Community Highlights: Meet Carlie Spencer of Strive Law Firm

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlie Spencer

Carlie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey to founding Strive Law Firm wasn’t a straight line—it was more of a zigzag, with a few unexpected detours, a political campaign, and a leap of faith into a city I had never even visited.

I started out with a degree in Applied Mathematics and a minor in Leadership Development, where I deepened my commitment to servant leadership. At the time, I envisioned a career in data analytics, but after interning in New York, I quickly realized that crunching numbers in a corporate setting wasn’t my calling. That left me at the drawing board, trying to figure out what was next.

Growing up, I had two major dreams: one was to start my own business, and the other was to run for public office to serve my community. That left me debating between an MBA (for the business route) or law school (for the public service path). After input from my friends and family overwhelmingly pushing me toward law school, I took the plunge.

For reasons I still can’t fully explain, I had a weird fascination with Raleigh, NC, despite never having visited. That’s how I discovered Campbell Law School—and how I ultimately made my way to the city I now call home.

Fast forward through many years of insisting I didn’t want to be a lawyer, followed by running for Raleigh City Council, then insisting I didn’t want to be a family lawyer, and somehow becoming a family lawyer—I finally had the realization that changed everything for me. Family law gave me two things I deeply craved in my career: the chance to litigate in court regularly and the ability to be the advocate that my own single mother needed decades ago but couldn’t find or afford.

That full-circle moment brought me back to my childhood dream of starting my own business, and I knew I could build a law firm that wasn’t just about cases—but about people, empowerment, breaking lawyer stereotypes, and creating real change for families. Now, Strive Law Firm is officially one year in, thriving, and growing—and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth road? Not even close. More like a winding, pothole-ridden backroad with questionable signage, a few “should I turn around?” moments, and a massive roadblock where I almost quit altogether.

Starting Strive Law Firm was a leap of faith—and a little bit of chaos. I didn’t come from a family of lawyers or business owners, so there was no roadmap, no safety net, and certainly no business loan or startup capital to support me. Just an idea, a legal pad full of plans, and a “you will never feel fully ready” attitude.

At first, the biggest challenge was confidence. I knew I was a good lawyer, but was I good enough to run a law firm as business? And if I was… was I crazy for trying? I graduated from law school in 2020, so even today I am still relatively young as an attorney. But there was a day in court back in July of 2023 where I was chatting with a lawyer with 20+ years of experience and he was telling me about something new he learned, and by chance I was well aware of this “new” thing he just learned about family law. As we joked about it, he said, “It’s been over twenty years and I still learn something new every day.” It was in that conversation I realized that I was never going to know everything about family law and the longer I waited to start my own firm the more I would regret the wasted time working for someone else rather than building my own business. I also acknowledged that I had a great network of friends and colleagues and I would have people to bounce ideas off and to discuss new legal issues as they arose.

Once the imposter syndrome of being a good enough lawyer to start a law firm wore off, the next challenge was actually starting a business from scratch. But nothing tested me more than last fall.

I opened the doors to Strive Law Firm March of 2024, and after four months of massive success it took a turn around seven months in, the firm hit scary downturn in new business the same time a large chunk of my cases closed. New clients weren’t coming in. The bank account was running low. And for the first time, I had to seriously ask myself: Do I cut my losses now before amassing massive debt to keep operating? Or do I go all in and try to turn this thing around?

I always believed in my ability to run a business. But I never anticipated being in a position where quitting felt like a real option. That moment was humbling. It forced me to consider either retreating back to private practice or double down on my business and make a serious change.

So, I committed.

One of the biggest, most game-changing decisions? Offering free family law consultations—which is not the norm in this industry. But I trusted that if I removed the financial barrier for people seeking legal help, they’d see the value of working with me or it would at a minimum help counter the wide-spread misinformation disseminated about family law in North Carolina. And it worked.

Since launching free consultations at the beginning of 2025, everything has completely turned around. The business is thriving, new clients are pouring in, and we’re now gearing up to hire our first full-time attorney this year. It’s wild how everything can change in less than three months. The “success” was just around the corner, but I was seriously considering taking the easier or safer path of simply cutting my losses and returning to working for someone else.

Now, I get why not everyone starts their own business. It’s terrifying. It’s exhausting. And sometimes, it feels impossible. But dang, I am so glad I decided to pivot and go all in.

The road was anything but smooth—but honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Strive Law Firm, we do real family law. That means divorce, child custody, alimony, equitable distribution, domestic violence protective orders, and everything in between. Whether someone is walking into my office ready to start over or just trying to protect what matters most, I help clients navigate some of the most stressful, emotional, and life-changing moments they’ll ever face—and I take that responsibility seriously.

But here’s what sets Strive Law apart: we’re strategic, modern, and adaptable.

I love the art of negotiation and the finesse of settling a case amicably—because, let’s be honest, settlements are almost always in the client’s best interest. They save time, money, and emotional turmoil. But if we have to go to court? Oh, I am ready.

I always say that the courtroom is my stage, and I mean that literally. As a kid, I wanted to be an actress, and well… now I get to put on a performance inside a courtroom. Sometimes that means being the compassionate, understanding advocate—and sometimes I have to be an absolute bulldog, intimidating, aggressive, and relentless. Clients, interns, and colleagues are always surprised by how quickly I can switch from warm and kind to terrifyingly intense. It’s a skill. A talent, really. But I have spent a long time refining this skill and I constantly seek opportunities to continue to grow and improve to I can better serve my clients.

Outside the courtroom, I moonlight as The Prenup Girl, which started as an educational project and has now taken on a life of its own. Prenups are one of the most misunderstood legal tools out there, and I’m on a mission to change that. This spring, I officially launched my book, “The Prenup Girl’s Guide to a Successful Marriage,” attempting to make prenups approachable and necessary in the wedding planning process. I want couples to see them not as a breakup plan, but as a financial game plan. Here is the honest truth: Everyone that gets married already has a prenup… The government already wrote one for you. Wouldn’t you rather write your own with your partner? The Prenup Girl is it’s own brand, and my pipe dream is to talk about prenups on Good Morning America by the end of 2025. GMA if you are reading this and wants me to come talk about prenups… call me. Or if anyone knows someone at GMA, hit me up. Let’s make it happen! We can rebrand prenups together!

So, what should people know about Strive Law Firm? That we care deeply about our clients, that we’re fierce in the courtroom, and that we love helping people walk out of tough situations feeling empowered. Whether it’s a prenup, a custody battle, or a high-stakes divorce, we show up, we strategize, and we fight for what matters.

Any big plans?
If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I don’t sit still for long. Strive Law Firm may only be a year in, but we’re just getting started. This year, my biggest focus is hiring our second full-time attorney—a huge milestone for the firm. By 2026, I’ve projected the ability to bring on two more attorneys plus support staff, allowing us to take on even more cases and serve more families. From there, I want to continuously scale up, open additional offices across North Carolina and South Carolina within the next five years, and continue growing the Strive brand.

The Prenup Girl has also taken on a life of its own, and I have big plans for where I want to take it. I’m currently exploring ways to bring The Prenup Girl brand (or offices) to all 50 states. What that looks like exactly? Still figuring it out. Maybe it’s a national prenup network, maybe it’s collaborations with law firms across the country, maybe it’s something even bigger that I haven’t dreamed up yet.

Further initiatives include the launch of a podcast later this year, as well as considerations for a second book, which would further educate and empower individuals navigating family law matters. Additionally, there is the potential for Strive Law Firm to expand beyond family law in the future. Concepts such as Strive Criminal Law, Strive Personal Injury, and other legal divisions are being explored, as well as the possibility of franchising the firm to bring its unique approach to legal services to a broader audience. I don’t really know what it will all look like, but that is part of what motivates me! The unknown is incredibly exciting.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.strivelawfirm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strivelawfirm/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557059920172
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strive-law-firm/?viewAsMember=true
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StriveLawFirm
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@gavelgab