A Different Practice

Today we’re diving into something many of us as lawyers struggle with: perfectionism. 

Striving towards the highest standard has served a lot of us well. There are positives to perfectionism that make many of us good at our jobs and have gotten us to where we are. As the years have gone by, however, and I’ve seen how much perfectionism robs me of energy, truly celebrating wins, and keeping a healthy perspective, I’ve looked for ways to make a change. In this episode, I share the five tactical ways I’ve loosened the grip of perfectionism.

Listen now.

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Join my conversation today with one of the most approachable, kind people in our profession, Justice Melissa Hart of the Colorado Supreme Court. As you’ll hear her talk about, at her core, she is a problem solver. She approaches issues with thoughtfulness, empathy, and an undying commitment to making things better. We talk about bridging the justice gap, the role that every member of the profession plays in solving it, and why providing affordable, accessible legal services through for-profit firms is public interest work.

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The question I am asked most often about providing predictable, flat-fee pricing in my law firm is "How do you deal with the variables?" It’s a fair question because every case that walks through the door is going to have something unique about it. Humans are humans after all. But accounting for variables when it comes to predictable pricing isn’t as difficult as you might think, as long as you’re willing to put in the work to identify them.

In this episode, we’ll cover three ways to handle variables with flat-fee pricing to ensure you are paid for the work you do - whatever may come up.

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Today I’m talking with one of my favorite people. Truly. When Jess and I first started putting together the episodes for this podcast, I immediately knew who I wanted the first guest to be. Ryann Peyton is the Director of the Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program (CAMP) and Legal Entrepreneurs for Justice (LEJ), which are both lawyer professional development programs of the Colorado Supreme Court.

Ryann is an introvert and as they mention in our conversation, an “accidental lawyer”. Ryann has been a lighthouse for me and many others, flashing their light to remind us to show up as we are, not as the profession wants us to be. That’s why I’m so glad we’re having this conversation about the importance of authenticity in the profession and how to be in alignment with our integrity.

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Oftentimes, law school gives us our first real taste of the law. Not the law of tv dramas or best-selling novels, but the law of stare decisis and nuanced, technical arguments that were drawn out of page after page of court opinions. In my experience, there are several things law schools do well. They teach us to be students of the law and, of course, to think like a lawyer among others.

As much as I enjoyed law school, leaving the confines of the classroom and stepping out into the real world left me feeling a bit unprepared. There were lessons I had to learn in real time because they were either not taught in law school or the approach was limited.

In this episode, I reveal the five lessons I wish I learned in law school. Some of them you might agree with. Some might surprise you.

Listen now.

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Don’t you love when life takes you on an unexpected journey? In 2015, I attended a committee meeting of the women’s bar association here in Colorado. Little did I know, it would be the first step on the path to this podcast. In this inaugural episode, I’m discussing the journey that got me where I am today. I cover how the traditional archetype of a lawyer doesn't serve most of us, the exact moment I chose to build a different type of law practice, and the lessons I had to learn (and unlearn) along the way.

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How do I build a law practice that doesn’t lead to burnout? How do I break free of the traditional, one-size-fits-all idea of being a lawyer? How do I create a practice that’s creative, innovative, fulfilling, and profitable?

If you’re ready to break free of the legal profession’s antiquated approach and optimize your law practice for growth and enjoyment, this podcast is for you.

The A Different Practice Podcast is a live workshop-style business and wellbeing podcast for solo and small firm lawyers with actionable, practical tips that will help you personally define success and build a practice you love.

Hosts Jessica Bednarz and Lauren Lester bring you business strategies, well-being tips, and inspirational stories that will help you design your dream law firm. Jess and Lauren share tangible, practical advice they’ve used to build and support law firms that take a different approach, including their own. They’re sharing everything that’s helped them navigate life as a lawyer who’s created a practice optimized for growth and enjoyment.

The movement of lawyers building A Different Practice is growing every day. Now it’s your turn to hear from the experts, get inspired, and build the law firm of your dreams.

Subscribe now!