The Legal Toolkit

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How Lawyers Can Increase Their Productivity and Be More Organized May 24, 2016

Show notes

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 Attorneyand Scorpion.

The Art of the Entertainment Deal Apr 13, 2016

Show notes

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 Attorneyand Scorpion.

What You Need to Know When Starting A Law Firm Mar 24, 2016

Show notes

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.

Marketing Your Firm Through Branded Networks Feb 18, 2016

Show notes

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.

Should Lawyers Charge for Initial Consultations? Jan 14, 2016

Show notes

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 Reviews: Yelp for Help Dec 16, 2015

Show notes

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.

Legal Project Management for an Efficient and Sustainable Law Firm Nov 19, 2015

Show notes

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.

Winning Local Search Oct 22, 2015

Show notes

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.

Being Likeable and Building Relationships in the Legal Profession Sep 17, 2015

Show notes

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.

The Future of Law Firm Communication: Is Email on the Way Out? Aug 18, 2015

Show notes

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.

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