”Just spit it out”, my mentor Reed Williams exasperated with my hemming and hawing finally declared.

“I’m leaving and going to start my own firm in January” I finally was able to get out of my mouth.  The words hung out there like an open hand in the wind to a stranger – either to be ignored, high-fived, or smacked. 

I had only been at Reed’s firm for about a year and half and was already leaving. He unexpectedly had a life epiphany that led him to retire from the active practice of law after 30+ years about 6 months ago and left me to man his side of the ship, with James Mills rocking and rolling in his criminal practice.

There was a brief period of silence – not for judgment to stew in – but going through the practical implications – where would you go? Jay Kerr had cleared out some space for me?  What about Karen (his paralegal)?  She can come with me if she’d like.  Is your wife and family supportive (my kids were 5 and 3)?  As much as you can without knowing exactly what you are getting into.

We talked the rest of the night about the ins and outs, but also a self-assessment as to why I wanted to leave.  Although his vote wasn’t mandatory, his approval and confidence meant the world to me.  He also knew a lot about being a solo practitioner.  Reed had always marked me as a hustler for business and knew that my wife was one of the most understanding wives an attorney could ever have (1st or 2nd).  But, he heard me that I wanted to work on my craft more, I needed someone day in and day out to help me, and indirectly my clients, with being the best personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney.  While Reed’s door was always open, it wasn’t the same as being in the trenches with questions popping up.  Working alongside one of the best in the practice area would be an amazing opportunity for me to see how great PI and WC attorneys practice, take care of their clients, and run their business.  Making more money, the ability to create my own schedule, being my own boss, and those sort of traditional benefits of running your own show – those considerations never entered the equation.  In looking back, the question on the table was – What’s best for the clients and can you do it? 

I left that night with a huge weight off of my shoulders as the answer was evident to both myself and the man I respected and trusted with my livelihood – follow your heart, open your firm, learn the craft and take care of those that have entrusted you with solving their problems.

So, in making this post and on reflecting on that night in October 2015 a decade later, I would say that making sure your heart is in the right place has to be your North Star in directing you on where to go and what to do.  Knowing and also feeling that what you are doing is the right thing will keep you going further than any extrinsic carrot or stick out there. 

I was finishing up my summer clerkship with Roberts & Stevens.  It was a great experience and a memorable summer.  I wanted to thank the attorneys that I worked with for the opportunity.  My plan was to knock on their doors, pop my head in, say “thanks,” and hopefully not tie up too much of their time or make it a bigger ordeal than it needed to be.  I was just a summer clerk, and by no means did I do anything to warrant a swan song.  Jack Stevens had given me some assignments, we had lunch together a number of times, and my office was near his on the 11th floor.  So, he was my first stop.  I knocked on his door, and he welcomed me in.  I was not intimated by him, but certainly understood my place, his place, and I had a huge amount of respect for him.  

“I just wanted to say thanks so much for the summer. This was a great experience, and I really enjoyed working with everyone.”  I got everything out, no stumbling, and felt pretty good at my last words.  

Mr. Steven’s response: “Well, what did you learn?” in a dry, but friendly tone.

I’m pretty sure he saw my head explode as I was not expecting his question.  The guy whose name was on the door wanted to know what I learned, opposed to just allowing me to move along with a rote “glad you had a nice time” or “good luck in the school year.”  I literally stood there for a second before coming up with whatever lackluster response that I can’t remember (or wanted to forget).  

Mr. Steven’s response to my departure, and his question stuck with me from there on out.  Rather than just move on from one thing to the next, I always try to stop and reflect, what exactly did I learn?  I have a notebook at my desk that is filled with “what did I learn” from each case, and my kids are sick of me asking them at the end of their practices and games “what did you learn?”  

It’s been 10 years since I founded Brian Elston Law – and it seems timely to take a moment to share, and pass along, what I’ve learned. Beginning 11/6/2025 and continuing over the next 10 weeks and timely ending with when the doors opened, I’m going to share 10 lessons that will hopefully either entertain, educate or enlighten fellow attorneys and friends. The lessons are intended to be big picture instead of how best to calendar deadlines. By no means are these lessons exhaustive, and the book by my desk continues to grow daily as I am still learning.