Samantha Kelly is a small business owner from Ireland who started using social media to market her business because – and I’m sure many of us small firm practitioners can relate – she didn’t have a marketing budget. By communicating with, helping, and listening to people online, she has become an influencer and sold her niche business. You’ll learn how Samantha became an influencer, simple strategies for building a community, and how professional services can use Twitter as a platform for engage...
Jan 08, 2018•42 min•Ep. 94
Emily D. Baker was a Deputy DA in LA County for over 10 years – but, eventually, she wanted greater control over her life. Emily is now the Founder of Ask a Lawyer Now, a service that makes compassionate legal services available to everyone. She has two coaching niches: helping online entrepreneurs start their business legally and preparing individuals for a divorce. We discuss how starting a business helped Emily attain a greater sense of work-life balance, how to overcome the biggest challenge...
Jan 01, 2018•39 min•Ep. 93
Chelsey Lambert is a veteran of the Legal Technology space (with experience as both a vendor and an educator) who runs Lex Tech Review , a blog that translates legal technology for real-world attorneys. Chelsey recently published a free 200-page Legal Technology Buyer’s Guide reviewing hundreds of the different products and services that are available to solo and mid-size law firms. We discuss how Chelsey translates complex technology for the layman, why she is writing a series of buyer’s guides...
Dec 25, 2017•56 min•Ep. 92
Jeff Miller has had a tremendous positive impact on my local community, and he has been able to do this because he is a business coach and entrepreneur – he learned early on that if you can impact the life of a business owner, it will have a ripple effect on their family, schools, and community. Jeff shares how, as small business owners, we can leverage our businesses as vehicles for positive change (and, ultimately, grow our businesses in the process). Resources: Connect with Jeff at jmconsulti...
Dec 18, 2017•39 min•Ep. 91
Nicole Abboud is a former practicing attorney, entrepreneur, and host of The Gen Why Lawyer . I’m over the moon excited to share this conversation with you because The Gen Why Lawyer is one of my favorite podcasts (you can go check out all 10 of my favorite podcasts for lawyers in Episode 32 ). Nicole’s business, Abboud Media, is a video branding and podcast agency aimed at helping lawyers build their brands online using videos and podcasts. We discuss transitioning from being an attorney to sta...
Dec 11, 2017•35 min•Ep. 90
Karl Boehm is the Founder & Chief Marketing Strategist of Spiral Marketing, who develop high impact marketing plans and brand strategies that help clients get more leads and sales online. It’s vital for lawyers to think about advertising and marketing, especially solo practitioners, because we have to constantly sell ourselves – and, in today’s world, that often means learning how to market online. Karl is also host of The Spiral Marketing Podcast, which explores the human side of marketing-...
Dec 04, 2017•42 min•Ep. 89
Michael Mogill is the President and CEO of Crisp Video Group , a legal video marketing company that produces high-quality and engaging legal videos for attorneys all over the country, including a number of previous podcasts guests. We discuss how the company came to be, how they’ve grown, why they focus on the stories of lawyers like us, and the benefits of high-quality videos in your firm’s marketing. You can check out examples of Michael’s work for previous guests at BenGlassLaw.com , MagnessL...
Nov 27, 2017•48 min•Ep. 88
Damian Turco has launched and scaled two successful solo practices: his first in Florida shortly after law school, and his second in Massachusetts. Now his second practice is thriving, and he’s grown it largely through community outreach and involvement. Our conversation focuses on how Damian leverages his presence in the community to network and provide exceptional legal services. Resources: TurcoLegal.com Join Lawyer Club FREE, where lawyers and law firm owners come to reclaim control of their...
Nov 20, 2017•39 min•Ep. 87
Ben Glass is not only one of the best-known and widely-respected attorneys in the D.C. area – but he’s also the leader of Great Legal Marketing , a fantastic organization that helps solo and small firm practitioners build and grow their practices so that they can live the lifestyle of their choosing. Our conversation focuses on designing the lifestyle that you want, first, then working backward to figure out what you need to do with your business to achieve that. We also break down the direct ma...
Nov 13, 2017•45 min•Ep. 86
Jeff Banner started a single-office solo practice right out of law school and, since then, he has grown it into a thriving, six-office practice with four attorneys and 15 team members. He shares how building relationships and systematizing business processes helped him scale his practice so effectively, and the resources that have helped him along the way. Resources: Learn more at HeritageEdlerLaw.com Actionstep - Legal Practice Management Software ElderCounsel & WealthCounsel - Document Sof...
Nov 06, 2017•42 min•Ep. 85
John Corcoran is a former speech writer for the Clinton administration and a “recovering” solo practitioner, but he’s probably best known for founding two businesses in the entrepreneurial space: Smart Business Revolution & Rise25 . John started his entrepreneurial ventures to diversify his revenue, which is extremely important for solo practitioners (but rarely considered) – now he helps other business owners scale up and diversify by shifting from "one to one" to "one to many" programs and...
Oct 30, 2017•49 min•Ep. 84
Parker Layrisson joins the show to discuss how he built a thriving personal injury practice in a small Louisiana town (~7,000 people) by engaging his community, writing The Accident Handbook , and leveraging online marketing strategies (especially Facebook). Resources: Learn more about Parker: Layrisson.com Connect with Parker: Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn The Accident Handbook ConversationsDigital.com - Great web designer for small firm lawyers Infusionsoft - Marketing & case management As...
Oct 23, 2017•46 min•Ep. 83
Keith Magness is an accident a car, truck, and motorcycle accident attorney, and providing outstanding client service is the hallmark of his practice. We discuss strategies for running a solo practice, the most important of which is how you form relationships with existing clients. Resources: Connect with Keith: MagnessLaw.com | klm@magnesslaw.com Listen to episode 22 , where Lisa Solomon discusses Now Counsel Network NetDocuments - Online & Paperless Document Management Fujitsu ScanSnap Doc...
Oct 16, 2017•45 min•Ep. 82
David Diggs is a well-established and seasoned attorney who has only been practicing solo for about six months. Before going solo, David worked in big law firms for most of his legal career. His challenges and hurdles are a little different than what we’ve discussed in past episodes, but his viewpoint offers an interesting contrast when juxtaposed with previous guests’. Resources: Learn more & connect with David at DiggsLaw.com MyCase - Case Management Software If you’ve enjoyed the podcast,...
Oct 09, 2017•26 min•Ep. 81
Chris Yoko is the Owner of Yoko Co., a web development and full-service internet presence company that advances the web presence of organizations driven by a purpose beyond profit. They began as a small consulting shop, which aided organizations in their web design and social media endeavors, but as their team grew they began to add tactical execution to complement their services. We discuss the role of websites for law attorneys, why solo practitioners should be serious about their web presence...
Oct 02, 2017•47 min•Ep. 80
George Hendley is the Founder & President of The Speakers Academy, an organization that trains business leaders who want the skills and confidence to inspire and influence their listeners. As attorneys, a lot of what we do involves being persuasive and communicating effectively, so I wanted to sit down with George to discuss how we can improve our public speaking abilities. Resources: Learn more about speaking training: thespeakersacademy.com If you’re near Dallas, join a free Speakers Acade...
Sep 25, 2017•35 min•Ep. 79
Brett Burney is an E-Discovery Consultant – that means he goes all around the country “bridging the chasm between the legal and technology frontiers of electronic discovery.” Brett recently released a new course, iPractice on an iPad , which does just what the name implies: teaching you how to conduct your law practice using an iPad as your primary tool. However, you don’t need to use an iPad, or even Apple products, to get some incredibly useful (and practical) tech tips from this episode. Here...
Sep 18, 2017•45 min•Ep. 78
Whilst working for a non profit, Andrew Sindler began his solo practice as simply a side gig. After the non profit went out of business, Andrew was left with his solo practice still going strong, and made the transition. Andrew talks about how he uses technology to create a thriving practice and how to address budgeting with an ever unpredictable income stream. Resources: Connect with Andrew: andrewsindler@gmail.com | andrewsindlerlaw.com Law Offices of Andrew N. Sindler LLC on Facebook Andrew o...
Sep 11, 2017•36 min•Ep. 77
Jeffrey Katz had an inauspicious beginning as a solo practitioner (with an exceptionally interesting first referral case) and grew to own a thriving practice with five attorneys and five CPAs. Jeffrey chronicles his journey and shares the systems he uses to make his firm more efficient and bring more value to clients. Resources: Connect with Jeffrey: 240.743.5408 | jeffrey@jdktaz.com Join Entrepreneurs’ Organization Practical Planning System - Estate Planning Software for Attorneys HotDocs - Doc...
Aug 28, 2017•45 min•Ep. 76
Today we welcome back third-time guest Victor Medina, an estate planning & elder law attorney, a financial planner, the creative genius behind MacTrack Legal, an author, and more! We discuss how law entrepreneurs can pursue long-term personal and business growth, his new gig hosting the radio program and podcast Make It Last , and what you can expect from this year’s MacTrack Legal conference (October 19-21 in Orlando, FL). One of the best talks last year was about how to write a book to pro...
Aug 21, 2017•54 min•Ep. 75
Today we’re going to learn about a novel (but common-sense) business strategy that Ross Albers implemented to grow his solo practice into a successful small firm: the early use of a business coach. Many lawyers don’t consider hiring a coach until late in their careers, but Ross shares how it helped him improve in every facet of business ownership (and why he wishes he’d hired someone even earlier). We also look towards the future, and consider the role video may play in attorney-client communica...
Aug 14, 2017•36 min•Ep. 74
Today’s guest, Eric Wexler, is a CPA and solo tax attorney in the Washington D.C. area. We talk about building a successful solo practice before discussing what small business owners need to consider when planning their tax strategy, and the big mistakes they need to avoid. Resources: Learn more and connect at MarkWexlerCPA.com MileIQ - Mileage Tracking App Join Lawyer Club FREE, where lawyers and law firm owners come to reclaim control of their firms and their lives! Plus, get the full list of ...
Aug 07, 2017•45 min•Ep. 73
Spencer Hecht scaled a solo practice into a small boutique family law firm, with three associates and a handful of other staff members. We dig deep into when Spencer knew it was time to hire his first associate, how he finds employees who are a good fit, and how he created an incentive program that allows his staff to “put some skin in the game.” Resources: Learn more about Hecht & Associates: HechtAssociates.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn PCLaw - Firm management & billing software ...
Jul 31, 2017•45 min•Ep. 72
Katie Gutierrez Miller is the Founder and CEO of Assistant Match, one of the very first companies to offer virtual assistants. Assistant Match is unique in the VA space because all of their assistants are educated and based in the United States, and for many professionals that is an important consideration. We discuss building a remote business, how virtual assistants can support law firms (in many different ways), and when virtual assistants make financial sense. (We didn’t go to law school to ...
Jul 24, 2017•38 min•Ep. 71
Neil is solo discussing a recent Thomson Reuters State of U.S. Small Law Firms Study Report titled “How Small Law Firms Succeed Under the Pressure of Today’s Challenges…or Fail.” This episode explores the biggest challenges small firms face today (and potential solutions), how the firms surveyed in this report define success, and Neil’s criticisms of the report. Resources: Apply to TBD Law 3 - Lawyerist’s Summer Conference (St. Louis August 27–29, 2017) Read the report: “How Small Law Firms Succ...
Jul 10, 2017•49 min•Ep. 70
Neil chats with D. Todd Smith, Founder of the Smith Law Group, one of the country’s top boutique appellate firms. We dig into what exactly an appellate practice is, how it fits into the industry as a whole, and how new law school graduates can leverage the many resources available today. Resources: Follow Todd on Twitter: @dtoddsmith Read Todd’s blog: Texas Appellate Law Blog Learn more about Smith Law Group RocketMatter - Legal Practice Management and Billing Software Nozbe - Task management Jo...
Jun 26, 2017•47 min•Ep. 69
Neil chats with Catherine Hodder, formerly a Principal at a mobile law practice and currently a Principal and Author at Go Solo For Success . Catherine discusses launching a successful mobile law practice, designing a business to support her lifestyle, and aligning their mission with a business niche. She also shares tips that will help solo attorneys launch successfully, find inspiration, and achieve work-life balance. The second edition of Catherine’s book, Law Office On A Laptop: How to Set U...
Jun 19, 2017•33 min
Neil is talking to David Hotes, a CPA-turned-attorney focusing on small business and entrepreneurial law. He shares the interesting structure of his solo law practice, which is part of the Bethesda Law Group , and his unique perspectives on billing and accounting. Resources: Connect with David: LinkedIn | Dave (at) BethesdaLawGroup.com | 301.469.3352 Quickbooks Join Lawyer Club FREE, where lawyers and law firm owners come to reclaim control of their firms and their lives! Plus, get the full list...
Jun 12, 2017•40 min
Neil chats with Stacey Brown Randall , a champion of solopreneurs and small businesses who helps people accelerate business growth by nurturing better relationships that generating more referrals. You will learn a little insight into how most people make purchasing decisions when it comes to professional services, why trust is the most important factor of business-client relationships, and Stacey’s 3 Platinum Principles™ for Referral Generation. Stacey was kind enough to put together some helpfu...
Jun 05, 2017•45 min
Neil chats with Jared Correia. He is the Founder & CEO of Red Cave Consulting, a subscription-based business management and consulting practice for solo practitioners and small law firms. He shares how lawyers can apply systems that drive efficiency (and revenue), why we should be designing practices with the end in mind, and how firms can lower their overhead by leveraging technology & remote employees. Resources: Learn more about Red Cave Consulting American Bar Association’s Twitter i...
May 29, 2017•51 min
