Reboot Your Law Practice

Join Oscar and Scott this week as they discuss the process Scott went through to add the niche practice area of College Disciplinary Law to his legal practice.Listen to find out how Scott determined if this was a viable practice area. Here are some of the considerations you must evaluate when looking to add a practice area to your law practice;- Is there a need/market for the niche?- Is this practice area an authentic extension of my practice and of myself?- Can I provide value for clients?- How will you get clients in this area?- Do you have the time you have to put in?- Do you have a passion for this area?- Do you have the skills or is there a steep learning curve?- Can you distinguish yourself in this new area?We will check in with Scott from time to time to see how the practice is progressing and discuss the challenges he faces.

This week Sam Glover from Lawyerist.com joins us. Sam is the founder of Lawyerist.com which provides daily online content about the practice of law, touching upon subjects such as practice management, tech and marketing.Sam is a strong advocate of attorneys being technologically competent. He joins Oscar and Scott and they discuss the necessity of attorneys having an understanding of such varied topics as; - How to communicate securely with clients - How to safely use public wifi - An attorneys obligation to advise clients as to the security of their communications - how lay a foundation to admit social media into evidence - the duty to google - how to use Word and Dropbox - how files are encryptedThey also discuss how you can add value to the attorney client relationship by advising clients how to keep their data and communications safe.Please visit Sam at Lawyerist.comDownload Sam’s checklist of the knowledge and skills that make up the basic technological competence for lawyers at https://lawyerist.com/downloads/basic-tech-competence/

It’s painfully obvious to state that the modern lawyer trying to grow his practice needs a great website. So why do we devote a whole podcast to the subject? Because it’s no longer enough to get a domain name and throw up a basic template law firm website. You have to tailor your site to the demographic and client base you are trying to get as clients.

Oscar & Scott talk about the thought process and planning you need to get into before you even start talking about the actual design of the site. The hosts discuss Search Engine Optimization and how SEO has changed over the past few years. The podcast provides specific advice and ideas on how to make your website appealing to your potential client base. Essential website areas discussed during the show are:- What should be on the home page- Photos- A Thought-Out Tag Line- Blog- Contact Information

Episode 26 - Mentoring and Coaching

What does it mean to have a mentor? Most people think of an elderly person who provides sage advice and guidance to a young protégé. And while that certainly is one aspect of mentoring, in this podcast the hosts discuss that he benefits that all lawyers – young or old; experienced or fresh out of law school – can obtain from a mentor. Scott and Oscar talk about their own personal experiences mentoring lawyers and also discuss how they found the people they rely on to bounce ideas off of or to simply help vent their frustration. The hosts discuss how to find a mentor and approach them about filling that role. For lawyers trying to reboot their practice having a person they trust and can count on to help them through the process is an invaluable tool.

Best places to find a mentor/coach:

(A) Your social circle of lawyers or business people you know, admire and trust;(B) Bar association;(C) Law school;(D) Family

Leaving a firm to start your own practice is a scary proposition. In this episode Oscar and Scott give vital steps you should take that will lead to a successful practice. 1. You must start planning far in advance by thinking about the makeup of your practice (type of practice, type of clients, type of law) and looking at the viability of each possibility.2. Will you be able to bring in enough business to support your practice? 3. Start setting up your support system of mentors and get a feel for what solo and small practice life is like. They also talk about how right now might actually be the best time to start a new practice.

In this episode, Oscar and Scott welcome writer Cathy Reisenwitz. Cathy who writes on a number of law-related topics for Capterra Legal Software Blog, Above the Law and other sites recently wrote an article for Lawyerist entitled “The Legal industry is About to Get Ubered Hard.” The hosts discuss Cathy’s article with her and what it means for lawyers unwilling to adapt to technological changes in the practice. Cathy explains that, like cab drivers, lawyers have been protected by legislation and regulation limiting who can practice law. This lack of competitive pressure has kept law nearly unchanged over the last hundred years. However, technological innovation makes it cost effective to offer new ways to serve the market, motivating entrepreneurs to go around protectionist legislation. Lawyers who fail to recognize this major change in how lawyers and consumers interact – or even how consumers are interacting with business in general- are doomed to having their practices fail on the vine. Scott and Oscar discuss how prior podcasts have encouraged lawyers to look carefully at their social media; their use of technology; and changing consumer expectations about lawyers are affecting their practice. Cathy and the host talk about some specific steps lawyers can take to adapt to the current technology and marketplace. You can find Cathy on Twitter at @CapterraLegaland you can read her legal blog at http://blog.capterra.com/author/creisenwitz/

The hosts discuss how small and solo firms need to focus on being organized in order to be successful. As lawyers, we all take deadlines very seriously – appearance dates, statutes of limitation, etc. So we should treat the business goals and “to do “ list” items we set for ourselves as importantly as we treat important dates in our legal matters. Scott and Oscar talk about what works for them and which strategies they employed that helped them get organized and stay focused on business development. It can be hard for those of us who are not keen on technology to learn new methods of law firm management, but the podcast discusses why it’s essential and offers tips on getting itdone.

Prior podcasts have discussed the importance of your online presence. Well, your website is the axis around which all of your online presence revolves. Finding the right web site developer is critical to the success of your website. Join us as we discusses what to look for in a website developer, what pitfalls to avoid and what should the contract between you and the developer involve. We discuss why you may not want to choose a company that “specializes” in law firm website development. You must look to find the right fit, as you will need to have a website person who is responsive and willing to let you manage the content and look of the site. We also touch on topics such as SEO, Google analytics, and other areas that you will need to familiarize yourself with as you enter the digital marketplace

The hosts discuss developing good client relationships with Matthew Chan. Matt is a client of Oscar’s and he has had the opportunity to see litigation and lawyering from a variety of positions – as a pro se plaintiff and defendant, to a business owner who has had to hire lawyers for litigation and even from the perspective of a litigant before the Georgia Supreme Court, the State’s highest court. Seeing law at all these levels has provided Matt with insight into what clients and litigants like and don’t like about lawyers and lawyering. Matt describes that ultimately what clients want is someone who is a real problem solver and that can explain the issues and the possibilities. The vast majority of clients want something done sooner rather than later and want to feel that their lawyer is on the same page and not looking to just pad the bill. Some Don’ts for Lawyers from Matt’s perspective as a client: • Don’t bill lots of hours for research – clients hired you because you know the law, billing for research should be reserved for specific issues that may come up, but clients don’t want to pay for your continuing education • Don’t nickel and dime clients – Do you really need to bill for every email or five minute phone call? • Consider giving a free consultation because many clients won’t go to a lawyer if they are charging a significant consultation fee. Things Matt looks for in an attorney when he is shopping for legal services: • Relevant experience – while many newer businesses or younger clients may need to go to a young lawyer based on price, clients want to go to the most-experienced lawyer they can afford. Experience gives clients confidence and reassurance• More and more he looks to a lawyer’s online presence and “tech savviness” as that gives him confidence that the lawyer is up to current standards• Lawyers with people skills – clients who need lawyers are in serious stress and a lawyer’s bedside manner and how they relate and respond to you is critical in the relationship. • Good communication and regular feedback is key as well. Ask a client how he prefers to communicate and how often are they expecting to hear from your lawyer.The hosts talk with Matt about the need for lawyers to be flexible to a client’s needs and expectations as well and discuss that early on in their relationship. Discuss these issues and goals with clients so everyone can be on the same page. The podcast provides objectives and goals for any solo or small firm that can help them develop better client relationships so that they can grow their practice from a client-centric perspective.