New Solo

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New Solo episodes

September 24One Lawyer’s Journey from Law Practice to Public Service
Guest Phil Diamond is a CPA and lawyer who serves as the comptroller for Orange County, Florida (think Orlando). He started out studying accounting and got his first job in the field before deciding it wasn’t all he dreamed of and headed back to law school.
But now, after a long and successful career in law, Diamond combines his accounting and legal background as comptroller, serving his community as a fiscal watchdog and guardian.
This episode of New Solo may spark something in you, make you want to get out there and do something for your community. “I think it’s important for lawyers to get involved. Lawyers, in general, I think have this gene inside of them that makes them want to get involved and make a difference.” Diamond says. “I’d encourage every lawyer out there to get involved.”
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected].
Topics:
Funny where life takes us. Guest Phil Diamond started in accounting, went into law, and then public services, first as a volunteer, then an elected city commissioner, and now as the elected comptroller of a major Florida county.

Lawyers by nature want to get involved and have a drive to help reach the right decisions. They are made for public service.

You don’t have to run for office to help your community. Every government has committees that need smart, insightful people, from planning and zoning boards to parks and rec.

Resources:
IRS.gov
ClioCon 2026
ABA Techshow 2027
35 min
August 31A Different Law Firm Model: Up Front Pricing and Billing.
What are you charging your clients for, “minutes” or “results?” Guest John Rafferty started his own firm, Highfield Law, in the Philadelphia suburbs, specializing in guardianships and estates. He’s a convert to flat-fee, results based, billing. No more “billable hours.” And it works.
Rafferty is also a tech guy. Zoom, phone, face to face, it’s all at the client’s choice. Meeting clients where they want is key, and Rafferty finds many prefer some mix of online and in-person contact. It’s a new world. (And that goes for hiring online and part-time administrative help, too).
Hear how Rafferty reinvented his legal practice, from billing to remote work, and how he sets his flat-fee rates based on value and the market. Having the confidence to set a rate, and stick to it, is important. It takes courage, but it’s worth it.
And one more thing: “All funds are due up front.” Does this all sound blunt and, frankly, different? Perhaps, but it can take the focus off the money and hours and let clients focus on getting the results they want.
(Plus, a bonus tip: where to find the best Philly cheesesteaks!)
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected].
Topics:
Flat-fee billing works if you have the confidence to set your fee and stick to it. John Rafferty went out on his own and established a results-based firm. No more “billable hours.”

Meet clients where they are. That doesn’t have to be in an office. Clients are busy, too. Sometimes an online video chat or a phone call is better than having someone “drop by the office.”

For solo practices, tech matters. Get comfortable with digital platforms and let them speed up the routine tasks. If a flat-fee project takes fewer hours than you estimated because you were efficient, that’s pure profit.
Resources:
“Ditch the Billable Hour! Implementing Value-Based Pricing in a Law Firm,” by Shaun Jardine
Previously on the Legal Talk Network, “No More Billable Hours: The Move To Value-Based, Results-Based Pricing,” The Un-Billable Hour
Clio legal software
Smokeball legal software
CARET legal software
Claude AI
Microsoft OneDrive
Quo phone system
Zoom
ClioCon 2026
ABA Techshow 2027
41 min
July 30Let Your Light Shine: Media Relations, PR, and Branding
As an attorney, you do great work, you get results for your clients, but do you ever feel invisible? Getting your name out there and letting people know what you do is still important, no matter how good you are, and it doesn’t have to be expensive or take up all your time.
Guest Karen Korr is a veteran legal communications professional and an expert in legal media relations, public relations, marketing, and branding who helps lawyers get their name out there, build relationships, and make a lasting impression.
Of course, it starts with being consistent and being human. But it’s been said most of us don’t remember something until we see it 15 times. So, making your firm visible is important, whether that’s in a news release, or social media, or sponsorships, or advertising. The secret is, it’s not that time consuming or costly. It just takes some knowhow.
Hear Korr’s tips for letting your light shine, tips you can start using today to make your firm top of mind. Visibility lets clients know about the great work you do and the problems you solve.
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected].
Topics:
It’s not enough to do good work. If nobody knows, how does that build your business? Guest Karen Korr is a legal communications pro who gets legal professionals the attention and recognition they deserve.

Awards, rankings, social media, advertising, and networking do matter. Many lawyers avoid that part of building a business because they think it’s too time consuming or expensive. The secret? It’s not.

How do you write an effective news release? What do reporters and influencers want to know in the first paragraph. What does using a generic (hint, “Gmail”) email address say about your firm?

Resources:
Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers
LinkedIn
Bluesky
X
Eventbrite
Reddit
Businesswire
PR Newswire
ABA Techshow 2026

Special thanks to our sponsors CallRail, ALPS Insurance, Wyzer Staffing, and LEX Reception.
44 min
June 30“An AI-Enabled World.” Why You Can’t Avoid Building AI Into Your Practice
Still on the fence about AI? You might not have a choice if you want your firm to succeed. Guest Craig Ball is a lawyer, law professor, special master, author, and above all a tireless student of all things electronic. AI, he says, may be the most transformative legal tool to hit the profession ever. Bigger than word processing, online research, even the internet.
Ball explains how AI is emerging from hype and headlines to real world applications such as drafting documents and sifting through gigabytes of e-discovery. Learning the art of AI prompting and developing the skepticism to evaluate AI powered product isn’t an option. This is the future of the practice of law, Ball says.
But AI isn’t a free pass and it’s not magic. If you want quality legal work through AI, it’s going to cost you. “Free” AI platforms probably won’t cut it. Be prepared to spend not just the time, but also the money to incorporate your own voice and the particular expertise of your firm into pay-to-play AI programs.
If you’ve been reading the headlines and wondering how AI applies to your practice, this episode will fill in a lot of the gaps. And here’s the thing, you’re not “too old” to dive in and resistance can hurt you. As Ball says, “It’s an AI enabled world.”
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected]
Topics:
If you thought you could ignore AI, continue your practice without it, and scoff at lawyers who use it, you may be wrong. AI is here to stay and it’s transforming the legal profession. Guest Craig Ball – a lawyer and law professor – shares how AI is already performing real tasks and making real, experienced lawyers better. You’re not “too old” or too set in your ways to plug AI into your practice (and to understand how opposing counsel is already using it).

Mastering AI isn’t free and it won’t come without effort. But if you invest the time and money, it can return exponential rewards in productivity and efficiency. Get excited about AI today.

Resources:
Microsoft Copilot AI
Claude AI
Harvey AI
Microsoft Word
ABA Techshow 2026
CraigBall.com
“Leery Lawyer’s Guide to AI,” by Craig Ball
Ball in Your Court blog
“Forensic Tells: The Litigator’s Guide to Detecting Deep Fakes,” by Craig Ball
42 min
June 01Chill With Jill: How a Law Degree Can Lead to Careers in Organizational Leadership
What’s it like to manage diverse organizations and bring together different personalities and achieve goals? Guest Jill Epstein is a lawyer by training but has spent more than two decades managing organizations and associations. She is currently the CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of California and has served as executive director of the San Diego County Bar Association, among other leadership positions.
Epstein found her own path, bringing people together, during her internships while attending law school. That opened a new horizon. For her, managing teams and developing innovative solutions was a more appealing career than the traditional law firm or government litigator route. Working for a variety of associations, she has carved her way by leading associations as they navigate shifting priorities, evolving technologies, and demands.
For lawyers, there’s more than practicing law in the traditional sense. Epstein built on her education to develop skills in budget management, human resources, bringing diverse parties together, solving problems, organizing, managing meetings, and driving initiatives.
Did you graduate from law school only to find that practicing law isn’t for you? Your law degree and the critical thinking skills you’ve developed are still the springboard to a variety of careers in leadership.
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected]
Topics:
A law degree doesn’t limit you to a career practicing law. The critical thinking and negotiating skills you learn in law school open a path to a variety of leadership fields.

Guest Jill Epstein was inspired by her law school internships with membership organizations and has enjoyed decades of challenging roles leading a range of membership organizations.

Leadership skills apply no matter an organization’s membership and specialty. Understanding how to navigate boards and members with different perspectives apply across fields.
Resources:
Toastmasters International: https://www.toastmasters.org/
ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/
Claude AI: https://claude.com
San Diego County Bar Association: https://www.sdcba.org/
ABA Techshow 2026: https://www.techshow.com/
43 min
April 30Money Matters! Breaking Down Law Firm Finances
Let’s talk about finances; specifically, your law practice’s finances, everything from billing (even flat fee pricing) and bookkeeping to taxes and support staff salary negotiations. Guest Terrell Turner is not a lawyer, he’s a CPA and co-founder of the TLTurner Group, an accounting practice that helps lawyers and law firms understand and maximize their finances.
In addition, Turner hosts the American Bar Association Law Practice Group’s podcast, called “The Law Practice Podcast,” that covers money and running a practice. Finance is the foundation of any firm, otherwise, why are you working? And it’s a team issue, everyone in your firm drives the firm’s finances. Every function should help feed the bottom line.
Turner helps firms break down the value of every part of your practice. It’s vital to understand the impact every member of the team has on your firm’s function – even non-billing members such as a virtual assistant (and the TLTurner Group website is adding a free calculator you can use to break it all down).
Not only are you responsible for managing the firm’s output and efficiency, but you should also know what you need from your accountant and bookkeeper (they aren’t the same) and what you should expect to pay for and get from those services. Real talk, real answers. Because money matters.
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected]
Topics:
Your firm exists to generate revenue and profit. That’s where a professional financial service can help you strategically understand and maximize your returns.

Every part of your firm should contribute to your bottom line, whether that’s attorneys billing clients or support staff and AI creating efficiencies. And don’t forget, accountants and bookkeepers are not one and the same, you need to know the difference (and how much you should pay).

Are you actively managing your practice with a goal in mind? A practice management program and a professional review of your practice can unlock hidden potential.
Resources:
American Bar Association Law Practice Division
QuickBooks
Canva
ABA Techshow 2026
Clio Cloud Conference 2026
Podcast, “American Bar Association Law Practice Podcast”
Podcast, “Stuff Your Accountant Isn’t Telling You”
47 min
March 26Ready Player One: The Life Of A Video Game Lawyer
Drop a quarter in the slot and dig into the nontraditional career of Chrissie Scelsi who specializes in the law of video gaming. Scelsi forged her own way, untangling the intersection of entertainment, marketing, technology, and law.
Games aren’t all fun and games. Scelsi deals with licensing, advertising, intellectual property, transactions, e-sports, content clearance, privacy law, and even influencer relations. “I lean something new every day, and that’s great,” she says. Throughout her career, she’s become a self-described legal Swiss army knife (and she’s a master at Pokémon Go).
Among the topics she encounters both in her practice and as the first woman president of the Video Game Bar Association is the impact of AI, from game development to game play. Working independently, hear how Scelsi has found her community, networks with others, and keeps current on the latest issues affecting not only legal aspects but also trends across the video gaming industry, an industry expected to approach $200 billion in annual revenue this year.
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected].
Topics:
Have a passion? There’s a legal field for that! Hear how guest Chrissie Scelsi turned her love for entertainment and video gaming into a full-time practice.

Video gaming is big business not just in the U.S. but around the world, and that means a web of legal needs to help game developers and marketers navigate copyright, legal protections, liability, and intellectual property issues.

In a rapidly evolving field, it’s important for solo practitioners and consultants to build a community through associations, conferences, and networking to share ideas and understand ever-changing legal issues and challenges.
36 min
February 26Getting Up and Running With the Help of a Coach and Today’s Tech
Meet Alyssa Vachon Daigneault, a new Massachusetts attorney who benefitted from a chat with lawyer and law coach Kellam Parks, an amazing guest from our previous podcast. Hear how Daigneault launched her law firm as a second career after years teaching high school chemistry and hear what she learned from Parks as she beefed up her technology.
Daigneault launched her own firm less than two years ago in the busy Boston area, specializing in real estate, land use, and property matters, all fields she was already well versed in.
A session with a coach helped Daigneault fully frame the vision and direction of her practice, craft policies, and understand onboarding new hires. Starting a new solo firm is hard, do you need help cutting through some of the steps and learning from those who went before you?
Daigneault is an advocate for learning about and investing and experimenting in tech, AI, and other tools before worrying about office space. As a new solo, tech can save time, build efficiencies, and let lawyers do what they do best.
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected]

Topics:
A new solo, embarking on a second career as an attorney, took some tips from one of New Solo’s earlier guests, attorney and legal practice coach Kellam Parks.

Not all tech and AI are the same, it takes time and research to understand what works for you. Lining up the right tools makes a difference.

In today’s legal environment, tech is becoming king. But if you can manage it, the right support staff and office space can push you forward and keep you growing.
Resources:
Previously on New Solo, “Six To-Dos Every Firm Can Embrace in 2026,” with Kellam Parks
The Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts
QuickBooks
Gusto
Adobe
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Spellbook
Lexis Protégé
Clio
ABA Techshow 2026
Clio Cloud Conference 2026
52 min
February 03Six To-Dos Every Firm Can Embrace in 2026
Where do you want your firm to go in the new year? Do you have a plan to get there? Intentional firm design and strategy trumps reactive growth every time. Don’t let your firm run you; take charge today!
Guest Kellam Parks is a partner with the metrics- and technology-driven family and cybersecurity law firm Parks Zeigler PLLC, and he runs the coaching program “The Motivated Lawyer,” helping firms craft a path to a successful future. Hear how he recently took on one new client pro bono to demonstrate how his coaching helps lawyers visualize and achieve their goals.
Parks began his own Virginia Beach firm as a “paperless” entity nearly 15 years ago, incorporating emerging tech to maximize efficiencies. As the firm developed, tech tools have helped his team automate the routine and focus on the most important and demanding tasks. He is a regular speaker and provider of CLE programs for attorneys and firms and produces educational videos and a popular newsletter packed with tips.
Do you need help building out your technological capacities and marketing? As Parks points out, “Nobody knows everything.” Always be learning and open to new ideas.
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected]
Topics:
Too many solos start out with no intentional plan, opting instead to gather as many clients as they can then scrambling to keep up. A recipe for stress and inefficiency.

In 2026, think about what you actually want from your firm. Then create an intentional plan to get there, step by step.

Technology is not an option. Use the tools available to you. But remember “technology does not fix chaos.” It all starts with your plan, your established systems, and understanding what you’re doing (and why).
Mentioned in This Episode:
Previous appearance on New Solo, “Tech, Automation, and Cybersecurity: A Pioneering Attorney’s Perspective”
Previous appearance on Legal Talk Network’s Digital Detectives, “Cybersecurity: Getting to Good for the Small Law Firm”
Ben Glass, Great Legal Marketing
Gino Wickman, “Traction”
Allie K. Miller, understanding AI
“Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire,” by Dan Martell
Clio
ABA Techshow 2026
Clio Cloud Conference 2026
54 min
January 08 Creating a Referral Network That Actually Works with Lee Rosen | First Flight #12
When family lawyer and podcaster Lee Rosen talks about referrals, he doesn’t call them a network. He calls them friends. He explains why you only need about 20 trusted relationships to sustain a thriving practice, how genuine curiosity and consistency outperform traditional “networking,” and why lawyers make some of the most powerful referral partners across practice areas. Lee also shares how thoughtful gestures, not referral fees, build long-term goodwill and how social media can strengthen real-world connections when used with intention. Then, ALPS Insurance’s Rio Laine joins host Adriana Linares to cover the risk-management side of referrals, including documentation best practices, appropriate thank-you gifts, when to decline referrals, and why every solo should have a backup attorney and succession plan in place.
Hear the original episode with Lee Rosen
Learn more about ALPS Insurance.
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39 min

About New Solo

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So, you’re a new lawyer or you’re new to practicing solo. You’ve got your game plan. Now what? First, know that you’re not ‘alone. It’s the fastest growing segment of the legal profession. Welcome to…