Episodes

In this episode, Alay, David, and Guy discuss: How the digitization of law is changing how we practice. What it means to digitize. Efficiency, delegation, implementation, and levels of digitization. How Guidr can help your firm compete with the self-help websites. Key Takeaways: People don’t want to talk to you until they want to talk to you. And those people have become accustomed to looking online and communicating online. That’s the new expectation. Digitization and delegation will drastic...

In this episode, Alay, AJ, and Robyn discuss: What an ideal law partner should have. Starting a firm in the middle of a pandemic. Having the will to do the work that many people do not want to do. The importance of boundaries and perspective. Key Takeaways: The pandemic forced paper-based systems to go online. This has offered more remote options for lawyers and their staff as well as clients. Giving your employees the opportunity to work remotely is an amazing benefit, and, often, they will ...

In this episode, Alay and Steve discuss: Taking selling out of client prospecting. Having a process for your sales approach. Keeping your pipeline thin but full of quality potential clients. Qualifying your potential clients and asking the right questions. Key Takeaways: Diagnose first, then prescribe. You have to understand what somebody needs before you can make the sale. The best way a meeting can end is in a win-win. The second best way is a no. Understand if your prospective client is re...

In this episode, Alay and Amy discuss: Transitioning from a trial lawyer to a mediation lawyer. Honing your message and understanding who you want to connect with. Rebranding within your own sphere of influence. Honing the language of your message in a refined way to narrow and focus on your niche. Key Takeaways: Change your message from “give me your business” to “how can I help you” and you will resonate better with other people. Use your network to grow and be referred to those who will us...

In this episode, Alay and Jennifer discuss: Starting a law firm from scratch. Running a flat fee law firm. Understanding your pricing. Building your book of business early in your career. Key Takeaways: When starting with no clients, make a list of every single person who you know who may be able to refer you a client. Then call and contact every single one you can. Fixing a problem is more expensive than preventing it. Flat fee billing creates transparency and strengthens relationships over ...

In this episode, Alay and Ida discuss: Preparing your firm for an uncertain future. What retirement means in 2022. How to properly hand over your firm with confidence. Having purpose and meaning in your retirement. Key Takeaways: It is never too soon to start (and keep) thinking about succession planning for your law firm. Longer lifespans and better medical access are changing how and when people retire. There is no single plan for everyone. Your retirement plan will most likely take longer ...

In this episode, Alay and Spojmie discuss: Spojmie’s experience with the Afghanistan refugee crisis. The continued challenges to the Afghan refugees and those left behind during the evacuation. The future of what is still to come for the Afghan refugees. Key Takeaways: The resettlement process takes years and is difficult especially in the already overloaded system. Many refugees are being resettled in smaller, rural areas which is often difficult culturally and linguistically. The Afghan ref...

In this episode, Alay and Leslee discuss: Building a book of business as a woman. Taking steps forward, even when you aren’t 100% sure. Challenges in scaling your firm. Identifying your “north star”: the law firm you want to create. Key Takeaways: Find a way to explain what you do in a way that others can easily understand. Be authentic. It may take time for you to find your groove and the message you want to portray, but be yourself. A great source of referrals can be from other law fir...

In this episode, Alay and Pamela discuss: How to streamline and spend less time on administrative tasks. Creating systems for the things that are keeping you up at night. Building a filing system. Key Takeaways: Take a look at what you are wasting your billable time on. Time is your most precious asset, see what you can streamline or delegate to get more out of that specific set of time. PIles of documents and filing that needs done around your office is a clear sign that you need help with i...

In this episode, Alay and John discuss: Challenges lawyers face when being coached. Taking the steps necessary to execute your goals and live your dream life. Figuring out your goals. Key Takeaways: You do not need to do everything alone and asking for help is not only okay, it will help you get ahead of the game. It is your mindset that gets in the way of your success, not necessarily the nuts and bolts of how to run your firm. Understanding where you are now can help to decipher where your ...

In this episode, Alay and Bruce discuss: Seeing your firm through the eyes of your clients. Identifying your best clients. Pricing your services based on the value they have to your clients, not your rate What your best clients have in common Key Takeaways: “Value” defined: what your clients can achieve because of the services you provide. Services priced by the hour are expenses. Services pricing by impact are investments. Value-based pricing, when done right, is more profitable for a firm t...

In this episode, Alay and Katie discuss: Katie’s journey to family law and law firm growth during the pandemic. Realistic hiring practices for your solo firm. Being able to turn work off when you are “off the clock.” How a strong culture and values can fuel the growth of you firm. Key Takeaways: Have dedicated one-on-one meetings with people in your network and discuss your hiring needs. Hire employees who appreciate your firm’s culture and embody its values. You need to develop your life out...

In this episode, Alay and Jayden discuss: The number one mistake law firms make with regard to taxes. How often your CPA should be meeting with you while your firm is growing Reasonable compensation and how it varies from types of entities. Leading and growing your team as a professional service provider. Key Takeaways: True tax planning accounts for the owner’s desires to understand the profit, not just the tax liabilities. Buying your office space may reduce your tax obligation, though ...

In this episode, Alay and Janice discuss: How to work with your competition for mutual benefit. Building your resources by checking your ego at the door. The need for great lawyers to specialize creates opportunities for referral relationships. Key Takeaways: You cannot be everything to everyone. Your best sources of referrals can be other attorneys that do the same thing that you do. It is okay to have people doing the same thing that you do – and this applies to all disciplines, not just la...

In this episode, Alay discusses: Why we may compromise or settle (and when we really shouldn’t). Understanding what you want for your firm and what your goals are in developing your practice. Setting your sets high. An exercise in compromises. Key Takeaways: You did not start your solo firm to compromise on the things that are important to you. It may take you a bit of time to figure out how to solve your problems, but they are solvable. You don’t need to figure out the how right now. You onl...

In this episode, Alay discusses: How and when to hire attorneys and staff. Critical mistakes people make when hiring. Best practices for hiring attorneys and staff Key Takeaways: Hire before you are doing the work of two people so you have time to search for the hire, train them, and do so without exhausting yourself. Take time every week to hire an employee – up to 5 hours per week when you are on that job search. Create your wish list – the attorneys and staff you’d love to work with Tweet...

In this episode, Alay discusses: Connecting with “why” you started your own firm. Embracing your role as the owner of your firm. Designing your ideal practice while avoiding the How Trap. Six areas to consider when designing your ideal practice. Key Takeaways: It is your firm, you do not have to follow the standard conventions that other law firms choose to follow. When you are thinking about designing your ideal practice, think about “the why” and avoid thinking about “the how.” Give yoursel...

In this episode, Alay discusses: The story of The Paradise Planner. Understanding when you last took a vacation and what your next vacation will be. The what and why of taking time off then committing to it. Tips and tricks for helping you to take that time off. Key Takeaways: The things you need to take time off are the same things that you need to run your practice most efficiently. Taking time off is better for you, your family, and your business. Taking time off doesn’t require going on v...

In this episode, Alay and Christopher discuss: Marketing as an investment. Media as a way to grow your firm (and get instant credibility). Being persistent in working with the media. The importance of building relationships with specific reporters. Key Takeaways: Other lawyers can be your best referral sources – consider the events you go to, the events you speak at, and where you are getting your best hand-to-hand marketing done. “Maybe one day” isn’t an answer. You can do it now! Stop h...

In this episode, Alay and Pavan discuss: There is strength in finding your niche (even if people say it’s too small). Building a law firm from scratch. Having a client-focused process in your firm. Hiring those who have the same passion as you. Key Takeaways: Make sure all of your networking efforts are genuine and in line with your vision and goal. Figure out who your ideal client is and understand the best way to reach them. Let your tools and software work for you. It may look complicated ...

In this episode, Alay and Saar discuss: The key to success in a personal injury law firm. Passionate law practice. Running the numbers when creating your law firm. Hiring the right person at the right time. Key Takeaways: You have to find what you are passionate about in your firm. That is where the success will come from. Your time is finite. Working on cases that are not beneficial to the firm eats up time that be used on better cases or other important activities, such as working on the bu...

In this episode, Alay and Matthew discuss: How our brains are wired (and how it relates to cognitive bias). Why cognitive bias is an important consideration for law firms Homogenous versus diversified firms. The benefits to taking the elimination of bias course. Key Takeaways: Bias is inherent to the human condition. Reframing it allows us to mitigate the negative impact of bias on our firms. Law firms needs to be particularly careful of the “like me” bias. A starting point for the “like me” ...

In this episode, Alay and Ryan discuss: Small law firms are increasingly victims of cybercrime. How ransomware and other cyber attacks can happen. Cyber insurance and how it can help. Key Takeaways: Small law firms are increasingly the victims of cybercrime, but we don’t hear about it because it’s not even news anymore. Cyberattacks happen with no warning. Most cyber attacks happen because of compromised email. 29% of firms that have a ransomware attack do not get all of their data back, even...

In this episode, Alay and Jen discuss: Designing your law firm before you start it. Making the leap and launching your law firm. The different ways in which you can run your firm. The upcoming “LAWnch: Design Your Ideal Practice” course. Key Takeaways: You can create the practice you want – you are not tied down to how anything was done in the past. To start your firm, you have to make decisions. But you can change your decision later. The “LAWnch: Design Your Ideal Practice” course goes live...