August Reset: Rest, Realignment & Real Talk

As July came to a close, I took a step back to recalibrate. Between client projects and creative collaborations, I made space to rest, reflect, and realign with my purpose. 

It's usually hard for me to slow down when I have momentum but I knew if I didn’t do it now it would hurt me later. Cue my family’s 2025 summer vacation. I spent a few days in beautiful Tulum — soaking in the sun, the food, and the slower pace I didn’t realize I needed. That time away gave me the clarity to step into August with intention, renewed energy, and a fresh perspective.

One of the questions I get asked all the time is how I balance it all — the law, the lifestyle, the content, the business. The truth? I don’t always. And that’s okay. Sometimes you have to hit pause to move forward more clearly. 

The last week of July was that pause for me, and it came at the perfect time. I started this first week of August needing to ease in due to a summer cold, our bodies love to make us stop huh? And after a much needed chat with one of my favorite law school professors, I sat down and evaluated my goals and priorities for the rest of the year, both personally and professionally. We’re over half way and a lot has changed so the way I move needs to as well, and I think this exercise really helped me recenter and get excited about what’s ahead.

There’s a lot on my plate this August — from law firm admin and planning out my content strategy for the rest of 2025, to dozens of content creator contracts as the busy season is in full swing, to launching new educational resources that empower entrepreneurs to protect themselves legally while staying creative. I have a work trip to NYC at the end of the month too and I might stay a few days for fun after, so making sure all my ducks are in a row is important this month.

In the spirit of my recentering of priorities, I’m doubling down on making time for my personal life. From my relationships, therapy and health and wellness, there’s a few habits that keep me grounded: daily movement, setting mindful work hours, and making sure the projects I say “yes” to are aligned with both my business goals and personal values. But also making time for a life outside of work and social media, the hardest of them all to stick to.

Industry Insight

Every day, I get a new influencer marketing platform pitch in my inbox. And honestly? We don’t need more of them.

What we do need is more lawyers in the space — more strategic partners who understand both the legal side and the human side of content creation. We need professionals who can help talent and talent managers better facilitate partnerships that are collaborative, efficient for brands and their marketing goals, and productive for creators and their business and lifestyle goals.

This industry is at such a ripe point for meaningful support — but so few people are actually willing to create real change. They want to automate, scale, and extract value instead of building sustainable, empowering ecosystems for creators. It’s frustrating to see the same broken models recycled over and over.

And creators and talent managers, media companies and agencies and brands all need to make room for these professionals in the industry to give them that support.

That’s why I’m committed to offering a different kind of legal service — one rooted in strategy, education, and genuine partnership. Creators deserve more than generic templates and empty promises. They deserve real advocacy. It’s part of why I keep my prices competitive and custom to each client and where my membership, Lawyer In Your Pocket came from. But more on that in a future newsletter.

What I Ate in Tulum

Now, let’s talk about what you’re really here for — everything I ate and did in Tulum. 

Day 1: 

• Morning flight from MIA to TQO

• Picked up our rental car

• Checked into our family friends townhouse, our home for the week

• Chedraui trip to stock up on breakfast items, water and other essentials

• Freshened up and drove into the Hotel Zone for sunset drinks and dinner

• Marco’s rooftop of happy hour margaritas and nachos

• Mestixa for dinner

• More of a local spot, its fusion Mexican and Chinese and it was INCREDIBLE get the shrimp and beef birria dumplings

Day 2:

• 5am wakeup to drive to Chichen Itza about 2 hours away

• Do change timezones so keep that in mind

• 8am Chichen Itza opens and you want to be one of the first to arrive so its less hot and packed

• We walked around for 3.5 hours, there’s several Mayan sites to see, like the Cenote Sagrada and of course the main temple

• 12 pm Cenote Il Kil

• We had lunch here with their all inclusive package

• An incredible first cenote to experience, the water was chilly but refreshing and it was magical, you can jump in at this one

• Hard to snorkel but we did bring ours to not have to rent them, life vests required 

• 1pm drove into Villadolid on our way back to Tulum

• Stopped for a snack at Los Portales Valladolid, great fajita lunch

• Cute park in the center of town to shop around for leather goods and trinkets

• 3pm Cenote Saytun 

• This one truly felt like a cave and something out of a movie

• 5pm head back into Tulum

  • Shower and get ready for dinner

• 8pm Hartwood for dinner 100/10 recommend, lowkey, casual and fresh seafood

• 10pm Ilios for post dinner drinks and a show

Day 3:

• Slept in until 8

• 9am went to Xel Ha water park by Xcaret

• Weird as 5 adults maybe but it’s a good way to have something for everyone

• It was stunning and very clean, delicious food and great service, all inclusive alcohol and food as well

• Lazy river and snorkeling was fun and I just laid out by the beach all day

• 6pm shower and get ready for dinner

• 8pm dinner at Acra, a Michelin Guide restaurant

• The food was unique and stunning, delicious and super fresh

• The ambiance was very minimal chic and the service was impeccable

• Celebrated my dad’s birthday here!

• 9pm walked around bar hopping for a bit, 

• 10pm post dinner drinks at Vagalume 

Day 4:

• Slept in until 8

• 10:30am brunch at La Zebra

• Yummy, very chic and relaxing environment 

• Checked out Casa Malca, a Pablo Escobar home but we didn’t stay there for the day

• 1pm hung out at Mia for the afternoon

• Beach club, dj and good food

• Service was incredible

• Massages and shopping from vendors

• 6pm shower and get ready for dinner

• 7:30 pm we went to the Sculpture Park to see the Escultura Ven a la Luz

• 8pm finished sunset at the Kanan rooftop for pre dinner drinks and watched a marriage proposal with a cotton candy sky behind them

• 8:30 Casa Banana, a Michelin Guide Argentine steakhouse for dinner

• We got 2 appetizers, 2 steaks and 3 sides and it was more than enough!

• Get the lamb risotto!!!

• 10pm in bed because we had an early flight home

If I were to go back I want to go to:

• Raw Love

• Papaya Playa Project

• Ana y Jose Hotel and Spa

• Hotel Panamera - my dream

• Azulik Uh May

• Casa Malca

• Gitano Beach Club

I’d skip the water park and spend the day doing yoga and laying out by the beach for sure! Overall the food was amazing and we had great service everywhere. Next trip I want to go to Isla Holbox and fly up to Mexico City too.

The Importance of Mentorship in Law School

One of the most impactful things I did during law school — and something I highly encourage every student to prioritize — was building genuine relationships with my professors. These aren’t just people grading your exams; they’re brilliant minds with real-world experience, deep networks, and often a sincere desire to help you succeed. They will be your colleagues after you graduate and potentially one day bosses, coworkers, opposing counsels, and more. Upperclassmen and your classmates too, you never know who they are, who they know or where they’ll end up.

But professors are underrated. Most law students are scared to talk to them or ask questions but they’re people too. If you invest in them, they (some not all, but a select few is all you need) will invest in you back. 

Some of the professors I connected with became lifelong mentors. They have guided me through big career decisions, encouraged me to take risks, and even opened doors I didn’t know existed. From day 1 of meeting them, there's a handful of professors and Deans who have held space for me and been sounding boards and even to this day I make a point to check in regularly and visit or see them when they’re around South Florida for conferences because they didn’t have to show up for me but they did. And I wasn’t the top of my class or the teacher’s pet but I made myself known where it counted.

Don’t be afraid to show up to office hours, ask thoughtful questions, or follow up after a class discussion that sparked something in you. A simple thank-you email can lead to a meaningful connection!

Professors can become your biggest advocates, champions and constructive criticism away from the noise of your day job, and professional lifelines — especially in law, where mentorship can truly shape your path and who you know is as important if not more so than what you know.

The Privilege of Being Busy

Lately, I’ve been feeling the weight of all the moving pieces — client work, content creation, running my business, staying present online, and still trying to have a personal life. I’m getting close to needing to invest in an operations manager, but for now, it’s still just me behind the scenes. And truthfully? I’m so grateful.

It’s a privilege to be overwhelmed. It’s a blessing to be busy doing what I love. To be living the life I created for myself.

That said, I’m also working on making intentional space for my family, my friends, and myself. Building a business rooted in passion doesn’t mean letting it take over your entire world — and I’m learning how to hold space for both. If you’ve ever navigated a season like this, I’d love to hear how you found your rhythm. Drop me a message or DM — I’m open to any and all advice.

Quote of the Month

Good Luck, Future Lawyers

Before I go, I want to take a moment to shout out all the incoming law students starting their journeys this August. Whether you’re moving into your first-year apartment, prepping for orientation, or already knee-deep in casebook reading, I’m sending you all the hope and strength.

This chapter will challenge and shape you in ways you can’t yet imagine — but you are so capable. Take it one page, one class, one moment at a time. You’ve got this. And if you ever need a little encouragement or legal big-sis advice, you know where to find me.

Keep Up with Kayla and Kayla Moran Law

Let’s make August a month of purpose, passion, and productivity.

Thanks for reading!

Talk soon,

Kayla