210: Tara Malek | A New Law Firm Model for the New World of Work

Wealthy Woman Lawyer Podcast, Helping you create a profitable, sustainable law firm you love

Workplace culture shifted significantly during the pandemic, which isn’t just true for the corporate world. Law firms are trying new ways to retain employees, help them attain fulfillment, and experimenting with new structures outside the traditional hierarchy.

Tara Malek is an Idaho licensed attorney practicing in state and federal court in business and commercial litigation and is the chief litigator and co-owner at Smith + Malek. Smith + Malek is an Idaho business law firm with practice areas in real estate, healthcare, business, HR and employment, natural resources, and litigation.

Join Davina as she interviews Tara, exploring the unique structure of Smith + Malek, her firm’s profit-sharing model, how they’re able to create a culture of trust and collaboration, and why they’ve gone against the legal grain and taken the “flat hierarchy” approach.

Show Highlights:

• The unique structure of Tara’s law firm and what she thinks are the biggest issues with the traditional partnership path
• Why there is a disparity between men and women as equity partners in the legal field and how Tara’s firm is working to create a more equitable environment
• Her profit-sharing model, collaborative atmosphere, and rewarding positive behavior
• What prompted the firm’s owners to eliminate origination fees for people bringing in business
• How she lets clients know they’re hiring the firm--not an individual attorney
• Creating a culture of trust, collaboration, and family friendliness
• The “flat hierarchy” model and why it’s different from the traditional law firm hierarchy
• What it takes to have fulfilled employees

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Supporting Resources:

• Visit the Smith + Malek website: www.smithmalek.com
• Connect with Tara Malek on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tara-malek-14491820
• Visit our website: www.wealthywomanlawyer.com
• Connect with us on Instagram
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• Reach out to Optimize My Firm
• Visit our sponsor- Gavel.io!

Note: Wealthy Woman Lawyer® may have an affiliate relationship with the podcast sponsors and be compensated for referrals.