Lawyerist Podcast

Have you heard? We released a new edition of our book! Our goal has always been to help lawyers better manage their firms. Now we have new strategies and stories to help in that journey. Today Jennifer sits down with co-authors of The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited, Aaron & Stephanie. They dive into the reframing they have done since writing the first edition and the major differences in our new book. Links from the episode: https://lawyerist.com/book/ If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? Check out our coaching community to see if it’s right for you. Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & Gavel for sponsoring this episode.

Have you considered moving abroad full time? Have you wondered what it would take to make that a reality? Lawyerist Lab Coach Bernadette Harris moved herself and her business to Mexico and today she shares her journey with Stephanie. They discuss why, how, the challenges, and the surprising health benefits that came along with the decision. Links from the episode: Trust Bernadette If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & Gavel for sponsoring this episode.

It sounds obvious, but it may need to be stated: your law firm needs a website. Today Stephanie talks with our own Legal Tech Advisor Zack Glaser about the importance of your online presence. He gives advice on how to set goals with clear CTAs, nurture leads, and offers suggestions to get started with your content marketing strategy. Links from the episode: Best Law Firm Websites If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? Check out our coaching community to see if it’s right for you. Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & Gavel for sponsoring this episode.

No one said hiring and keeping a strong team was easy, but it’s definitely possible. Sara interviews Lawyerist Lab member, Chong Ye, about the success he’s found in hiring great people and building a strong team, even in a down market. Links from the episode: Pre-order our new book! For Better or for Work Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & Gavel for sponsoring this episode.

Do you feel overwhelmed in your day-to-day as you try to get everything done? Guess what? You’re not alone. Paul Unger, speaker, author, and owner at Affinity Consulting, joins Stephanie and offers specific tips on how to manage your to-do list, process fires, and focus on the most important things. Links from the episode: Affinity's Digital Courses Your Ultimate Blueprint for Managing Time as a Legal Professional Tame the Digital Chaos Best Law Firm Website Contest Did you hear? We have a revised version of our book available for pre-order now! Get your copy of The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited today! Looking for help beyond the book? Check out our coaching community to see if it's right for you.

Believe it or not, securing a $100 million dollar verdict is not an overnight project. Today Stephanie talks with Lawyerist Lab coach Ryan McKeen about how he built his personal injury firm to support and win a $100M case. He pulls back the curtain and details the work it took and offers advice to other attorneys wanting to do the same. Links from the episode: Read the News Article about the Verdict If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & Documate for sponsoring this episode.

Just like the body gets tired after a workout, the brain gets tired from making too many decisions. Stephanie talks with Decision Scientist Nika Kabiri about what decision fatigue actually is and offers advice on how to overcome it. Spoiler alert: you’re not a bad decision maker! Links from the episode: Your Next Decision More Than Just a Vocal Coach If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & Documate for sponsoring this episode.

You probably have a LinkedIn profile. But, are you using it in a way that helps build your client portfolio, brand, and business? In this episode, meet new Lawyerist Lab coach Amy Grubb. She talks with Stephanie about how to build your LinkedIn profile and leverage that platform to grow your firm. Links from the episode: Lawyerist Lab If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & Documate for sponsoring this episode.

Debbie Foster, managing partner at Affinity Consulting, joins Stephanie to share some big news. They detail how to best prepare your team for a merger through honesty and open communication. And outline ways to make a merger easier, whether two businesses are combining or a single partner is coming on board. Links from the episode: Affinity Consulting Powerful Leaders Podcast If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & Documate for sponsoring this episode.

You want your clients to give you feedback, but are you asking the right questions? Listen today as our product director, Ashley Steckler, shares specific suggestions on how to get the feedback that can help your firm grow. She talks about what, when, and how to ask the right questions and get valuable information in return! Were your expectations met with this episode? Yes? Mostly? Somewhat? Not really? No? We hope so! If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode.

Attorneys have a unique opportunity to use their skills for the good of others. And Sateesh Nori, Executive Director of JustFix, has worked his entire career doing just that. Sateesh spent 20 years with New York City’s Legal Aid societies, defending the tenants’ rights of everyday people in housing court. He pivoted from practicing law on the front lines to join JustFix, a housing justice technology non-profit company. Now, he’s helping to bridge the gap of access to housing justice and help tenants exercise their rights to a livable home through technology. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode.

How well do you know your team? Do they know you care about them? Did you know your relationship with your team can actually impact your bottom line? In this episode, Sara talks with Lawyerist Lab member Spencer Schmidt about his journey to becoming a great boss. He’s learned that keeping employees engaged and accountable (even if you’re non-confrontational!) is one of the best ways to care for his clients and grow his business. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode.

You’re no longer in start-up mode for your firm. You’ve grown and stretched and you’re ready to level up. So what’s next? In this episode, Stephanie talks with Karen Graves, Lawyerist’s newest Lab coach, about how to navigate your business’s teenage phase. Karen explains this phase and how to find support for your firm. She details how to reconnect to your genius, renew your identity as a leader, and learn to let go. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode.

Zack sits down with Wouter IJgosse from DecisionVault to learn more about how their platform can streamline client intake for attorneys. DecisionVault takes a portal approach, making intake an iterative process for your clients. Learn more about DecisionVault here! If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode.

Is your to-do list never-ending? When was the last time you really felt productive? When we are constantly trying to get things off our list, the list seems to only grow longer. In this episode, Stephanie talks with author Oliver Burkeman about this myth of productivity. They dive into different ways to be productive and actually get stuff done. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode.

The end of the year is upon us and whether we like it or not, it’s time to think about wrapping up our finances. Do you have a plan in place for your financial strategy? Do you know why it matters? Join Stephanie as she talks with Lawyerist Lab financial coach Bernadette Harris about finding the levers to systemize your firm finances and get ready for tax season. Plus, she shares some tips on how to increase your income but NOT your tax liability! If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free!

For some small law firm owners, growth isn’t the goal. In this episode, Sara talks with former Lawyerist Lab member Katie Roe about how and why she built her firm with the intention of staying small. They discuss the steps Katie took and the boundaries she created to find balance while running her thriving business and being a working mother of two. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode.

If you could work from anywhere in the world, where would it be? What if we told you it could be possible with a little planning? In this episode, Sara talks with attorney and Lawyerist Lab Member Chrystan Carlton about being a legal nomad. Chrystan recently spent a month living and working in Spain without interrupting her practice. They dive into how she made it happen and the tools and preparation you need for success. Chrystan also details a working day in the life of a legal nomad. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode.

In a negotiation, each party wants something. Discovering how to make it a win-win situation, aka finding the sweet spot, is the key. Today, Stephanie talks with author and professor Leigh Thompson about how to work a negotiation in everyone’s favor, boldly state the outcome you’d like, and not settle for anything less! If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode.

What is an integrator? What does an integrator do? Does your team need one? Sara Muender talks with Jasmine Jowers Prout, Operations Director of The Gober Group, about the importance of having an integrator on your team. They discuss why and when to hire an integrator. And detail how an integrator can streamline, improve, and strengthen all areas of your law firm. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode.

Are you looking at your software as if it’s a partner in your firm? In this episode, Zack is joined again by Joyce Brafford, lawyer and practice management guru. They talk all-in-one practice management software vs integrators, and dive into the benefits of CosmoLex by ProfitSolv, a true all-in-one software. And for more about CosmoLex, Zack spoke with Erica Birstler at CosmoLex. Check out that conversation here. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free!

How much growth is the right amount? How will you know when your business has grown enough? In this episode, Stephanie talks with Paul Jarvis, author and co-founder of Fathom Analytics, about escaping the growth-for-growth’s-sake mentality. They discuss the expectation of hyper-growth for business owners, and if that actually serves your needs, both professionally and personally. Listen now to learn why more growth isn’t always better. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode. Your Opinion Matters Help us make this podcast better by completing the 2022 Listener Survey.

Legal Talk Network wants to hear from you! Complete their Listener Survey and help them (and us!) improve your favorite legal podcasts and create new shows you’ll love. Complete the survey by October 14, 2022, and be entered to win great prizes! https://legaltalknetwork.com/survey/ Do the lessons learned while owning a small law firm translate to life in a larger firm? In today’s episode, Sara chats with long-time Lawyerist Lab member Nick Pleasants about how stayed entrepreneurial even after joining a bigger firm. He details how Lab helped him grow his small law firm (even before he launched), how he’s applied those skills after moving on to a new role, and offers some advice to solo and small firm owners. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode.

Could a project management tool be the missing key in your law firm’s arsenal? In this episode, Zack talks with Joyce Brafford, a North Carolina attorney with over a decade of experience in the legal tech industry. She and Zack dive into the benefits of project management for law firms, how workflows and automations (even imperfect ones) can eliminate common woes, and how Rocket Matter legal practice management software can help. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! About Rocket Matter Rocket Matter is legal practice management software that makes the lives of lawyers a whole lot easier Schedule a Personal Demo Webinar: How to Get Paid Faster Top of Funnel: Guide for those looking to become more efficient as a practicing attorney Mid Funnel: eBook that is for those looking to buy practice management software. A must-read before buying.

People don’t connect with brands, they connect with people. Could a publicist help you tell your story in a way that truly resonates with potential clients? In this episode, Stephanie talks with Pam Perry, communications and PR professional, about the importance of being authentically “you” in your branding. They delve into how to tell your story to build connections and the role PR (or a publicist) can play to help you meet your ideal client. Listen now! If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Berkshire Receptionists, Lawyerist Lab, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Do you treat your firm’s core values as the guiding principles they are designed to be? On this episode, Stephanie talks with Lawyerist Lab member Fiona McEntee about how, once she settled on her core values, she was able to use them as signposts to build and grow her immigration law practice. For Fiona, the values of harmony, optimism, modern, and empathy (HOME… get it?), are more than just buzzwords. Listen now to learn more. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Albatross Legal Workspaces, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

What if you could join forces with another professional to both streamline and boost your business? This week’s guests have found a way, through their integrated law and accounting firm (one of the first in Arizona), to better serve their clients and their business. In this episode, Stephanie talks with owners of BOSS advisors, Lawyerist Lab member Mike Payne and non-attorney business partner Chad Huebsch. Learn how they found efficiency and streamlined success through an alternative business structure.

Anxiety—it’s a big, evil beast that we all deal with on some level for all different reasons. But what if you were able to take your anxiety and harness it for good? On this week’s episode, Stephanie chats with Dr. Wendy Suzuki, author of Good Anxiety and Professor of Neural Science and Psychology at New York University. Listen and learn about the root causes of anxiety, negativity bias, joy conditioning, and how to channel anxiety into actionable steps to fuel productivity. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Albatross Legal Workspaces, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Zack talks with Dr. Temple Gradin, academic, animal behaviorist, and Autism rights proponent, about different types of thinkers, the strengths they bring, and why it’s important to have different thinkers on your team. Zack talks with Dr. Temple Grandin about neurodiversity: the different ways people think. Some think in pictures, others think in words. It’s important to have different types of thinkers on your team as each one brings their own strengths with them. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Albatross Legal Workspaces, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Stephanie talks with Lawyerist Lab coach Bernadette Harris, about how to protect your firm from fraud with proper procedures and safeguards, outsourcing accounting, and more. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Albatross Legal Workspaces, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

In this episode, Zack interviews Luis Bedoya, the COO of Berkshire Receptionists, a nationwide provider of 24/7 live virtual receptionists. They discuss how outsourcing aspects of your firm can help you navigate the current business climate, and even help you build trust with your clients. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free!

In this episode, Zack talks to Sunny Eaton, director of the Conviction Review Unit in Nashville, TN. She goes into detail about what this unit does and why we should care about it. She helped put processes in place to make the whole unit more efficient and is working to overcome bias in reviewing convictions. Thanks to Albatross Legal Workspaces, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Stephanie talks with Tom Lenfestey about how firms should start thinking about their firm as a business. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Albatross Legal Workspaces, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Stephanie talks with Ron Baker from VeraSage about killing the billable hour and switching to a client-centered pricing model. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Albatross Legal Workspaces, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Stephanie talks with Lawyerist Lab coach Ryan McKeen and his former firm partners Meghan Freed and Kristen Marcroft. They discuss their journey in starting a practice together, going their separate ways, and building successful separate practices. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Albatross Legal Workspaces, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Zack talks with Judge Scott Schlegel about how he layers technology on top of courtroom workflows. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Albatross Legal Workspaces, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Stephanie talks with Lawyerist Lab member, Matthew Sullivan, who is the Executive Director of Finance and Operations at Sullivan Law and Associates. Together they discuss the importance of a legal administrator, the future of executive functions in law firms, and how Lawyerist Lab has helped his firm grow. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Albatross Legal Workspaces, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Sara talks with principal attorney of Soucie Eyberg Law, Sarah Soucie Eyberg, about her sobriety journey while practicing law and what being a sober lawyer means for her. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Albatross Legal Workspaces, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Zack talks with GNGF’s Community Director, Jamie Kohls, about educational resources for law firm marketing. They dig into GNGF’s book, Online Law Practice Strategies, the free resources on their website, and the recently expanded Legal Marketing Academy. Listeners who want to get started with some free Legal Marketing Academy resources can go to https://gngf.com/lawyeristpod. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free!

Jennifer Whigham talks with Lawyerist’s legal tech advisor, Zack Glaser, about the components to a successful law practice management system. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to Albatross Legal Workspaces, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Sara talks with Victoria Winterberg, an immigration attorney in El Paso about how things changed when she got intentional about the clients she works with. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to LawPay, MyCase, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Stephanie talks with the author Healing Career Wounds, Rick Girard, about how to hire and attract the right talent for your company. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to LawPay, MyCase, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Zack talks with his father, attorney Steve Glaser, about succession planning and the need to start before you ever think you should. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to LawPay, MyCase, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Zack talks with LawPods founder and Chief Strategist, Robert Ingalls, about how your firm can leverage a legal podcast to complement and enhance your existing content marketing strategy. Learn how to get quality sound, determine your cadence, and decide what content you want to focus on. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free!

Stephanie Everett talks with clinical psychologist and mental health advocate, Dr. Sherry Walling, about dealing with grief in the workplace. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to LawPay, MyCase, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Zack and Kristin Tyler, of LawClerk, talk with Sarah Jewell and Jason Lawrence about their experience working together through the LawClerk platform. Listen in as they discuss the process, and thoughts behind hiring and working as a freelance attorney. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free!

Stephanie talks with a serial legal entrepreneur, Jay Ruane, about integrating systems in your law firm. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to LawPay, MyCase, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Zack talks with the CallRail team about leveraging data and reporting to increase your marketing ROI and help you invest more deliberately. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free!

Zack Glaser talks with our product director here at Lawyerist., Ashely Steckler, about common project management mistakes and how to avoid them. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to LawPay, MyCase, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Stephanie talks with the Professor and Director at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, Marjorie Aaron, about how lawyers can deliver bad news to clients. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Thanks to LawPay, MyCase, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.