Lawyers Gone Ethical

Latest Episodes:

Bringing Interns to the Team with Erik Pelton [LGE 114] May 26, 2020

Show notes

We typically think of team-building as bringing on full-time or infinite-duration members, but this mindset overlooks a great source of shorter-term talent. Law student interns can be great additions to your solo or small practice, and they give you an opportunity to streamline your processes while you give back. In this episode, Megan sits down with Erik Pelton, trademark attorney in Falls Church, Virginia, who shares his insights on hiring law student interns for his boutique practice. They talk benefits for both law firm and intern, and how to go about getting started hiring interns.

Guest Info:

Erik Pelton's Website

Erik's Book - Building a Bold Brand

Erik on LinkedIn

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Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

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This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matters, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Reigniting Productivity in COVID-19 [LGE 113] May 19, 2020

Show notes

Even the United States Supreme Court has had to adapt to working remotely during COVID-19. Still, long-term lockdown (plus further uncertainty with kids ending school and some businesses reopening) can really suck the productivity out of us. In this episode, Megan explores some tips for getting back to business during these uncertain times. Highlights include:

- Changing up the routine

- Revisiting your early quarantine plans

- Checking out available resources

- Grasping a realistic view of your firm's current situation

- Virtual conferences

- Getting organized

- Planning for the future

Resources Mentioned:

The Flush Heard Around the World

Lawyer Forward Virtual Conference

Rocket Matter's Virtual Conference

Thanks for listening!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources:

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Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com

New Ways of Lawyering: Subscriptions and New Business Models with Jon Tobin [LGE 112] May 12, 2020

Show notes

The king of subscription legal service, Jon Tobin, sat down with Megan in the midst of COVID-19 to talk about how lawyers can evolve in the way they offer legal services. Subscriptions are of course a major way we can change our offerings, and Jon has a lot to say about how it works, why it works, and how the ethics rules impact but do not stymie the offering.

Guest Info:

Jon Tobin's Website

Jon Tobin on Twitter

Thanks for listening!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources:

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Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com

The Ethics of Virtual Consultations [LGE 111] May 05, 2020

Show notes

Stemming from her popular post on Attorney at Work, Megan tackles the ethical considerations for attorneys handling consultations, particularly initial consultations, virtually. Highlights include:

- Ensuring video and phone communications are confidential

- Careful sharing of client confidential documents

- Conflicts checks

- Terms of your consultations, and what clients can expect

Resources Mentioned:

Attorney at Work Article

Thanks for listening!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources:

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Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com

Impending Judicial Logjam and How Lawyers, Courts, and A2J Will Be Impacted with John Grant [LGE 110] Apr 28, 2020

Show notes

Megan is joined by John Grant, who lends his systems background to lawyers looking to streamline their law practices with better processes and procedures. In this episode, he and Megan explore the impending massive backlog of cases in the justice system, what lawyers and courts will face when the country reopens after coronavirus, and what lawyers will need to do to prepare to serve clients in a post-COVID-19 world.

Guest Info:

John Grant's Website

Thanks for listening!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources:

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Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com

Crisis Marketing During COVID-19 with Ollie Lash [LGE 109] Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

Let's talk marketing -- the usual and the highly unusual in a time of worldwide crisis. Ollie Lash-Williams has a background in public relations, and he joins Megan to discuss the enormous worldwide crisis of the day, coronavirus.

Guest Info:

Ollie Lash-Williams on Twitter

Thanks for listening!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources:

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Facebook

Website

Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com

Rural Business Development and Service with Chris White [LGE 108] Apr 14, 2020

Show notes

Building a rural law practice in 2020 is much different than it would have been 20 years ago. Chris White, the Managing Partner of White Law Office in rural Ohio, knows a thing or two about it. Turns out that rural practice building has its unique challenges, but excellent customer service is a key component. In this episode, Megan and Chris also touch on how the coronavirus is impacting business development for all law firms, rural and urban.

Guest Info:

Chris's Website

White Law Office on Facebook

Chris White on Twitter

Resources Mentioned:

LGE 99 - Disappearance of Rural Lawyers with Mark Palmer

LGE 65 - Four Seasons Customer Service for Lawyers with John Strohmeyer

Thanks for listening!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources:

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Website

Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com

Work From Home Fails and Tips for Doing It Right [LGE 107] Apr 07, 2020

Show notes

Senator Tammy Duckworth tweeted that she spoke to her child while working from home unmuted on a call to the Democratic Caucus. If the Illinois Senator can reveal some authenticity about the challenges from working from home, why don't we all drop the act and get real? In this episode, Megan shares some of her favorite work from home fails, both from online and her real life.

Megan also shares her five tips from her monthly newsletter (sign up here) for making working from home a success - especially from an ethics viewpoint.

- Be accessible

- Get on email update lists

- Watch what you're showing on video

- Try to keep your habits

- Keep sane

Thanks for listening!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources:

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Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com

Lawyers Navigating Coronavirus: It Is Going to Be Okay with Mike Whelan [LGE 106] Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

The coronavirus has thrown how lawyers work into absolute disarray. Brick and mortar lawyers with onsite servers are lost; even remote lawyers are struggling as families are home and routines are thrown off. In this episode, Megan and her guest Mike Whelan talk disasters, law practice, and why despite today's craziness, the truth is, it really is going to be okay.

Mike shares his personal stories of crisis (including medical issues, a hurricane, and a house fire) and how he has come through them all. He shares with our audience advice for staying sane and gaining perspective.

Resources Mentioned:

Mike's Book: Lawyer Forward

Lawyer Forward Facebook Group

Research Paper: What Makes Lawyers Happy?

Guest Info:

Mike Whelan on Twitter

Thanks for listening!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources:

Twitter

Facebook

Website

Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com

How to Start Your Solo Practice and Scale it at the Right Time with Davis Nguyen [LGE 105] Mar 24, 2020

Show notes

Are you interested in learning how to start your own solo practice? Your driving fear may be "I'm not going to have any clients." When a lawyer sets out on their own, the fear of having no clients is real. "If you build it, they will come," does not necessarily work in law practice. But Davis Nguyen has some ideas on what three things every law practice needs to bring in those initial clients. Then, once your solo firm is growing at a healthy pace, at some point your workload will exceed your capacity as a solo. Davis shares with us strategies for scaling once that point is reached.

Resources Mentioned:

Lawyers Gone Ethical Episode 82 - One Year of Virtual Assistance

Guest Info:

Davis Nguyen's company - My Consulting Offer

Davis's Website

Davis on LinkedIn

Thanks for listening!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources:

Twitter

Facebook

Website