Leading this effort is Molly McGrath, Founder and driving force of Hiring & Empowering Solutions. With over 27 years of experience working closely with law firms nationwide.

1. Molly McGrath: Redefining Legal Leadership
Through People-Centered Solutions
In the legal world, success isn’t just about winning cases — it’s about the people
who make it happen. Behind every thriving law firm is a team that works in sync,
communicates well, and shares a common purpose. But building that kind of
team isn’t easy, especially for smaller firms juggling countless responsibilities.
That’s where Hiring & Empowering Solutions steps in, helping law firms find the
right people, nurture their skills, and create workplaces where everyone can do
their best work.
Leading this effort is Molly McGrath, Founder and driving force of Hiring &
Empowering Solutions. With over 27 years of experience working closely with law
firms nationwide, she understands what helps teams succeed and what obstacles
they face. Molly is recognized for her hands-on approach, attentive listening, and

2. dedication to helping firm owners realize the full potential of their staff. She
believes that when teams are empowered, law firms flourish, and clients
experience the positive impact.
The Path to Legal Team Empowerment
Molly’s journey into the legal industry began when she moved from New York to
Colorado and applied for a position as a program director at a legal organization
that provided coaching to law firms across the United States. At that time,
coaching and business development were not common practices in the legal field.
She was fortunate to work with an exceptional supervisor who was a trained
coach, communicator, and mentor. Together, they launched the very first
coaching program for law firms in the late 1990s.
Through this experience, Molly learned that for business owners to gain the
support of their team members and employees, they must first be present and
supportive themselves. She and her team traveled to conferences nationwide,
where law firm owners expressed a strong interest in coaching programs
accessible to their employees. However, many found it challenging to apply
coaching concepts effectively within their teams.
This inspired Molly to develop a training and coaching program specifically
designed for law firm administrators and key assistants, running alongside the
coaching provided to attorneys. This program helps align the entire team to work
toward their goals and aspirations. This initiative became the foundation for
founding Hiring & Empowering Solutions.

3. Hiring & Empowering Solutions: Industry Recognition &
Leadership

4. ●​ Top 100 Law Dragons
○​ Recognized in Law Firm Consulting
●​ Clio Certified Partner
●​ Member
○​ National Association of Legal Search Consultants
●​ Women-Owned Business
○​ Proudly certified
●​ Molly McGrath
○​ Forbes Coaching Council Member
○​ Author of Amazon #1 Bestselling Books
○​ Host of a Top 10% Business Podcast in the Legal Sector
Core Values That Inspire and Empower
The core values of Hiring & Empowering Solutions shape the company culture
and empower its people:

5. ●​ Courageously Clear Communication – It communicates with honesty,
clarity, and respect, ensuring transparency in every interaction—even
during difficult conversations.
●​ Deep Curiosity – It views challenges as opportunities, approaching them
with open minds and hearts. It consistently asks questions, seeks
understanding, and pushes boundaries.
●​ Radical Responsibility – They take full ownership of their roles,
outcomes, and impact without making excuses. They take initiative and
lead from wherever they are.
●​ Solution-Oriented Mindset – It focuses on finding solutions rather than
dwelling on obstacles. Challenges inspire their creativity and innovation.
●​ Self-Accountability – It holds itself to the highest standards,
understanding that personal growth and integrity are essential to the
success of the entire team.
These values create an environment where individuals feel empowered, valued,
and motivated to give their best.
Bridging the Gap Between Attorneys and Their Teams
One of Molly McGrath’s greatest challenges was closing the gap between
attorneys and their employees by promoting entrepreneurial leadership among
staff. This challenge came from both sides.
First, many employees had a traditional mindset from previous jobs: simply show
up, do the work quietly, and receive a paycheck. Molly’s coaching program
encouraged employees to speak up, share ideas, and take initiative. The difficulty
was helping employees feel confident that respectfully offering suggestions or
feedback would not put their jobs at risk.
On the other hand, many attorneys struggled with control. Trained to be skeptical
in law school, they naturally questioned everything, making it difficult for them to
trust employees with daily operations. Their instinct was to maintain tight
control rather than delegate responsibilities.

6. To address these challenges, Molly facilitated conversations where attorneys and
employees could work together, taking small and manageable steps toward
building trust and collaboration. As attorneys repeatedly experienced letting go of
certain tasks without negative outcomes—and often achieving better
results—their confidence in their staff grew. Similarly, employees gained
confidence as they were recognized for their contributions and successes.
Once both sides saw these positive results, trust deepened, creating a healthy,
two-way relationship that supports growth and expansion. The key lesson is that
trust and empowerment develop gradually through consistent communication
and shared achievements.
Proven Programs That Transform Law Firm Teams
Molly McGrath has developed proprietary methods that deliver strong results for
her company and clients. One of these is a registered trademark called the Smart
Hire Solution Process. This is a flat-fee retained search and recruiting system
designed to find talent in today’s employee-driven market. The process goes
beyond traditional staffing by including six months of training and coaching after
hiring, using a proprietary onboarding system.
This approach ensures that new hires fully embrace the firm’s culture, systems,
and processes while also establishing a clear framework for key performance
indicators (KPIs). It is considered one of the most effective tools for employee
retention.
Another important program is the Law Firm Admin Bootcamp and Academy,
created for both new and current employees. This program trains legal leaders,
administrative assistants, and support staff—both within the United States and
overseas—to become effective CEOs in their roles. With over 500 law firms
enrolled, the program’s tagline is “Creating Legal Leaders, Leading Legal
Leaders.”

7. Expanding Opportunities Across Borders
A major focus for Hiring & Empowering Solutions’ future is developing strong
partnerships. The company does not view others as competitors but collaborates
with legal vendors and innovators both within and outside the legal industry.
These partnerships are based on a team approach to achieve visionary results.
Its mission is to transform businesses one employee at a time. Because of the
growing shortage of U.S.-based talent, the company is expanding globally,
particularly through virtual staffing. The Law Firm Admin Bootcamp and
Academy now serves many firms that hire employees overseas. This program
goes beyond skill development to include mindset and confidence training,
empowering administrative assistants, marketing coordinators, receptionists,
and intake coordinators to excel in their roles.

8. Hiring & Empowering Solutions has a meaningful global impact. For example, its
team of 15 full-time employees in the Philippines has experienced life-changing
growth—they are buying homes, investing in their families’ futures, and affording
important services such as therapy for their children. In weekly meetings, the
team celebrates personal and professional achievements while monitoring
mental, physical, and financial well-being. Molly considers witnessing these
transformations the highlight of her week.
This mission is deeply personal for Molly McGrath. When she was 27, her first
boss recognized potential in her that she had not seen in herself and invested in
her growth through coaching and confidence-building. She is committed to
paying that forward and, together with her team, changing lives and families
worldwide.
Culture in Action, Not Just Words on a Wall

9. Molly explains, “A major trend in the legal industry—and across all sectors—is
that employees no longer work just for a paycheck. The days when employees felt
lucky simply to have a job are over.” Employers must understand that they are
hiring human beings first and workers second. Since most of our waking hours
are spent either working or thinking about work, the quality of that experience
greatly affects our energy and emotional well-being.
The term culture, often overused since COVID, truly means giving employees
time, attention, and meaningful feedback. In the legal field, especially among
owner-operators and managing attorneys, time is limited. Many say they need
hires who come “batteries included” because they lack time for training.
However, even the most experienced employees require time, attention, and
feedback in order to succeed.
With AI rapidly changing the industry, firms that emphasize relational
lawyering—building strong internal team connections and genuine client
relationships—will stand out. The legal sector’s unemployment rate is only 1.2%,
and Molly has observed people accepting pay cuts of $30,000 to $50,000 just to
join firms that align with their mission and treat their employees well. These
firms focus on community, collaboration, and enjoyment, which fosters loyalty
and reduces turnover.
Molly McGrath adds, “Many confuse culture with merely creating core values
and displaying them on a wall. True culture is about living those values
daily—walking, talking, and behaving according to them.” She believes that this
authentic culture will shape the future of law firms and the legal profession as a
whole.
Sharing Her Expertise on Stages, Podcasts, and in Print
Molly is actively involved in industry thought leadership. She regularly speaks at
events and participates in several legal organizations across the country. She is

10. the author of two Amazon bestselling books: Don’t Be a Yes Chick and Fix My
Boss.
For the past six years, Molly has hosted a top 10% podcast, releasing new
episodes weekly and featuring industry thought leaders as guests. She also
frequently appears as a guest on other podcasts hosted by thought leaders.
Additionally, Molly is a member of the Forbes Coaching Coaches Council and has
been featured as a published author on Forbes.
Learning to Lead by Letting Go
A defining experience in Molly’s leadership journey took place while she was
building her own team during an especially difficult time. She was under
immense stress, managing a growing client base, closing one business, starting
another, and coping with the loss of both her parents within eight months.
During this period, her team—who had been learning from the principles she
taught—showed true leadership. In a daily meeting, they bravely told her that she
had become a bottleneck and that her frustration was making the situation worse.
They insisted that she take a mandatory week off to focus on personal matters,
assuring her they would manage everything in her absence.
This moment was transformative for Molly. While teaching these principles was
one thing, experiencing them firsthand within her own company changed her
approach to leadership coaching. It emphasized the importance of systematizing
processes and using real case studies to show how effective change can be
implemented.
Attorneys, in particular, respond well to case studies because emotions often run
high when addressing sensitive issues, such as confronting the person causing
workflow bottlenecks or questioning long-standing practices. Presenting real

11. examples helps people understand that courageous conversations are both
possible and productive.
One of Molly McGrath’s favorite quotes that guides her work is: “It takes 20
seconds of insane courage, and you have no idea what’s waiting for you on the
other side.” This experience strengthened her commitment to helping others find
that courage and transform their leadership style.
Open Letter for Emerging Leaders
Dear Reader,
One key piece of advice I always share is this: the answer is already in the
room—you already know the next right move. As someone on the front lines of

12. your organization, I encourage you not to be afraid to use your voice, even if
you feel nervous, doubt yourself, or worry about the consequences.
Approach challenges with deep curiosity and bring proposed solutions, not just
problems. This mindset is the foundation of everything I teach. When you
present thoughtful solutions, you will gain recognition and open doors for
career advancement as a leader within your organization.
I understand that many new professionals struggle to confidently express their
ideas. However, speaking up with respect and honesty about what you believe is
the right next step can truly transform your career.
In your corner,
Molly McGrath
5 Key Takeaways from the Molly McGrath Cover Story
1. People are the Foundation of Success
Molly McGrath believes that the true measure of a law firm’s success isn’t just
about winning cases, but about the people and teams who make it happen. She
focuses on helping firms find the right employees and empowering them through
training and support, believing that an empowered team is a successful one.
2. Trust is Built Through Action, Not Just Words
Molly addresses the common gap between attorneys and their staff, showing that
trust is a two-way street. She helps attorneys learn to delegate and their
employees to take initiative by facilitating small, consistent successes. This

13. gradual process builds mutual confidence, proving that trust develops through
shared achievements, not just conversations.
3. Culture is Lived, Not Just Displayed
A law firm’s culture isn’t just about a list of core values on a wall. According to
Molly, true culture is lived out daily through actions, behavior, and
communication. It’s about valuing employees as human beings, providing them
with time and feedback, and creating an environment where they feel motivated
and respected.
4. Leadership Means Empowering Others
Molly’s own leadership journey was defined by a moment when her team showed
her the power of her own principles. They courageously took charge and gave her
the space she needed to deal with personal issues. This experience taught her that
true leadership often means stepping back and trusting your team to take
ownership and lead from wherever they are.
5. Be Courageously Clear and Solution-Oriented
A key piece of advice from Molly McGrath to emerging leaders is to be
“courageously clear” with your communication and to bring solutions, not just
problems. She encourages professionals to confidently use their voice and present
thoughtful solutions, which she believes is the foundation for career advancement
and earning recognition.