The Legal Toolkit

Many lawyers may feel wary or bewildered about how to develop trusted partnerships with legal tech vendors. In this episode, host Jared Correia talks to Robert Brink of Boston’s Social Law Library and Fred Cohen of Zola Suite about how legal organizations and legal tech vendors can work together more effectively. Robert and Fred discuss their working relationship and offer insight into the importance of continued tech adoption and innovation in legal organizations.

How should lawyers begin to implement metrics? In this episode, host Jared Correia talks with Mary Juetten about her new book, “The Business of Legal: The Data-Driven Law Practice.” Her book has the goal of equipping lawyers to take their own data, improve processes, and create metrics along the way. They discuss how lawyers can assess what their firms need and then realistically consider their skill sets to decide what tasks should be delegated to other professionals to get them where they need to be.

In this episode, host Jared Correia talks to Sarah Smerage about how lawyers can better collect and promote customer reviews. They discuss how lawyers must go beyond just providing excellent legal services and focus on providing an excellent customer service experience. They also talk about how to best handle negative reviews and what a company like ARAG can do to help lawyers in the review collection process.

How can lawyers make their firms more visible to prospective clients? In this episode,, host Jared Correia talks to Michael Mogill about how lawyers can stand out with video marketing. Clients care about why you do what you do. Video marketing gives lawyers the opportunity to utilize storytelling to connect with potential clients. They discuss the different types of videos law firms can create to elevate their website content and social media accounts — engaging viewers and gaining new business.

In this episode, host Jared Correia talks to Sarah Schaaf, CEO of Headnote, about how lawyers can optimize their payment processes with technology and automation. As high-end service providers, lawyers can serve their clients better when they use the best payment processes available. Jared and Sarah discuss how utilizing modern tools helps lawyers get paid faster and gives their clients a more professional payment experience.

Prep your law office for a less stressful holiday season with some sensible workflow management tips. In this episode, host Jared Correia talks to Andrea Cannavina about her advice to lawyers for increasing efficiency this holiday season. They also offer insight into how to make smart tech choices for your firm, give their top holiday gift recommendations, and discuss Gene Autry’s unparalleled rendition of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

Host Jared Correia talks to Milena Higgins about the ways automation and AI can help lawyers turn over cases with ease and efficiency. There is a lot of pressure from clients for lawyers to do things better, cheaper, & faster — and automating tasks in your practice can actually help you get there. They discuss how automation can take care of the mundane work and leave lawyers free to focus on higher level tasks.

Should law firms start to adopt freelance attorneys to work for them? Host Jared Correia talks to Talitha Kozlowski about the practical consideration of freelancing, how the process works, and the potential risk law firms could face with freelance attorneys. They also discuss business model changes and why solo and small firm attorneys could benefit from outsourcing their work.

Lawyers, especially those newer to the industry, can often suffer from “imposter syndrome” or feeling like their experience doesn’t qualify them to serve their clients. Host Jared Correia talks to Jeremy W. Richter about how lawyers can build confidence both in their practice and business skills. Jeremy, author of Building a Better Law Practice, shares his best tips for staying organized with personalized systems and maintaining consistent communication with clients.

Host Jared Correia talks to Alan Fanger about what lawyers can do in order to improve their client’s performance within the litigation process. They discuss currently used tactics, how they fail, and the importance of sitting down with clients in order to explain the process to them. They also talk about how online learning works and the benefits of using videos to instruct your clients.

As an associate at a law firm, it can be a challenge balancing marketing yourself while also giving your best to the firm. Host Jared Correia talks to Jay Harrington about how young associates can take ownership of their careers and build their brand while also being accountable to a firm. They discuss overcoming marketing challenges, in-person versus web marketing, and finding your identity both in and out of the office.

Why are lawyers now opting for online communities instead of traditional networking avenues, namely bar associations? Host Jared Correia explores the answer to this question along with guest Keith Lee. They discuss the benefits of Slack and what bar associations can do to become more relevant to younger lawyers looking for a supportive community of lawyers.

As a solo lawyer or small firm lawyer, running your firm can involve many repetitive marketing, management, or even accounting tasks that seem to take up a lot of potentially billable time. But many of these tasks can be easily automated. Host Jared Correia talks to Ernie Svenson about automation and setting up systems that can help attorneys run their firms more efficiently. They discuss these systems, how to manage business changes, and marketing automation for law firm newsletters.

When you give Jared Correia a mic and let him wander around ABA TECHSHOW, you’re bound to get off the cuff conversations, intriguing guests, and only a couple awkward silences. Host Jared Correia walks the floor of ABA TECHSHOW 2018 and interviews students, vendors, and attendees about everything from Rhode Island food items to spirit animals. The guests also share what they love about TECHSHOW and their favorite parts of the conference.

Host Jared Correia and guest-host Cash Butler talk to Debbie Hoffman and Jeremy Potter about how they run an effective corporate legal department. They go into detail about implementing technology, measuring the value of legal services, and their vetting process for outside counsel. They also discuss working with small law firms and address the question of how small is too small to hire?

What’s in a name? A lot, actually, especially for a law firm. In this episode of Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks to Andrew Garcia and Megan Zavieh about law firm names and why they don’t have to be boring. Together, they also discuss why lawyers don’t feel free to be creative with their firm names, the ethics to keep in mind when branding your company, and how to spice up a traditional name for attorneys who decide to take that route. Megan Zavieh is an attorney with a broad range of litigation experience now focusing on attorney defense in the California State Bar disciplinary system. Andrew J. Garcia is a life-long member of the SouthCoast community and co-founder of Phillips Garcia Law. Special thanks to our sponsors Scorpion, Answer1, and Thomson Reuters Firm Central.

Is using paper out of style? There are a lot of advantages to making things digital but that doesn’t have to make paper obsolete. In this episode of the Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks to Ed Walters about the role of print mediums in law. They reexamine when to use paper versus digital mediums; both printed paper and digital copies have their own quality and characteristics that are useful in different cases. Ed also nerds out about font and classic printing methods, which is useful if you want to make your printed documents beautiful. Ed Walters is the CEO and co-founder of Fastcase, an online legal research software company. Special thanks to our sponsors Scorpion, Answer1, and Thomson Reuters Firm Central.

Sometimes, one host just isn’t enough. In this special episode of the Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia was joined by guest host and wife Jessica Correia. After establishing Jessica’s indifference towards the Beatles, they talk to Chelsey Lambert about how and why law firms should invest in new technology, from voice activated time and billing to simply updating basic software. They discuss common reasons why law firms hesitate to adopt new technology and who should be involved in the process of choosing and implementing technology. They also geek out about forms automation and the epic software that is changing the document assembly game. Chelsey Lambert is founder of Lex Tech Review, a legal technology blog and learning center. Special thanks to our sponsors Scorpion, Answer1, and Thomson Reuters Firm Central.

Making money is a pretty important part of practicing law and, as good as you may be at it, you can always do better at raking in the dough. In this episode of the Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks to marketing ninja Dorie Clark about what lawyers can do to bring in more revenue in a chaotic marketplace. They discuss things like building a brand in a saturated field, using the gig economy to your advantage, and marketing yourself through podcasting or online courses. As a bonus, tune into Jared’s Tom Petty playlist on Spotify: Dorie Clark is an adjunct professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and the author of “Entrepreneurial You,” “Reinventing You,” and “Stand Out.” Special thanks to our sponsors Scorpion, Answer1, and Thomson Reuters Firm Central.

The lack of minorities like people of color, women, and people with disabilities working within the legal industry has long been a topic of discussion but there has been very little progress when it comes to inclusion. In the episode of Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks to Jeena Cho about why there’s a lack of diversity in the legal industry, what both individual lawyers and firms are doing about it, and why it’s important for legal professionals to care. They also discuss unconscious bias including what it is and how to address it. Jeena Cho is the author of two books: “The Anxious Lawyer, An 8-Week Guide to a Joyful and Satisfying Law Practice Through Mindfulness and Meditation,” and “How to Manage Your Law Office.” Special thanks to our sponsors Scorpion, Answer1, and Thomson Reuters Firm Central.

Do you suspect that your partner is cheating? Fear not, the Cutlers are here to help! In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks to Dana and Keith Cutler, stars of the new TV show “Couples Court with the Cutlers.” During their discussion with Jared, the attorney power couple answers common questions asked by suspicious partners, like whether it is legal to snoop through a loved one’s phone or track them via GPS. They also talk about data protection laws and how they are affected by modern day social interaction. Stay tuned to hear the Cutler’s beliefs about where to get the best BBQ in Kansas. Dana Cutler and Keith Cutler run the law firm, W. Tippin & Associates in Missouri. The two have been married for 27 years and are taking the bench together in a new syndicated daytime court television show, Couples Court with the Cutlers. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney, Scorpion, Answer1, and Thomson Reuters Firm Central.

Access to justice is a complicated issue. Some can’t afford lawyers, some don’t know how to find a good lawyer, and some are looking for services that not all lawyers provide. In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks to Keri Norris about this issue, including how technology can facilitate attorney client relationships and what bar associations are doing to solve the problem of access to justice. Keri Norris is the Senior Vice President for Regulatory Affairs and the Chief Legal Officer at Legal Shield. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney, Scorpion, and Answer1.

At this point, you can’t avoid the millennials. As they enter the legal workforce, it’s important to understand their mindset and what they’ll bring with them. In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks to Drew Rossow and Elan Fields about their millennial perspective of the legal industry. Their discussion includes technology, access to justice, machine learning, and unbundled legal services. They also talk about current trends that are affecting law practices, including cybersecurity and law school innovation courses. Andrew Rossow is an Associate Attorney at Gregory M. Gantt Co. LPA where Drew’s passion lies in the areas of Cyberspace Law and Intellectual Property Law. Elan Fields recently launched his startup, Gideon, a mission-driven legal technology company which leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence to help lawyers. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney, Scorpion, and Answer1.

Making sure your law firm experiences stable financial growth sounds like a good idea, but how do lawyers put this into practice? In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks to Mary Juetten about what key performance indicators (KPIs) are and why lawyers should use them for business management. For those convinced to try KPIs, they also discuss how to get started and potential technology solutions that can supplement the use of KPIs. Mary Juetten is the founder and CEO of Traklight and the co-conspirator behind Evolve Law. She specializes in helping companies in transition or startup to create sustainable, operational, and financial growth. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney, Scorpion, and Answer1.

Many lawyers around the country rely on the resources, support, and networking opportunities that the American Bar Association provides to their members. In this rebroadcast episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks with American Bar Association President Linda Klein about law practice management needs that solo and small firm attorneys struggle with and the new Blueprint initiative that the ABA is rolling out to help meet those needs. In addition to being president of the ABA, Linda Klein is managing partner for the Georgia offices of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, LLP, where she practices in business dispute resolution including contract law, employment law, and professional liability. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney, Scorpion, and Answer1.

A few years ago, having technology courses at law schools was unheard of. But recently schools have been offering more and more tech opportunities. In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks to Gabe Teninbaum, professor of legal writing at Suffolk Law, about the work Suffolk is doing to encourage innovation, including programs, technology courses, and internship opportunities. In the second segment, they discuss Gabe’s website, Spaced Repetition, and his take on topics like access to justice, process improvement, and legal process innovation. Gabriel Teninbaum is a professor of legal writing at Suffolk University Law School in 2007, leading Suffolk Law's legal technology and innovation work, including directing the Institute on Law Practice Technology and Innovation. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney, Scorpion, and Answer1.

There’s more to practicing law than practicing law. Proper client relationships and interactions can be the difference between a good law firm and an exceptional one. In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks to Michael Chasin, CEO of Lexicata, about effectively managing your practice’s client intake process. They lay out a couple common mistakes that legal professionals often make and also explain why improving your intake process is important to the success of your firm. Michael Chasin is CEO of Lexicata, a CRM and client intake software designed to help law firms and lawyers increase client satisfaction. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney, Scorpion, and Answer1.

Christmas brought digital assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Home, into homes everywhere. Maybe it’s only a matter of time before they show up in law firms too. In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks to Louise Kennedy and Mitch Jackson about the role of digital assistants in the practice of law. While there are definite advantages, like easy communication and access, there are also complicated security issues that will only be resolved as the technology matures. The episode concludes with what is likely the most important question: will lawyers eventually have robots to help them out in court? Louise Leduc Kennedy is the founding attorney of West Hill Technology Counsel. She has extensive experience advising technology companies on intellectual property and strategic matters. Mitch Jackson was admitted to the California Bar in 1986. He is a founding Partner and Senior Litigation Partner in the nationally recognized law firm of Jackson & Wilson, Inc. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney, Scorpion, and Answer1.

Many lawyers around the country rely on the resources, support, and networking opportunities that the American Bar Association provides to their members. In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks with American Bar Association President Linda Klein about law practice management needs that solo and small firm attorneys struggle with and the new Blueprint initiative that the ABA is rolling out to help meet those needs. In addition to being president of the ABA, she is managing partner for the Georgia offices of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, LLP, where she practices in business dispute resolution including contract law, employment law, and professional liability. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney, Scorpion, and Answer1.

From the earliest days of law school every attorney learns that the profession is steeped in copious amounts of document writing. In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks with Creative Content Specialist and "Spaceballs: The Animated Series" writer Adam Kosloff about why prolific writing is very costly for lawyers and how his five core strategies can help attorneys improve their writing efficiency. After graduating Yale University with a degree in physics, Adam Kosloff moved to Los Angeles to pursue a screenwriting career. While enjoying the opportunity to work with industry greats like Mel Brooks (Spaceballs: The Animated Series), Adam supplemented his income by writing for the web. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney, Scorpion, and Answer1.

Many young lawyers entering the legal marketplace are surprised to find that they are lacking the fundamental skills necessary to successfully practice law and stay competitive while seeking employment. In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks with American Bar Association Commission on Hispanic Rights & Responsibilities Commissioner Fred Rooney, Suffolk University Law School Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Ilene Seidman, Michigan State University College of Law Professor of Law in Residence Daniel Linna, and Stanford Law School fellow Margaret Hagan about their respective programs and the additional skills that law schools should teach students to better prepare them for the practice of law. Fred Rooney's work in the development of post-graduate legal education and the powerful incubator that he began in 2007 are forcing law schools to rethink their responsibility to their graduates and to the millions of individuals in the US who lack access to justice. Ilene Seidman is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and a Clinical Professor of Law at Suffolk University Law School. Under Ilene's guidance, Suffolk's Accelerator to Practice program won the ABA's Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access in 2016. Dan Linna is the director of LegalRnD, The Center for Legal Services Innovation at Michigan State University College of Law. Margaret Hagan launched a program for legal tech and design while a fellow at the Institute of Design. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney and Scorpion.

With the abundance of law practitioners in the legal marketplace it can be difficult for a law firm to really differentiate themselves from their competitors. Many lawyers are looking at social media as a new way to gain greater visibility for their firm but what marketing opportunities can online video content provide? In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks with Crisp Video Group CEO Michael Mogill about creating video content for law firms, how to effectively market through video, and the benefits this type of marketing can bring to your business.

In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks with ClariLegal founder and CEO Cash Butler about litigation support options available to law firms and legal practitioners. Cash encourages all litigation law firms to have a selection of providers that they are comfortable with so that they can execute work in a timely fashion. He acknowledges that it can be more difficult for smaller firms that don’t have a large litigation team but states that you must be as proactive as possible. Cash shares that large corporations that are highly litigious usually have preferred vendors that they like their law firms to use, however he does emphasize that service provider selection should be based on fiscal and service value. Choosing a litigation service provider in this manner allows for collaboration and greater transparency between the corporations seeking assistance and the law firm. He provides his list of fixed processes, like interviewing multiple service providers, that should be in place for vendor selection and his basic principles, like acquiring three to five bids for your litigation, that law firms and legal departments should apply to their decision making process. Cash discusses the different services that he feels law firms need to use on a regular basis and he closes the interview with an analysis of the importance of cost management throughout the entire vendor selection process. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney and Scorpion.

In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, founder and president of Sword and the Script Media, LLC. Frank Strong talks with Heidi Alexander about content marketing and why it’s so important for lawyers. Frank starts by defining content marketing, a business process for creating and distributing relevant and valuable content, and briefly explains how this process can help lawyers build trust with their existing and prospective client base. He lists a few content marketing characteristics, like working consistently and ensuring that you own your distribution channel, and emphasizes that your content creation efforts should focus mainly on whichever platform you own. Frank encourages attorneys to seek client-oriented questions to help them in the content creation process and to use their own anecdotal style to guarantee a unique brand. He warns lawyers to establish a consistent publishing schedule, manageable with their busy lives, and reiterates that sustainability is the goal. Frank also instructs legal professionals to view their social media outlets as satellites that operate around, and integrate into, their main content hub. He lists his content marketing best practices, like clear documentation and iterative improvement focused progress, and provides a few examples of what makes a good marketing strategy. Frank closes the interview with a reflection on how content marketing has changed over the years and some emerging trends he sees for the future. Frank Strong is the founder and president of Sword and the Script Media, LLC, a veteran-owned business based in Atlanta focused on PR, content marketing and social media services. However, most folks in the legal community will recognize him from his previous assignment as the communications director for the LexisNexis software division in Raleigh. During his tenure at LexisNexis he was the primary champion behind the LexisNexis Business of Law Blog, which garnered tens of thousands of visitors from the legal community every month and earned praise from likes of Forbes. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney and Scorpion.

In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, FindLaw Senior Director of Strategic Development and Thought Leadership Mark Jacobsen talks with Jared Correia about the 2015 U.S. Consumer Legal Needs Survey. The study asks a consistent set of questions to a randomly selected group of consumers, ages 18 and over, who have had (or have family members who have had) legal concerns that they consider important or very important. Mark reveals that they typically receive around 2,000 responses and ensure a clean survey pool by disqualifying anyone who works for a law firm or marketing services group that does business with law firms. The purpose of the survey is to understand the mindset, preferences, and motivations of the consumer as they realize their legal problem and take steps toward rectifying it. The results of the 2015 survey reveal that 58% of consumers choose to contact a legal professional upon recognizing that they have a legal issue, and Mark analyzes the most influential of the eight core motivators, like aversion to risk and desire for competent representation, on consumer decision making when purchasing legal services. Mark continues with this investigation and provides examples of how law firms can use these buyer impulses to better market to potential clients. He also discusses the importance of social media and the mobile sphere in finding new clients and provides tips attorneys can use to show expertise and build trust in these respective spaces. The interview closes with advice to help lawyers and law firms optimally balance their marketing efforts between online and offline resources. Mark Jacobsen leads a team focused on the early stage development of products, services, and capabilities to help law firms generate new business opportunities and grow the quality and quantity of their clients. Before joining FindLaw, Mark was a pioneer in the software and Web development sectors. He is a regular speaker at industry conferences on such topics as digital marketing strategy, search, web development, project management, online learning, and interactive multimedia applications. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney and Scorpion.

Many lawyers view legal technology in terms of how it can aid them in easing their daily work load. In what ways could emergent tech be harnessed in the legal marketplace to better aid clients? In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, Ledger Labs head of operations and legal Josh Stark talks with Heidi Alexander about self-executing contracts, Bitcoin, and how blockchain technology could impact the practice of law. Josh explains that blockchain technology consists of a ledger or database and a network of computers to oversee and secure that database. He gives a brief background of the creation of Bitcoin, the first technology built on blockchain, and points out that it was designed to create a digital cash-like currency that wouldn’t require any centralized party. David addresses security concerns and illustrates how the use of public and private cryptography, as well as the economic security model of Bitcoin, provides more security than traditional credit card transactions and discourages attacks on the network. He defines what smart executing contracts are and gives an in-depth analysis of how blockchain technology could make it easier for clients to do things with fewer billable hours while utilizing basic software features. David closes the interview with his thoughts on the impact that smart executing contracts and blockchain technology could have on the legal industry. Josh Stark is head of Operations and Legal at Ledger Labs, Canada's leading blockchain technology consultancy. A lawyer by trade, Josh left a career in corporate law to work full-time in the blockchain technology space in 2015. At Ledger Labs, he helps clients develop blockchain use cases and understand the long-term implications of the technology for various industries. Josh studied law at the University of Toronto ('13) and has a B.A. from McGill University ('09). Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney and Scorpion.

It is widely understood that attorneys must be well-organized. However, many struggle to achieve a level of daily discipline that would help them achieve maximum success. How can lawyers become more productive and organized as they pursue the practice of law? In this episode of The Legal Tool Kit, host Heidi Alexander talks with Lawyerist founder and editor in chief Sam Glover about how lawyers can increase their organization and productivity. Sam explains concepts of organization and productivity, like planning ahead, meeting your deadlines, keeping appointments, and why they are essential to the successful practice of law. He then explains his approach to organization, a mindset he calls “productive laziness”, which is to take inventory of everything on your plate and take care of the most pressing issues first. Stephen encourages lawyers to use a work plan, which is figuring out what you have to do and when you have to do it, and to cultivate a daily practice of writing down your daily tasks. He analyzes David Allen’s 5 step Getting Things Done method (capture, clarify, organize, reflect, and engage) and provides suggestions on how beginners can simplify the steps. Stephen closes the interview with some of his favorite software to help you stay organized maximize your workflow. Sam Glover is a lawyer and the founder and editor in chief of Lawyerist.com, an online law practice magazine and home to the largest community of solo and small-firm lawyers on the web. On Lawyerist, Sam writes and podcasts about legal technology, law practice management, access to justice, and more. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney and Scorpion.

In order for any lawyer to be a successful advocate for their client or law firm they must become an excellent dealmaker. However, the secrets to the art of deal closing can seem incredibly elusive to even the most initiated. What are the fundamental tenets of being a good dealmaker, and how does one focus on honing these skills? In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia sits down with Cohen Gardner LLP Co-Founder Jeff B. Cohen, a former child actor best remembered for his role as Chunk in The Goonies, to discuss dealmaking in the context of the law. The conversation opens with Jeff providing insights into his experiences behind the camera as a child actor and how this unique upbringing influences his perception of entertainment dealmaking. Within these recollections he also discusses how Machiavelli’s “The Prince” aided him after his acting career ended and how these teachings inspired his book “The Dealmaker’s Ten Commandments: Ten Essential Tools for Business Forged in the Trenches of Hollywood.” Jeff provides a glimpse into his methodologies and why he thinks it’s so important for lawyers to effectively manage their time. He then provides a few of his personal commandments and best practices that any legal professional can use to become a more effective and successful dealmaker. Jeff B. Cohen co-founded Cohen Gardner LLP in 2002 and focuses on transactional representation for clients in the entertainment, media and technology verticals. His first book, “The Dealmaker's Ten Commandments: Ten Essential Tools for Business Forged in the Trenches of Hollywood” was published by the American Bar Association's imprint Ankerwycke in 2015. Jeff received his Juris Doctor from UCLA Law School with an emphasis in business law and his undergraduate degree from The University of California at Berkeley, Haas School of Business. While at UC Berkeley, Jeff served as President of the Associated Students of the University of California. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney and Scorpion.

Many lawyers today are thinking about going solo or starting their own firms. But running a law firm is like running a business, which involves much more than providing legal services. You have to think about billing and business management, when to accept and reject clients, and maintaining a calm composure under a stressful situation. What goes into planning to start your own practice, what essential items should you purchase first, and should you even go out on your own right now? In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, Heidi Alexander interviews Ben Carter, a Louisville attorney who started a solo practice after spending years at the Kentucky Legal Aid Society, about his experience and advice for others. He recommends newly solo lawyers keep overheads low, run the firm like a startup business, and spend some time in a bigger law firm first (if possible) to acquire the substantive and marketplace experience needed. Ben then discusses what lawyers would need to purchase first: a high end paper scanner, a computer, and malpractice insurance. The interview is packed with useful advice like how much money you might need to save before starting your firm and why choosing the right niche can make up for many other missteps. Tune in to hear this any many more technology, process, and life tips from a successful solo lawyer. After spending many years defending homeowners from foreclosure for the Kentucky Legal Aid Society, Louisville attorney Ben Carter decided to start a solo practice. In addition to running a solo practice, Ben co-hosts the podcast “Let’s Start a Firm,” in which they tackle topics like why an attorney might want to start their own firm, loan forgiveness, office space, office supplies, banking, trust accounting, entity selection, insurance, technology, legal research and writing, and more.

The last 10 years have seen a 75% rise in legal costs, which compares to a 20% increase for other fields. It’s estimated that there are one billion dollars worth of unrecognized legal needs in today’s market. Even when legal needs are recognized, it’s common for potential clients to see their problems as prohibitively expensive. As a solo practitioner or law firm, you might be wondering how to tap into that potential billable revenue. As it turns out, your answer could be branded networks. In this episode of Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia and Solo Practice University founder Susan Cartier Liebel discuss the benefits of being part of branded networks like Legalzoom, Rocket Lawyer, Avvo, upcounsel, LawGo, Priori Legal, and lawtrades. By leveraging network marketing resources, participating practitioners get the benefit of a large scale advertising campaign without having to make an in kind investment. In addition, some of these organizations are capable of offering low cost malpractice insurance and/or invoicing platforms to help make practice life easier. Whether you decide to join a branded network or not, the prediction is that they are here to stay. Stay tuned to hear advice on selecting a network to be part of as well as Jared’s true feelings about Peyton Manning. Susan Cartier Liebel is the founder and CEO of Solo Practice University®, the only online educational and professional networking community for lawyers and law students who want to create and grow their solo/small firm practices.

Do you charge for initial consultation in your practice? If not, you might be missing out on higher quality meetings and additional revenue. Despite this claim, most lawyers are worried that changing their fee structure will chase potential clients away from the front door. How can we, as lawyers, offer discernible value and make people actually want to pay for an initial consultation? In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, Jared Correia discusses charging for initial consultations with Sarah Poriss, a foreclosure defense lawyer in Connecticut. Sarah explains why she charges initial consultation fees, how to offer the right legal service value in these appointments, and ways lawyers can determine their rates. Let’s face it, she says, are you looking for the type of client who pays or one who doesn’t? Topics include: How fees improve the meeting quality: on-time, attentive, and serious clients The risks of charging initial consultation Gaining an edge on your competition Setting the right expectations for legal services and retainers Preparing for a fee discussion Onboarding, client intake, and follow-up Confidently setting a rate and making changes as needed Special thanks to our sponsor Amicus Attorney.

Online review sites are increasingly important for product and service consumers, but to what extent are people really taking them into consideration when selecting an attorney? If potential clients are counting stars before they call, how do lawyers take control of their online reputations? Furthermore, with limited time and marketing budgets, what should solo and small firms focus on? On this episode of The Legal Toolkit, Jared Correia interviews Jabez LeBret, co-founder of the digital marketing agency Get Noticed Get Found, about how lawyers can and should monitor their online reviews, how to respond to negative feedback, and ways to increase positive reviews where they matter. Topics include: General consumers' interest in online reviews Get stars to get calls The hierarchy of your online marketing budget Ethical responsibility of review content Who to send to Google, Yelp, and Avvo Two types of clients who leave anonymous reviews Checking your pride at the door when responding Collecting and analyzing data to determine what’s effective Jabez LeBret is the co-founder and chief marketing officer at the digital marketing agency GNGF (Get Noticed Get Found). He is co-author of “Online Law Practice Strategies,” a columnist for NBC Chicago Business, and a regular contributor to Forbes in the areas of Business and Technology. Jabez is also a sought after speaker on a number of topics including ethical online marketing, reputation management, and marketing analytics. Special thanks to our sponsor Amicus Attorney.

In order to succeed in the current economy and to ensure sustainability, law firms must constantly review and refine the way they conduct business. Although lawyers have likely heard of agile, lean, six sigma, and other technology-driven management systems, Legal Project Management (LPM) has been tailored to the practice of law specifically. So how do law firms use LPM practices to scope, plan, and manage legal work efficiently, with a cost-effective structure for clients? In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, Heidi Alexander interviews Edge International GC and LPM advisor Pam Woldow about the five steps of the project management system, how it has specifically helped law firms she works with, and how to implement LPM in your large law firm or small practice. Pam goes over the essentials; in order to be truly efficient, lawyers must communicate properly with clients, create an intricate plan, monitor work, and review. She discusses the ways technology can assist these processes and how these concepts can be scaled to a solo or small firm practice. Tune in to hear specific details about where lawyers can start implementing this today. Pam Woldow is a partner and general counsel for the global legal consulting firm Edge International. Previously, she held similar positions at Altman Weil, served as deputy general counsel of Pennsylvania and chief counsel of the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance, and directed litigation management for a public financial services company. Pam also advises law firms and corporate legal departments in Legal Project Management and is the co-author of “Legal Project Management in One Hour for Lawyers.” Special thanks to our sponsor Amicus Attorney.

Jared Correia interviews local search engine optimization industry leader Mike Ramsey about the components of an effective online marketing campaign, recent and upcoming Google algorithm changes, and specific actions lawyers can take today to improve their local search marketing. Special thanks to our sponsor Amicus Attorney.

Heidi Alexander interviews Jason Treu, former lawyer turned marketer and business coach, about building relationships, social engineering, and practical steps lawyers can take to improve their networking skills. Special thanks to our sponsor, Amicus Attorney.

Jared Correia interviews Ryan Anderson, trial attorney and founder and CEO of Filevine, a project management and collaboration tool for lawyers, about email inefficiency and the future of communication in law offices. Together they discuss how the lack of restriction to email access has become a problem for lawyers, businesses, and individuals.

How can solo and small firm lawyers modify their practices to compete in the changing legal market full of companies like LegalZoom and Shake? Heidi Alexander interviews two people who are on the technology side of offering legal services. Abe Geiger, the founder and CEO of Shake, and Bill Palin, an attorney and app developer, discuss why they decided to create the legal technology tools, how solo and small firms might use these tools to gain a competitive advantage, and which non-legal mobile apps lawyers can use to increase efficiency in their practice.

In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, Jared Correia interviews senior information technology manager Kyle Albert about what ESI is, how solo and small firms can manage e-discovery in-house, and, when outsourcing, what to expect from an e-discovery service provider. ESI is an industry term, Kyle explains, for any digital data including computer documents, emails, or even Facebook messages. Any lawyer researching or gathering electronic data is already doing e-discovery, but maybe not very well. Kyle suggests informative e-discovery blogs and videos, discusses in-house software and vendors, and recommends cost-lowering solutions for law using a service provider. Although many lawyers think that e-discovery is a big budget process that only the AMLaw 100 firms are doing, it’s actually a reality for almost every attorney today.

In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, Heidi Alexander interviews Nicole Bradick, former litigator and chief strategy officer at Curo Legal, about what it means to have a lean business, how to apply lean concepts to law firms, and where new lawyers and established law firms can start. Bradick begins by clearly explaining the lean concept; the company builds a minimum viable product, measures how it helps clients, learns and adapts to feedback, and repeats the process. Lawyers can use lean concepts, she says, by making fewer initial assumptions about client needs and adapting to what works. She discusses how law firms should maintain low overheads to adjust for shifts in the market while adopting efficient practices to increase productivity. Cloud-based technologies like practice management systems, contact relationship management systems, email platforms, research tools, and document management systems can be beneficial in streamlining practices, but Bradick urges lawyers to properly learn to use the technologies or risk creating more problems. Obviously, starting a lean law firm is easier said than done, but it will likely be successful in this changing legal market.

In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, Jared Correia interviews lawyer and legal technology expert Nicole Black about how and why lawyers adopt mobile and wearable technology, how they are using tablets, smartphones, and smart watches in their practice, the role of cloud computing, and what to watch for in the legal ethics of wearables. Black discusses how the spread of cloud computing has made mobile computing possible by reducing battery and storage constraints. From there, she says, smart watches are the lawyers’ solution to impolite interruptions and the inconvenience of situations in which phones are not allowed. Also, most people are comfortable wearing a watch already (we used to wear them before smartphones). Black believes smart watches will be the gateway to Google Glass, or something similar, as we all become more comfortable with the constant presence of technology. Tune in to learn about some amazing ways lawyers have already used wearable technology and some ethical factors to consider.