social fitness,” the role of professional and personal networks in sustaining both success and well-being. The workshop sets the foundation, with deeper mapping to unfold through coaching, peer check-ins, and applied practice. A casual mingle closes the afternoon. (in-person, 1:30-5:30 pm PT)
Law firm leaders share candid perspectives on building a practice: what they wish they’d done earlier, where they stumbled, and how they continue to grow. It’s an inside look meant to spark ideas you can shape to your own strengths, style, and stage in a changing profession. (Zoom, Noon-1 pm PT)
Visibility matters, but it has to be intentional. This workshop explores one-to-many awareness strategies: speaking, writing, LinkedIn engagement, and getting real value from conferences and networking events. Participants will create a "Marketing & Visibility Planner" to ensure consistency and variety without overcommitting. The day concludes with a mingle, where participants can apply practical tips for networking in real life. (in-person, 1:30-5:30 pm)
In-house counsel and business leaders share candid perspectives on working with outside lawyers: what earns their trust, what drives them away, and how they decide who to keep close. It’s an inside look at what creates client value beyond technical expertise. (Zoom, Noon-1 pm)
Participants reflect on their progress, celebrate wins, and design a sustainability plan for future growth, capturing the habits, systems, and strategies that will guide them forward. For associates, it’s a source of motivation and direction. For leaders, it ensures the program’s impact continues well beyond its conclusion. (in-person, 1:30-4:30 pm PT)
We’ll start in January with a pre-workshop orientation call with Heather or Jennifer to understand each participant’s background, strengths, and interests. Three more scheduled sessions plus on-call coaching throughout the program provide personalized guidance, accountability, and space to refine strategies as you put new tools into practice. (four 45-minute calls, unlimited spot coaching via email between calls and for 3 months post-program)

To build momentum, participants pair up for monthly check-ins. These short conversations reinforce commitment, provide encouragement, and give associates a trusted partner to think out loud with.

Tired of the marketing shoulds? Here’s what you can happily let go of, and what to do instead.

Get a taste of our approach by reading "What Associates Can Let Go of in Business Development."

The program fee is $2,500 per participant with an overall time commitment of about 30 hours across six months (12 hrs of group sessions, 6 hrs with your coach or peer partner, 12 recommended hrs of independent application). Fee includes workshops, coaching, tools, and program materials.

As part of our launch year, a limited number of full scholarship seats are available for emerging leaders nominated by participating firms and legal associations to help refine and strengthen the program. 

Program: January-June 2026 (plus coach support through September)

Eligibility: Designed for law firm attorneys with 5-8 years of experience

Cohort: Limited to 20 participants

Connect. Build. Grow.

Presented by Heather Ward Marketing + J Forester Consulting

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