How to Start and Run a Law Firm Leaving a Law Firm (with cases!) and Starting Your Own: Kansas Family Law Attorney Sara Zafar
Jan 20, 2026
Sara Zafar, a Kansas family law attorney and founding partner with a background in human trafficking and domestic violence advocacy. She recounts leaving a firm to launch her own, early surprises about bookkeeping and operations, branding choices that reflect values, building local referral networks, managing litigation stress, trust account essentials, and why family law remains in steady demand.
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Delegate Operations From Day One
- Delegate operations early and lean on trusted people to handle logistics like banking, insurance, and web design.
- Sara's husband acted as operations manager so the partners could focus on legal work.
Relationships Drive Local Family Law Work
- Word-of-mouth and local referrals remain the strongest client sources for small family law firms.
- A collegial local bar network makes referrals and shared caseloads feasible.
Pick Areas With Consistent Demand
- Focus on high-demand practice areas like family law, protection orders, and ADR to build steady work.
- Specialize where local need is high and offer services like mediation and guardian ad litem work.