""Delegation only works if you have a 100-percent trust. I've had associates in the past where I don't feel comfortable delegating because the trust isn't there but [with Brandy], I've never had to do that. She is dynamite. My stress level has decreased a lot, too.""
— Rachel Lawson, Owner & Founding Member
The Challenge
Rachel Lawson founded Schaffer Law Firm to provide holistic solutions — not just legal advice — to Tennessee's hospitality businesses. But nearly nine years into building her practice, she found herself buried under something far removed from legal work: her inbox.
Early on, Rachel realized she was doing very little legal work, answering emails for what felt like a year straight. It was all she did every day, and it left her feeling like she hadn't accomplished any of her goals. Simply put, she wasn't being an attorney — she was being all the things common for every business owner.
Rachel knew she had been around long enough to know better. Through the mastermind groups she belongs to, members recommended she look into hiring a virtual assistant. After reading an article that itemized everything a VA could handle, her perspective shifted immediately.
"I was really blown away," she shares.
The Solution
Rachel had read about BELAY but hesitated — worried she didn't have enough work to justify a VA. She decided to move forward anyway, trusting that the timing was right. That instinct paid off when she was matched with Brandy, a process Rachel describes as seamless.
Within the first week, Brandy tackled Rachel's overflowing inbox and brought it under control. The two developed an organizational system that made sense, allowing Rachel to check email just once or twice a day instead of being consumed by it around the clock.
When Rachel's firm made a significant pivot in October to exclusively serve the food and beverage industry, Brandy was brought into staff meetings to help evaluate every process and procedure — and provided great input throughout. She was also instrumental in setting up the firm's phone systems properly during the transition, and now manages the full cycle of sending representation agreements and ensuring clients pay for services, among much more.
""I am just as satisfied now as I was when I first started working with BELAY. There are constant touchpoints to make sure everything is good.""
— Rachel Lawson, Owner & Founding MemberThe Impact
As Rachel prepares to celebrate her firm's 10th anniversary, the transformation speaks for itself. With Brandy managing the administrative layer of the business, Rachel has reclaimed her identity as an attorney — and earned a reputation for something she takes real pride in.
"The biggest differentiator for my practice is how responsive we are to everyone," she shares.
For Rachel, the success of the partnership comes down to one thing: trust. She's clear-eyed about why delegation fails — and why this time it hasn't.
"Delegation only works if you have a 100-percent trust. I've had associates in the past where I don't feel comfortable delegating because the trust isn't there but [with Brandy], I've never had to do that. She is dynamite. My stress level has decreased a lot, too."
Nearly a decade in, Rachel's enthusiasm for BELAY hasn't faded — and neither has the support she receives. But above all else, what Brandy has given her is irreplaceable.
"[Brandy] gave me back time – and you can't put a price on that."