In episode 595 of the Lawyerist Podcast, we’re revisiting Stephanie’s conversation with Lawyerist financial coach Bernadette L. Harris about the financial KPIs every law firm owner should understand as a new year begins. We’re bringing this episode back because it’s especially timely for firms setting their strategy, goals, and financial benchmarks for the year ahead. It’s important to continue finding a clear, practical approach to understanding the numbers that drive a healthy firm. 

Unlock a clearer view of your law firm's financial health in the latest Lawyerist Podcast. Join host Stephanie Everett as she dives into the essential key performance indicators (KPIs) that can transform how you understand your practice, guided by the expert insights of Bernadette Harris, Lawyerist Lab's finance coach. 

You'll gain practical knowledge about five crucial areas that directly impact your firm's success. Understand your net profit margin like never before – not just the surface numbers, but the true profitability that informs your strategic decisions. Explore utilization rate and discover how to optimize your team's time for maximum productivity. Learn the critical importance of your realization rate and practical steps to ensure you're capturing the revenue you've earned. See how mastering AR aging can directly impact your cash flow and create financial stability. Plus, uncover the strategic advantage of understanding your revenue by practice area, empowering you to make smarter choices about your firm's financial future. 

For straightforward, actionable insights into these vital financial indicators – the kind that can immediately help you manage your law firm more effectively – tune in to hear Bernadette Harris share her expertise. 

Listen to our other episode with Bernadette Harris: 

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: 

00:00 Why We’re Remastering This Episode for the New Year
02:55 Law Firm KPIs and Financial Health
05:21 Net Profit Margin for Law Firms
09:38 Utilization Rate and Team Capacity
14:35 Realization Rate and Getting Paid
20:05 Accounts Receivable and Cash Flow
24:19 Revenue by Practice Area
27:16 Using Financial Metrics to Set Strategy 

As the year comes to a close, Stephanie Everett and Zack Glaser look back at the Lawyerist Podcast episodes that stood out most to them in episode 594 of the Lawyerist Podcast. From practical AI workflows and ethical guidance to mental health, communication, and leadership, this episode highlights the conversations that sparked new thinking and delivered real value. 

Stephanie and Zack revisit standout moments, share why certain episodes resonated, and reflect on the themes that shaped the year—while inviting listeners to share which episodes made the biggest impact and what topics they’d like to hear more about in the year ahead. 

Listen to some of the episodes highlighted this year: 

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 & Year-End Reflection 

01:35 – Why These Episodes Stood Out 

01:56 – AI Tools and Practical Tech Takeaways 

02:59 – Building Community and Adult Friendships 

04:28 – Mental Health First Aid for Lawyers 

07:06 – Ethics, Flat Fees, and Changing Scope 

09:14 – Voice, Presence, and Communication Skills 

11:46 – Becoming an AI-Driven Leader 

14:36 – Rethinking Growth in the Age of AI 

18:00 – Trust Accounting and Compliance Essentials 

20:03 – Listener Feedback & Looking Ahead 

21:07 – Closing Thoughts and Thanks 

Not all clients are created equal—and some quietly drain your firm’s time, energy, and profits. In episode 593 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Affinity Consulting’s Jeff Krause about the hidden cost of bad clients and how law firms can use data to make better decisions about who they serve. 

Jeff breaks down his Moneyball-inspired profit formula to show how client quality impacts leads, conversion rates, revenue, and margins. They explore why discount-seeking clients create compounding damage, how setting clearer expectations can improve client behavior, and when it makes sense to let certain clients walk away. A closer look at the tension between profitability and access to justice, and how intentional business models can support both. 

Listen to our previous episodes about Client Experience & Law Firm Profitability: 

Episode #384 – Delivering Bad News to Clients, with Marjorie Aaron — Apple | Spotify | LTN 

Episode #462: Designing an Empathetic Client Experience, with Kirk Simoneau — Apple | Spotify | LTN 

Episode #474: Moneyball for Lawyers, with Jeff Krause — Apple | Spotify | LTN 

Episode #560 – Stop Doing Everything Yourself! Unlock Your Law Firm’s True Potential, with Leticia DeSuze — Apple | Spotify | LTN 

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 

05:12 – Meet Jeff Krause 

06:51 – What “Moneyball for Lawyers” Really Means 

09:08 – The Profit Formula That Drives Firm Growth 

12:46 – How Bad Clients Damage the Numbers 

15:30 – The Compounding Cost of Discounts 

18:21 – Raising Rates vs. Chasing More Clients 

19:45 – Can You Improve Mid-Tier Clients? 

21:58 – Profitability vs. Access to Justice 

24:19 – Building Intentional Service Models 

26:48 – Trusting Your Data—and Your Gut 

27:43 – One Step Firms Should Take Right Now 

28:23 – Closing Thoughts 

Episode 592 of the Lawyerist Podcast shows how strengthening your leadership can become the most reliable lever for firm growth. Stephanie Everett and service expert William O’Neal break down the communication habits, value alignment, and client-experience systems that help teams build trust faster, reduce friction, and perform at a higher level. 

William shares his Five Essentials of Leadership, unpacking why rapport drives efficiency, how consistent service builds loyalty, and what it takes to design a client journey your team can deliver every single day. They also explore the hidden costs of poor communication, the power of service recovery, and practical ways leaders can create more stability for both clients and staff. 

Links from this episode: 

https://www.williamoneal.com/ 

Listen to our previous episodes about Client Experience & Relationships.  

#462: Designing an Empathetic Client Experience, with Kirk Simoneau Apple | Spotify | LTN  

#347: How a Client Happiness Coordinator Increased My Firm Referrals & Reviews, with Ryan McKeen & Brittany Green Apple | Spotify | LTN  

#338: Reframing Your Client Experience, with Spencer Keys Apple | Spotify | LTN  

#271: Client‑Centered Law Firms, with Jack Newton Apple | Spotify | LTN  

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 – Intro 

05:12 – Meet William O’Neal 

06:15 – Leading with Joy 

07:51 – Five Essentials of Leadership 

09:01 – Heart for Service 

12:41 – Knowing Your Value 

14:07 – What Clients Want 

16:35 – Building Rapport & Trust 

18:55 – Culture & Consistency 

20:30 – Empathy in Client Experience 

22:10 – Lessons from Chick-fil-A 

24:09 – Service Recovery 

25:31 – Feedback & Improvement 

27:36 – Adapting to Change 

29:29 – Small Acts, Big Trust 

30:18 – Learn More + Closing 

Episode 591 of the Lawyerist Podcast explores one of the most urgent questions facing law firms today: how do you stay findable when Google and AI are rewriting the rules of search? SEO expert Cyrus Shepard explains how zero-click search, AI-generated answers, and new “experience” signals are transforming the way law firms must think about content, visibility, and online authority. 

Cyrus and Stephanie discuss why informational blog posts no longer drive the traffic they once did, how to structure content so LLMs can “read” and reference it, and why brand signals now carry more weight than keywords. They also cover how to evaluate SEO vendors, what metrics matter in an AI-first world, and simple steps lawyers can take to establish trust and expertise online. 

Links from the episode: 

lawyerist.com/scorecard 

Zyppy.com 

Listen to our previous episodes about Practical AI for Law.  

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 – Intro & Scorecard
03:53 – Meet Cyrus Shepard
05:12 – How AI Is Changing Search
06:00 – Zero-Click & AI Overviews
07:26 – Why Old Content Tactics Fail
08:57 – Shifting Toward Brand Authority
10:09 – Writing Content LLMs Can Read
11:33 – Showing Experience with E-E-A-T
14:23 – Reddit, YouTube & Source Signals
15:51 – Where New Firms Should Start
17:18 – Brand Building as SEO Strategy
18:27 – Vetting SEO Agencies Today
20:40 – Metrics That Actually Matter
22:03 – Real-World Visibility Wins
22:21 – Wrap-Up & Where to Find Cyrus 

In episode 590 of Lawyerist Podcast, learn how practical, everyday AI can help lawyers work smarter—not harder. Zack Glaser sits down with Graydon Trusler, a practical AI specialist and longtime law-firm operations pro, to explore how attorneys can use “productive laziness” to eliminate repetitive tasks, streamline case management, and reclaim valuable time. Graydon shares real examples from his family law firm, including how custom AI assistants help review discovery, prep hearings, analyze documents, and even support lawyers in the courtroom. Together, they break down privacy concerns, adoption hurdles, and simple ways to start using AI without getting overwhelmed.

Discover why AI isn’t a distant future—it’s a powerful tool lawyers can start using today to improve workflows, reduce stress, and deliver better results for clients. 

 Links from the episode:  

LexpertAI 

 Listen to our previous episodes about Practical AI & Law Firm Efficiency:  

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 

08:45 – Meet Graydon 

11:10 – Practical AI in Law Firms 

16:40 – Myths, Fears & Privacy 

19:00 – Real AI Workflows 

23:00 – Productive Laziness 

31:00 – AI in the Courtroom 

34:45 – Faster Discovery & SOPs 

38:50 – Flat Fees & the Future 

45:13 – Closing Thoughts 

In episode 589 of Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie sits down with Barron Henley of Affinity Consulting to talk about the practical, real-world ways law firms can use Excel to save time, reduce errors, and streamline everyday work. 

Barron breaks down why Excel is one of the most underused tools in law firms and shares examples like expense tracking, probate calculations, medical bill summaries, date calculators, amortization tables, document automation, and even embedding live spreadsheets inside Word. 

If Excel feels intimidating, Barron explains how even simple functions can dramatically improve workflows across litigation, estate planning, family law, real estate, and firm operations. 

Listen to our previous episodes on legal tech tools and smarter workflows: 

Listen to our previous episodes on Finances: 

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: 

0:00 – Why lawyers should look at their numbers
4:17 – AI updates from 8AM (MyCase/Docketwise)
13:46 – Why Excel is the most underused tool in law
17:35 – What Excel can do that lawyers don’t expect
23:25 – Templates, formulas & real practice examples
31:27 – Using Excel for automation & mail merges
37:32 – Everyday lawyer workflows made easier with Excel
41:23 – Final takeaways 

In episode 588 of the Lawyerist Podcast, discover how small shifts in mindset and management can make law practice less chaotic and more rewarding. Zack Glaser sits down with Jordan Couch of Palace Law to explore lessons from his book, 411 Tips for Solo and Small Firm Lawyers. They cover everything from client service and writing habits to creativity and innovation, offering real-world advice to help lawyers build stronger, happier firms. 

Listen to our previous episodes about Law Firm Innovation & Sustainable 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 with Stephanie & Zack 

05:52 – Meet Jordan Couch 

07:12 – 411 Tips for Lawyers 

09:48 – Pick Your Lane 

13:51 – Client Service Matters 

16:26 – Handling Client Frustration 

21:12 – The Trial Is Always Happening 

24:35 – Write Like a Human 

34:20 – Practice Creativity 

37:38 – The Future of Law 

46:00 – Closing Thoughts 

In episode 587 of Lawyerist Podcast, discover how your firm can stay competitive, efficient, and future-ready by embracing artificial intelligence. Stephanie Everett talks with Jack Newton, CEO and founder of Clio, about how small firms can leverage AI to streamline workflows, make smarter decisions, and outpace slower-moving competitors. 

Jack explains how Clio’s new AI-powered platform, Clio Work, is transforming the way lawyers practice—by integrating intelligent automation directly into everyday tasks. Together, they explore what it means to become an “AI-native” law firm, how to balance innovation with ethics, and why small firms are uniquely positioned to lead the legal industry’s next big shift. 

Learn how to use AI as a force multiplier in your practice—and why adaptability, not size, will define tomorrow’s most successful law firms. 

Listen to our previous episodes about AI & 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:  

0:00 – Introduction & ClioCon Recap 

2:00 – Growth Stages of Small Firms 

5:10 – Clio for Enterprise Explained 

7:45 – Why Small Firms Have the Advantage 

10:30 – How AI Is Changing Legal Work 

13:15 – Making AI Adoption Effortless 

16:00 – Trust, Data & the Hallucination Problem 

20:00 – Building the AI-Native Law Firm 

22:30 – Staying Competitive in the Age of Change 

24:40 – Closing Thoughts 

In episode 586 of Lawyerist Podcast, learn how lawyers can help safeguard democracy by defending the rule of law and protecting judicial independence. In this episode, Stephanie Everett talks with Bill Bay, Immediate Past President of the American Bar Association, about why these issues transcend politics and define the integrity of the legal profession. Together, they discuss how every lawyer can lead with grace, model civil discourse, and stand up for fairness, equality, and due process. 

 Learn how you can join the ABA’s fight for the rule of law here: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/resources/rule-of-law/ 

Listen to our previous episodes about Leadership & Advocacy in Law:  

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:  

0:00 – Introduction 

1:00 – Law as Political, Not Partisan 

4:40 – Sponsor Break: Tabs3 

11:13 – Meet Bill Bay 

12:20 – What the Rule of Law Means 

14:40 – Threats to Justice & the Profession 

21:55 – How Lawyers Can Take Action 

23:40 – Grace & Civility in Practice 

29:05 – Hope for the Next Generation 

34:20 – Call to Action & Closing Thoughts