Lawyerpreneur

Several weeks ago, I was listening to an episode of Freakonomics Radio about specialization, and particularly about the long snappers in professional and collegiate football. Pennsylvania lawyer and NFL agent for long snappers Kevin Gold was interviewed as a part of that episode, and I knew that I had to have him as a guest on Lawyerpreneur.

On Episode 57 of Lawyerpreneur, Kevin Gold and I continue the recent trend on this show of discussing niche markets by talking about how he became an NFL agent for long snappers and how he has developed that alongside his law practice. We discuss the ways in which being an effective agent and business manager for his NFL clients arise from the same marketing, branding, and business practices that have enabled him to have a successful law practice.

In Episode 56 of Lawyerpreneur, M.C. Sungaila and I interview Todd Smith and Jody Sanders of the Texas Appellate Law Podcast. We talk about the launch of their podcast, the Connector (to borrow Malcolm Gladwell's term) who brought them together, and the perseverance required to record and publish more than 100 episodes over the last two years. 

As much as I enjoy the What (What are you doing?) and How (How did it start and how it is going now?) of these interviews, the Why is far more meaningful to me. Todd Smith and Jody Sanders discuss why they started the podcast and why it has been an integral part of the law practices -- spoiler alert: a lot of that has to do with networking, marketing, and branding.

We also talk about something that has become a staple of Lawyerpreneur -- niche markets. Smith and Sanders have taken the niche topic of Texas appellate law and developed ways of reaching an audience that far exceeds the scope that the title of the title might suggest.

If you're a lawyer and a parent (or not yet a parent, but hope to be some day), there is someone advocating for you. And that's nice to hear because sometimes, it feels like working parents are on an island. Lori Mihalich-Levin has written the book on returning to work after parental leave (literally -- Back to Work after Baby). Her company Mindful Return consults with other businesses for developing and implementing their parental rights strategies. 

Among these topics, we also talk with Lori about turning her writing and speaking platform focused on on topics of work-life integration, the transition back to work after parental leave, and mindfulness for busy professionals, into a full-time business.

When I think of Maya Markovich, I can't help but think of the song from Hamilton, "The World Turned Upside Down," because she's exactly the kind of person with the vision and audacity necessary to effect those kinds of changes.

In Episode 54 of Lawyerpreneur, we talk with Maya Markovich about doing really hard things, how behavioral economics can apply to lawyers and law practice, and how lawyers can effectively use change management within their firms. We also discuss the non-linear trajectory of Maya's career and the roles she has taken on. 

The episode is co-hosted by M.C. Sungaila, who was first on the podcast in Episode 16, Developing Your Business and Your Reputation. While M.C. will be co-hosting a few episodes with me here, she has also launched her own podcast, The Portia Project.

 Joel Oster is our guest in Episode 53 of Lawyerpreneur. Joel practices constitutional law and runs Comedian of Law, a CLE company that uses humor to liven up its materials. He also hosts a podcast called Debriefing the Law. He is also the author of UnDue Process: Exposing the Good, the Bad, and the Funny of the Law. Among other things, we talk about how he gave himself a bridge between his law practice and his other projects to chase his creative pursuits. 

 For going on two years, Michael Young has been my go-to example of the benefits of using unconventional marketing methods to establish your brand and build trust equity with others in your profession. Because of that, his appearance on Lawyerpreneur is long overdue. Young is a regular contributor on LinkedIn discussing insurance coverage and bad faith topics. 

For Episode 51, we talk with Tripp Watson of the Watson Law Firm in Birmingham, Alabama. Tripp started is own firm right out of law school and began marketing his firm as the Entrepreneur’s Law Firm. Tripp talks about Birmingham's entrepreneurial roots and how the city's business foundations have evolved over the last 150 years. He answers questions about whether having niche law practice focused on business owners made it more difficult to get started and get a foothold.

Watson also talks about managing client relationships and why his firm website has a page that lays out in great detail what they can expect when working with your firm. Don't miss this interview with Tripp Watson about being an entrepreneurial lawyer.

Brian Gibbons is a partner in the New York office of the civil defense litigation firm Wade Clark Mulcahy. He hosts the interview-based podcast, Call Your Next Witness, and is an active member of DRI. He has used his involvement in DRI and other industry organizations as a platform to help build and grow his law practice. Gibbons has also used his podcast and other out-of-the-box marketing to expand his professional network. 

In the past 18 months, we keep hearing that "everyone has a podcast now." It's become a running joke as hundreds, possibly thousands, of podcasts have been born out of a global pandemic. Most have since gone comatose, but others has continued on.

Robert Ingalls, founder of LawPods, is encouraged by the continued prevalence and popularity of podcasts. He sees podcasts as a way for lawyers and firms to give clients and potential clients a look behind the curtain. It enables clients to get to know their lawyers on a personal level and establishes a platform for lawyers to exhibit their expertise.

So while not everyone has a podcast ... yet, Ingalls hopes that more lawyers will continue to see the value in a medium that looks like it's here to stay.

Episode 47 of Lawyerpreneur starts off a little differently than most. Beth starts off asking me about my work, which I tell her about. And if you've been listening for any length of time, you may have heard before. But it leads us right into her work as a lawyer and what she has been doing outside of law practice.

I hope you enjoy this interview that touches on everything from food science to creativity and finding fulfillment within a career.

 While Beth George hasn't entirely left the practice of law behind, she spends most of her time consulting with bagel shop owners for her business BYOB Bagels. When Beth's son had dietary sensitivities that required a lot of experimenting, she found herself on a path that would lead to her being a bagel-based business consultant. Because she was raised in a home with a family-run business, Beth George was prepared for both the joys and struggles of being her own boss.

 You can find Beth George at BYOB Bagels, on Instagram at BYOBbagels, and on LinkedIn.