Lawyerist Podcast

Your law firm is growing. So why does your workload keep growing with it? In episode 643 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Allison Harrison, founder and owner of ALH Law Group, about the leadership changes behind growing to a team of 12. 

Allison shares why adding employees creates new responsibilities for the owner, how she recognized that she was carrying too many roles, and the retreat exercise that helped her team start redistributing the work. She explains why delegation needs regular attention as the business evolves and how developing other people has become a bigger part of her job. 

They also explore how openly embracing the firm’s LGBTQ+ identity helped clients find them, why hiring requires clear expectations about change, and what happens when a growing firm outgrows its original processes. 

If your team is getting bigger but your days are getting harder, this episode offers practical ways to rethink your responsibilities and prepare your people for the next stage of growth. 

Listen to the previous episodes on Law Firm Growth, Leadership & Building Stronger Teams. 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction
01:27 – Halloween Costumes, Candy Corn & Neighborhood Traditions
06:02 – Meet Allison Harrison
06:45 – Winning a Reisman Award for Diversity and Inclusion
07:24 – Growing to a Team of 12
08:00 – Building a Brand Around Your Identity
09:55 – Letting Clear Values Attract the Right Clients
11:20 – The Hidden Management Work Behind Law Firm Growth
12:38 – Moving from Doer to Coach
13:20 – The Exercise That Made Delegation Urgent
15:24 – Helping Your Team Grow Alongside the Firm
18:53 – Managing Constant Small Changes
19:33 – Using AI to Simplify Your Software Stack
20:24 – Hiring People Who Expect Change
21:32 – How Growth Changes Team Roles and Relationships
23:21 – Rebuilding Processes as Your Firm Expands
24:20 – NAMWOLF Certification & the Next Growth Opportunity
25:05 – Closing Thoughts 

Running a law firm can leave very little time to improve it. Client work takes priority, operational problems pile up, and business planning keeps getting postponed. In episode 642 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Lawyerist Business Strategist Richard Carr about finding a manageable starting point when everything feels urgent. 

Richard shares why he often begins with a firm owner’s biggest frustration. By identifying where a process breaks down and making a small adjustment, lawyers can start creating the time they need to address larger problems. He walks through how this approach helped one overwhelmed owner get a clearer picture of her caseload and make space for business improvements. 

Together, they explore how to connect daily work with long-term goals, protect time for implementation, and improve workflows through testing and automation. They also discuss why waiting for a perfect plan can become its own obstacle. 

For lawyers caught between practicing law and managing a business, this episode offers concrete ways to reduce the daily pressure and make steady progress on the firm itself. 

Listen to the previous episodes on Law Firm Strategy and Sustainable Growth. 

Links from the episode: 

https://smith.ai/ 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction
00:37 – Turning Conference Ideas into Real Work
02:15 – Giving AI the Context It Needs
06:09 – Smith.ai Sponsor Conversation: Improving Client Intake
09:53 – Qualifying Leads and Creating Clear Next Steps
13:33 – Asking Better Intake and Budget Questions
18:37 – Meet Richard Carr
19:12 – The Two Jobs Every Small Firm Owner Has
20:42 – Connecting Law Firm Goals with Everyday Decisions
22:06 – Getting Past the Need for a Perfect Plan
23:19 – Defining What You Want Your Firm to Support
24:51 – Working Backward from Long-Term Goals
26:17 – Small Process Changes That Create More Time
28:48 – Making Room to Focus on the Bigger Picture
31:20 – Finding the Cause of Your Biggest Frustration
34:26 – Making Progress Together at LabCon 

AI has made it easier for lawyers to build their own software. It has also made it easier to underestimate what comes next. In episode 641 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Nick Coleman, founder and CEO of LexMed, about when law firms should build their own AI tools and when buying an existing platform makes more sense. 

Nick shares how frustrations in his Social Security disability practice led him to create tools that connect medical evidence with complex legal requirements. They explore how AI can make more thorough advocacy possible when time and case economics limit what lawyers can realistically do. 

The conversation also examines the responsibilities behind custom software, including security, maintenance, regulatory updates, and ongoing support. Nick explains why customer feedback and shared expertise remain valuable even when code is easier to create. For lawyers considering a DIY solution, this episode offers a practical look at the work behind a tool they can trust. 

Listen to the previous episodes on Legal AI and Smarter Law Firm Technology Decisions 

Links from the episode: 

https://lexmed.ai 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction
01:00 – Why You Shouldn’t Change Speed Going Uphill
04:35 – Meet Nick Coleman
05:35 – Building AI Around Real Practice Problems
07:20 – Using AI to Find What Lawyers Miss
09:50 – When Case Economics Limit Client Advocacy
13:05 – Giving Every Client the Attention They Deserve
14:05 – Turning an Internal Tool into a Business
16:15 – Connecting Medical Evidence to Legal Standards
18:35 – When to Build and When to Buy
20:30 – Why a Working Prototype Is Just the Beginning
23:35 – The Hidden Costs of DIY Legal Tech
25:30 – What Software Vendors Offer Beyond Code
28:20 – Building Better AI Through Customer Feedback
31:00 – Learning to Listen as a Founder
32:30 – Is SaaS Really Dead?
33:20 – Closing Thoughts 

Your firm has AI tools. Your team has questions. In episode 640 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Ben Schorr about helping lawyers and staff get comfortable using AI through practical, collaborative workshops called prompt-a-thons. 

Ben shares what happens when people have time to work through common office tasks with AI, including prioritizing email, preparing reports, and gathering client contact information. As participants improve their prompts and compare ideas, they begin connecting what they are learning to problems they already face at work. 

They explore how to organize a prompt-a-thon, why gathering people in the same room can make a difference, and how to keep the experience useful without making it a competition. The conversation also examines how colleagues can become an ongoing source of support as teams discover new ways to use AI. 

If your team understands the possibilities but hesitates to try the tools, this episode offers a manageable way to move from watching demonstrations to building practical skills. 

Listen to the previous episodes on AI Adoption and Team Confidence. 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction 

00:32 – How Practice Builds AI Confidence 

04:11 – Meet Ben Schorr
05:56 – What a Prompt-a-thon Actually Is
07:30 – Choosing Everyday Tasks for AI Practice
09:36 – Why AI Training Needs a Practice Session
12:37 – Building a Community Around AI Use
14:13 – Getting Your Inbox Under Control with Copilot
15:25 – Refining Prompts for More Useful Results
18:18 – Moving from Prompts to Scheduled Tasks and Agents
19:44 – Connecting AI to Your Firm’s Information
22:00 – Why Documented Procedures Make AI More Useful
25:55 – Using AI to Simplify Monthly Reporting
27:59 – Extracting Client Contact Information from Email
31:35 – In Person, Hybrid, or RemotPrompt-a-thonons
37:56 – Measuring Success Through Learning and Confidence
39:56 – How to RuPrompt-a-thonthon in Your Firm
41:52 – Closing Thoughts 

AI can create a law firm website in minutes. Building a useful marketing strategy takes more thought. In episode 639 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with legal marketing consultant Karin Conroy about why easier content creation is leaving so many lawyers overwhelmed and what to do before asking AI for another post. 

Karin shares a five-step approach to putting your marketing in order: evaluate your current state, set your strategy, repair the foundation, map your channels, and build a content engine. She explains how understanding your ideal clients and the ways they already find you can help you decide where AI belongs. 

Together, they explore why viral posts can generate attention without advancing your business goals, how a polished website can still miss the mark, and why your website, intake process, and referral systems need to support whatever you publish. They also discuss how online marketing and personal relationships can work together to make your firm more memorable. 

If every new AI tool makes you feel further behind, this episode offers a practical way to identify what needs attention first and move forward with a clearer plan. 

Listen to the previous episodes of our AI, Branding & Law Firm Marketing. 

Links from the episode: 

https://conroycreativecounsel.com/ 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction 

01:06 – Meet Karin Conroy and the AI Website Question 

04:39 – Why Law Firms Skip the Marketing Fundamentals 

06:28 – Why AI Creates More Marketing Overwhelm 

11:33 – Putting Strategy Before Marketing Tactics 

13:56 – Defining Your Strategy and Ideal Client 

14:52 – Why Going Viral Doesn’t Mean Getting Clients 

16:34 – Why Copying Competitors’ Marketing Doesn’t Work 

18:32 – Making Sure Your Website Can Support Your Marketing 

21:02 – Choosing Channels Based on How Clients Find You 

22:40 – Repairing Your Marketing Foundation Before Adding AI 

24:25 – When Your Law Firm Website Needs a Refresh 

29:42 – How Website Design Shapes Client Trust 

32:58 – Standing Out When Everyone Uses AI 

35:22 – Five Steps to Get Your Marketing on Track 

36:32 – Connecting Your Online and Offline Marketing 

38:09 – Why Human Relationships Still Drive Growth 

39:44 – Closing Thoughts 

Running two practice areas can feel like running two law firms under one roof. In episode 638 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Megan Burns, managing partner at Mirador Law, about the firm’s decision to focus entirely on plaintiff personal injury after years of also handling criminal defense. 

After 20 years as a criminal defense lawyer, Megan knew her trial skills could carry over. The business side required its own transition. She explains how different fee structures, marketing needs, and staffing demands led her and her partner to rethink how the firm operated. They started with a partner retreat to agree on a long term vision, then mapped out the steps needed to make it real. 

Together, they discuss how to narrow a practice, support the people affected by the change, and build a firm around a shared direction. If your firm handles several practice areas and you are wondering where to focus, this episode offers a practical place to start. 

Listen to the previous episodes of our Law Firm Strategy & Leading Change. 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction
00:47 – Why Law Firm Growth Takes a Process
03:19 – Meet Megan Burns
03:53 – From Public Defender to Personal Injury Lawyer
05:41 – How Trial Skills Transfer Between Practice Areas
07:49 – Changing Practice Areas Changes the Business Model
09:11 – Flat Fees, Contingency Fees, and Financial Risk
11:03 – When Two Practice Areas Became Too Much
11:45 – Setting a New Vision at a Partner Retreat
13:13 – Why Two Practice Areas Can Feel Like Two Firms
15:27 – Getting Law Partners on the Same Page
18:00 – Turning the Vision Into a Plan for the Team
20:01 – How Leaders Set the Tone for Change
22:27 – Building on a 50 Year Firm Legacy
24:20 – Competing as a Small Personal Injury Firm
26:11 – Closing Thoughts 

Most lawyers know relationships lead to referrals. The challenge is keeping those relationships alive when everything else gets busy. In this episode of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Jay Ruane about analog marketing and the simple systems that make staying connected part of running a firm. 

Jay explains why offline marketing often falls apart after the first month and how a repeatable approach can help lawyers follow through. They explore using AI to identify forgotten connections in your inbox, making time for short coffee meetings, and becoming the person others trust to make a useful introduction. 

The conversation also covers networking as an introvert, asking about someone else’s ideal client, and choosing thoughtful gifts that people actually want to keep. Jay shares why his firm sends clients blankets without its logo and why a manageable network of 50 referral partners can support a successful practice. 

If your marketing plan depends on remembering to reach out when things slow down, this episode offers a more practical way to build relationships, generate referrals, and keep showing up. 

Listen to the previous episodes of our Referral Marketing, Relationship Building & Law Firm Growth. 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction 

00:59 – Stephanie’s Blog and the Lawyerist Community 

03:02 – Meet Jay Ruane 

03:57 – Why Relationship Marketing Needs a System 

07:17 – Keeping Your Systems Simple 

08:46 – Why Analog Marketing Still Works 

11:01 – Using AI to Rediscover Referral Connections 

12:07 – Building a Network by Connecting Others 

14:13 – Networking as an Introvert 

17:19 – Preparing for Better Conversations 

19:31 – Talking Business Without Forcing a Pitch 

20:32 – Asking for Introductions 

21:43 – Moving Beyond a Scarcity Mindset 

22:41 – Thoughtful Gifts vs. Branded Merchandise 

26:16 – Conference Giveaways People Actually Want 

27:11 – Making a Book a Personal Gift 

28:31 – Building a Repeatable Marketing Routine 

29:49 – Why 50 Referral Partners Can Be Enough 

30:46 – Closing Thoughts 

Law firms spend enormous amounts of time and money winning new clients, then often overlook the relationships they have already built. In episode 636 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with EJ Stern and Katherine Wilson about how intentional client nurturing can lead to stronger relationships, repeat business, and more referrals. 

EJ and Katherine explain why clients can quietly disappear when firms stop staying connected, why asking for feedback can strengthen rather than threaten a relationship, and how lawyers can move beyond being the person clients call with one legal problem to becoming a trusted advisor they call about everything else. 

They also share practical ways to stay top of mind, from LinkedIn and personal check-ins to thoughtful gifts, memorable experiences, and small gestures that show you actually know the person behind the matter. As AI-generated communication becomes easier to produce, authentic human connection may become even more valuable. 

If your firm is constantly focused on finding the next client, this conversation is a reminder that some of your best growth opportunities may already know, like, and trust you. 

Listen to the previous episodes of our Client Retention, Referral Growth & Relationship Building. 

Links from the episode: 

https://smith.ai/ 

8am Kaleidoscope: https://www.8am.com/events/kaleidoscope/ 

Fractional Law Firm CMO 

Fractional Law Firm CMO on LinkedIn 

EJ Stern on LinkedIn 

Katherine Wilson on LinkedIn 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

 00:00 – Introduction 

01:16 – Getting More From Conferences 

03:02 – AI in Law Firms 

06:39 – AI for Client Intake 

08:15 – Intake Is a Sales Funnel 

11:19 – Fixing Intake Leaks 

13:22 – AI for Sales and Intake 

14:53 – Meet EJ Stern & Katherine Wilson 

15:36 – Why Client Retention Gets Overlooked 

16:19 – Turning Clients Into Referrals 

17:47 – Why Lawyers Avoid Feedback 

21:01 – Why Client Experience Matters 

21:54 – Becoming a Trusted Advisor 

22:54 – How to Ask for Client Feedback 

24:33 – Staying Top of Mind 

25:27 – Building Client Loyalty 

26:50 – Past Clients and Referral Sources 

28:41 – Creative Client Gifts 

32:22 – Human Connection in the Age of AI 

34:50 – Invest in Existing Clients 

35:21 – Building Long-Term Client Relationships 

36:11 – Marketing Is Like the Gym 

37:13 – LinkedIn and Staying Top of Mind 

38:00 – Keep Repeating Your Message 

38:21 – Closing Thoughts 

Law firms know change is coming. Knowing what to do about it is harder. In this episode of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Debbie Foster about leading a law firm forward as technology, client expectations, and the business of law evolve. 

Debbie explains why strategy often gets pushed aside for urgent client work and day-to-day demands. Together, they explore why firms struggle to move beyond “we’ve always done it this way,” how consensus can stall progress, and why great ideas mean little without execution and team buy-in. 

They also examine how AI is raising the stakes for law firm leaders. Waiting for certainty is not a strategy. Stephanie and Debbie share practical ways to protect time for strategic thinking, challenge assumptions, build buy-in, and help teams adapt to change. 

If your firm keeps talking about what needs to change but struggles to make it happen, this episode will help you move from ideas to action. 

Listen to the previous episodes of our Law Firm Leadership Series. 

Links from the episode: 

https://posh.com/lawyerist/ 

https://lawyerist.com/scorecard/ 

https://beanextlevelleader.com/ 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read Be a Next Level Leader yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction 

01:47 – The New Small Firm Scorecard™ 

03:23 – Making Law Firm Progress Easier to Measure 

06:38 – AI & Virtual Receptionists 

08:08 – AI vs. Automation: What’s the Difference? 

09:03 – Using AI to Enhance the Client Experience 

12:03 – AI for Sentiment Analysis & Quality Assurance 

13:04 – Keeping Humans in Control of AI 

14:56 – Leading Your Law Firm Forward 

15:24 – Why Law Firm Strategy Gets Pushed Aside 

16:54 – AI Is Changing the Game for Law Firms 

18:35 – Law Firms Are Playing 3D Chess 

19:30 – Why Strategic Thinking Needs Protected Time 

20:40 – Looking Beyond the Day-to-Day 

22:47 – Moving Past “We’ve Always Done It This Way” 

24:02 – Why Leading Through Change Is So Hard 

24:34 – Great Ideas Aren’t the Problem. Execution Is. 

26:58 – The Business Case for Law Firm Strategy 

28:39 – Creating Believers Inside Your Law Firm 

31:09 – Building a Culture That Thinks Ahead 

32:28 – Why Leaders Will Build the Next Era of Law Firms 

Law firm leaders are often so busy putting out fires that they never get the chance to prevent the next one. In episode 634 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Debbie Foster about leading operations, the third cornerstone from their book, Be a Next Level Leader (beanextlevelleader.com). 

Debbie and Stephanie explore what it means to shift from being the “hero” who solves every problem to the architect who builds systems that help the firm run better. They break down how leaders can help teams prioritize urgent versus important work, clarify decision-making authority, and develop the judgment to make better decisions without constantly escalating them. 

They also explain why healthy firms surface problems early instead of hiding mistakes, how solving root causes can prevent recurring operational headaches, and why some law firm meetings cost far more than the decisions being made inside them. 

If your days feel like an endless cycle of interruptions, emergencies, and meetings about the same problems, this episode offers practical ways to build systems that create more clarity, accountability, and consistency across your firm. 

This week's homework: head to beanextlevelleader.com/resources for a free meeting audit calculator to see what your recurring meetings are really costing your firm. 

Listen to our previous episodes on Law Firm Leadership, Systems & Stronger Teams 

Links from the episode: 
Kaleidoscope Conference, September 22-24 in Las Vegas: https://www.8am.com/events/kaleidoscope/ use code “Lawyerist26”  
 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram!  

For more on leading operations, check out Be a Next Level Leader at beanextlevelleader.com. Looking for help beyond the book? 

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction 

00:37 – Lawyerist Heads to Kaleidoscope in Las Vegas 

03:23 – What Law Firms Can Learn from the Savannah Bananas 

05:01 – Why Ridiculous Ideas Can Lead to Better Solutions 

07:20 – The Third Cornerstone of Law Firm Leadership 

07:44 – Leading Operations: Turning Ideas into Systems 

09:29 – Stop Being the Hero and Start Being the Architect 

11:01 – Why Nonbillable Work Can Be Your Most Valuable Work 

11:35 – Building Better Systems One Problem at a Time 

12:32 – Urgent vs. Important: Helping Your Team Prioritize 

13:13 – Why Urgent Work Keeps Taking Over 

15:07 – Teach Your Team to Think Without Rescuing Them 

15:54 – Priorities, Trade-Offs & Better Judgment 

16:45 – Who Actually Gets to Make the Decision? 

19:18 – Why Law Firms Struggle with the Fear of Being Wrong 

21:02 – Create a Culture Where Problems Surface Early 

23:24 – Stop Fixing Symptoms and Find the Root Cause 

25:10 – Audit Your Law Firm Meetings 

25:50 – The $7,000 Meeting Problem 

27:02 – Death by Meeting vs. Not Meeting Enough 

28:17 – How to Run Meetings That Actually Accomplish Something 

29:27 – Stop the Law Firm Rumor Mill 

30:25 – This Week’s Leadership Homework