Halfway Through 2025—and the Decade

I was reading @careercolin’s newsletter on Monday morning, and it hit me hard: we’re already at the midpoint of not just this year, but the entire decade. Time flies, and so much can change in a few short years. From technological advancements, the rise of short form content and a changing digital landscape, the way we shop and consume… almost everything has changed. 

It got me thinking about where I was at the start of 2020—and where I am now. So today, I want to invite you to pause and reflect with me.

Where were you before the world flipped upside down? How have you grown, changed, and evolved since then? Are you proud of the progress you’ve made? And as we look ahead, what can you do differently in the next six months to get closer to the life and goals you want?

For me, 2020 was a pivotal moment. I was barely 22, fresh into law school, living in Knoxville with a roommate I barely knew, and questioning if the corporate law path I’d planned my whole life was really for me. Since then, I’ve graduated, passed the bar, started my own law firm, made mistakes, lost and gained friends, and grown a lot along the way.

I’m not exactly where I imagined, but I’m further in many ways—and there’s still so much I want to learn and achieve. I’ve rebuilt relationships, prioritized my mental health, and started putting myself first.

I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on your journey too. You don’t have to share it publicly, but if you want to, I’m here.

Let’s hold space for growth—together. 

What KML Been Up To

As a business owner I often have to remind myself that I’m human and I’m not always gonna get it right but the best part is, no one says we have to and there’s always a new day to try again. As I’ve been thinking about the evolving creator economy, I’m also opening my doors to new talent management and marketing agency clients. There is so much room for collaboration and learning from each other to make this industry less of a wild, wild west situation so I want to work with clients who are at the forefront and are making the decisions.  

And if you’re a creator navigating brand deals, contracts, or trying to level up your business, my membership, Lawyer In Your Pocket might be for you! 

My goal has always been to take a creator-first approach to legal—making law accessible to the creators and creative entrepreneurs who need it most. For me, its about more than just being a lawyer, it's being a strategic business partner and advocate for talent and entrepreneurs as they navigate the ever evolving landscape of social media, influencer marketing and the digital ecosystem.

And I know legal services can be expensive, and education is a huge part of what we do in the creator economy—so I brought it all together in a new, accessible way.

What’s Included?

• Unlimited business hours Slack access to me

• Monthly 1:1 calls with me

• Monthly group coaching sessions/workshops

• Exclusive discounts on legal services

• Resources to keep you informed & protected

• And so much more!

If you’re interested in learning more, visit kaylamoranlaw.com/members!

What I’m thinking about lately 

Speaking of evolution and technological changes, you’ve probably seen it everywhere. If you’re not using AI in your daily work flow you’re going to be left behind. And I totally agree. I was on a Tik Tok Live Monday evening and I got asked if and how I use AI in my law firm.

I use it daily in some capacity much like we all do, running a quick google search, using Claude or Chat GPT to help me workshop a clause in a contract, drafting an email or developing content ideas based on a  client scenario or a conversation I saw online. But I don’t rely on it. 

I do however utilize and rely on technology as a whole. My firm is virtual, everything I do is digital, from meetings, to networking to document storage, etc. And I think it's important that we do use these tools to streamline, and make things more time and cost effective. But there’s something to be said for doing things old school. Like book keeping and finances… I have an accountant and tax planner but I still manually check my books weekly because I like having a grasp on things. 

I like manually reviewing a contract for my clients so I can really get into the nuance of the clauses and how they work together. And I like getting on the phone to negotiate versus relying on track changes.

I’ve been really sitting with this a lot recently.

AI tools can be great for generating quick checklists or contracts, but they don’t replace what lawyers like myself bring to the table—deep legal knowledge, personalized guidance, and real-world experience navigating the complexities creators face every day. I don’t just hand you a generic template. I help you understand why each clause matters and works together, how to spot red flags, and how to protect your brand and creative freedom.

I eventually do want to invest in tech and AI to help me do my job more efficiently but I want to always emphasize to my community and clients that the human element of lawyering is what makes Kayla Moran Law special.

When you work with me, you’re not just getting a contract or a checklist. You’re getting a partner who knows the players, gets the industry, understands your unique journey, and can help you avoid costly mistakes. That’s the kind of support that AI can’t replicate.

After between all the reflection and work, I’ve been diving headfirst into the summer sports season. 

From the Miami Open to catching the adrenaline rush of F1 races back to following the Stanley Cup playoffs (SO PROUD OF OUR FLORIDA PANTHERS), sports have been my way to recharge and find inspiration. Recently, I even got to experience some incredible soccer matches live—watching Bayern Munich take on Boca Juniors with my assistant Emilee, and Inter Miami face off against Palmeiras at the Hard Rock. There’s something about the energy of a live game that reminds me of focus, teamwork, and resilience—lessons that carry right back into what I do.

Every opportunity counts. At the Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors match, Emilee and I ended up meeting some of my mom’s coworkers from VISA. It was such a small world moment, especially since a few of them have kids heading to law school this fall—just like her. We talked for 10 minutes about his career goals and moments like these remind me how interconnected our lives are. It’s so important to lean on community and relationships, whether it’s in sports, law, or managing creative careers. You never know where a simple conversation might lead, or how the people you meet can become part of your journey or of someone else in your network.

Summer Wellness & Health Check

This summer, I’ve been trying to be more intentional about slowing down and actually checking in with myself—not just mentally, but physically and emotionally, too. It’s so easy to stay in go-mode, even during a season that’s supposed to feel lighter. There’s no shortage of summer wellness events and brunches either. But I’ve learned that taking care of myself doesn’t mean a full reset—it just means paying attention.

Yoga and Pilates have been two of the best ways I’ve reconnected with my body lately. I got into hot yoga recently and have been adding weights to my workout classes to challenge myself. There’s something about showing up on my mat, sweating it all out, and letting my brain go quiet for a bit that’s been incredibly grounding. I leave class feeling lighter—physically, yes, but also emotionally. That time to myself has been so necessary.

And of course, I’m still deep in my podcast walk routine. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with Hot Smart Rich—it’s such a fun mix of real talk, ambition, and that confident energy I’ve really needed in my ears this season. Some days I might listen to music or be in silence, but lacing up my sneakers and just getting moving has been really instrumental in keeping me sane during an uncertain time. It’s become one of my favorite forms of self-care. 

I've also been making small shifts: drinking more water, journaling (sometimes), remembering to take my supplements: JS Health, Happy V and Bee Keepers Naturals, eating better, saying no when I need to, and protecting my peace—even if that means logging in a little later or logging off a little earlier. None of it’s perfect, but it’s progress. And honestly, I’m proud of that.

So if no one’s asked you yet—how are you really doing? 

What’s been keeping you balanced? What’s one small thing you could do this week to feel more like yourself? You don’t need to do it all. Just keep showing up for you.

I do make a small commission from these links

AI Shaking Up The Creator Economy

We touched on AI earlier in today’s newsletter but here’s a bit of a more in depth dive. There’s no denying it—AI is transforming the way we work, especially in the creator economy. I hear it all the time: “I had ChatGPT review my contract” or “I asked my lawyer ChatGPTAI” And while I totally understand the appeal—it's fast, it's free, it's easy—the truth is, it’s not always accurate. 

And when you’re signing a legally binding agreement that affects your content, your rights, your name, and your money... “close enough” isn’t good enough.

As a creator economy lawyer, I’ve seen firsthand how costly it can be to rely on AI-generated answers that miss key context or nuance. Missed deadlines because they were missing or unclear, payment terms that you don’t understand or are ambiguous, overly broad terms that AI doesn’t know to point out for you.

That’s the downside of using these tools. AI doesn’t know your brand values. It doesn’t understand your long-term goals. It won’t flag a red flag in your exclusivity clause or catch the way a usage term could be exploited down the line. That’s where human insight—especially someone who lives and breathes this space—really matters.

But I also know that not every creator is ready to invest in full legal representation for every single deal. That’s why I’m working on something new that will help you know what to look out for, what questions to ask, and when it’s time to bring in legal backup—without the overwhelm or the price tag of a full contract review every time. Think of it as a smarter, more creator-aligned tool to help bridge the gap between “I have no idea what this clause means” and “I got this.”

AI has its place, I’m not going to say it doesn’t. But when it comes to protecting your business and your creative future, nothing replaces the value of real, personalized and comprehensive legal strategy (read it's not just contracts)—and someone who actually understands what’s at stake for you.

Stay tuned. KML is building tools that meet you where you are, financially, mentally, and physically—and help you grow into an empire.

Quote of the Month

Outro

It’s surreal to realize we’re halfway through 2025—and halfway through the decade. That kind of milestone sneaks up on you until you stop and really think about it. 

I’m almost 28 and while I personally feel I’m only getting better with age and that it's just a number… It also means I’m getting closer to my goals. 

They say if your goals don’t scare, they’re not big enough, so yeah I’m a little antsy but I’m also really inspired and that's a good thing.

If nothing else, I hope this newsletter gave you permission to pause and look back with honesty and grace. To acknowledge how far you’ve come, even if you’re not exactly where you thought you’d be.

So much can shift in five years—careers, relationships, mindsets, entire versions of ourselves. And the truth is, a lot can still shift in the next six months. 

Whether you’re in a season of building, healing, resting, or rediscovering your “why,” I hope you remember that growth doesn’t always look loud or linear. Sometimes it’s in the quiet choices, the tiny pivots, the boundaries you reinforce, and the goals you keep working toward even when no one’s watching.

Thank you for being here, for reflecting with me, and for continuing to build something meaningful—whether it’s in law, content creation, business, or just life. I’m excited for what’s next, and even more excited to keep creating tools and spaces that support you in getting there.

Thanks for being here. I’m cheering for you—and if you ever need legal clarity, creative guidance, or just a reminder that you’re not doing this alone, you know where to find me.

Keeping Up with Kayla and Kayla Moran Law

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

Thanks for reading!

Talk soon,

Kayla