What Law School Never Taught You About Success feat. Bob Hartmann

Jul 1
3 min read

Bob Hartmann is a criminal defense attorney, author, and rainmaker who has spent nearly four decades building a successful law practice. In this episode, he shares why bringing in business is one of the most important skills lawyers can develop, how entrepreneurship created the lifestyle he wanted, and why lawyers should stop being afraid to build careers on their own terms.

About This Episode

Background

Bob Hartmann has been practicing law since 1987 and has built a career focused almost entirely on criminal defense. A graduate of UCLA and Loyola Law School, he handles both federal and state criminal cases and has spent decades representing clients across California and throughout the United States. Alongside his legal work, Bob developed another skill that would eventually shape his career in unexpected ways: bringing in business.

"I always wanted to be the best trial lawyer I could be. And for some reason, I learned how to bring in cases," shares Bob Hartmann on You Are A Lawyer.

While many lawyers focus exclusively on legal work, Bob became fascinated by the business side of law practice. His experience building a successful firm ultimately inspired him to write Making It Rain: The Art of Building a Successful Law Practice, a book designed to help lawyers understand the skills law school often overlooks. For Bob, success has never been just about winning cases. It has also been about creating a life that allows him to spend time with family, pursue his interests, and enjoy the freedom that comes with entrepreneurship.

Why Law School

Like many law students, Bob entered law school with a clear goal: become an excellent lawyer. What he did not anticipate was how little attention would be paid to the practical realities of building a legal career. While law school taught him legal analysis, advocacy, and doctrine, it did not teach him how to attract clients, build referral relationships, or operate a successful business. Those lessons came later through experience.

"You learn how to do contracts and what a tort is and what the Fifth Amendment is, but you don't learn how to bring in business and run a practice," explains Bob Hartmann on Episode 251 of You Are a Lawyer.

Over time, Bob realized that legal knowledge alone is not always enough to create the career lawyers want. Understanding marketing, networking, client service, and business development became just as important as mastering courtroom skills. His experience eventually became the foundation for teaching younger lawyers how to create opportunities for themselves rather than waiting for opportunities to appear.

What Can You Do with a Law Degree

For Bob, a law degree is far more versatile than many people realize. Although he built a successful career as a criminal defense attorney, he believes legal education opens doors far beyond traditional practice. The skills lawyers develop through law school can be applied in politics, education, writing, business, leadership, entrepreneurship, and countless other fields.

"The great thing about a law degree is it opens up a million things for you," shares Bob Hartmann on Episode 251 of You Are a Lawyer.

Throughout the conversation, Bob emphasizes that lawyers are not limited to a single path. Whether someone chooses to work in a law firm, start a business, become a professor, write books, or pursue another profession entirely, legal training provides a framework for solving problems and creating opportunities. The degree itself is often far more valuable than the specific job title attached to it.

Lawyer Side Hustles

Bob’s side hustle eventually became a second professional identity. After years of building his own successful practice, he began teaching other lawyers how to develop business, create referral networks, and build sustainable firms. His upcoming book, Making It Rain: The Art of Building a Successful Law Practice, shares practical lessons for attorneys who want greater control over their careers and financial futures.

"You can absolutely live the life you want to live, not the life that's given to you or dictated to you by partners in a corner office,” Bob Hartmann expresses in Episode 251 of You Are a Lawyer.

Much of Bob’s motivation comes from personal experience. By operating his own practice, he was able to coach his daughter's softball teams, attend her games, travel with her during recruiting visits, and prioritize family without sacrificing professional success. His story demonstrates that entrepreneurship is not only about earning more money. It can also create the flexibility and freedom to build a life aligned with your values.