I had the privilege of sitting down with Robert Simon, co-founder of the Simon Law Group, Law-Di-Gras, Attorney Share and Justice HQ, to explore his remarkable journey from launching a small law practice in 2009 to leading a powerhouse firm with 27 lawyers across multiple states. And, somehow he also finds time to host the popular Bourbon Approved Podcast! Robert shared invaluable insights into building a thriving membership community for high-level attorneys, developing innovative tools like Attorney Share, and carving out a niche in personal injury law, particularly in complex disc injury cases. His strategies and experiences offer practical guidance for anyone looking to scale their legal practice or improve operational efficiency.
Robert’s passion for innovation and mentorship shines through in everything he does, from creating unique networking events like the music-festival-style legal conference Law-Di-Gras to hosting his bourbon-focused podcast, Bourbon Approved. He also shares actionable tips on leveraging technology, fostering community, and mentoring the next generation of legal talent. This conversation is a goldmine of inspiration for anyone eager to take their law practice to new heights.
Key Topics
- 03:13 Founded Justice HQ, a membership community for high-level lawyers, and Attorney Share, a case marketplace with over 2000 lawyers.
- 04:05 Annual Law-Di-Gras conference, which focuses on networking, personal growth, and legal education.
- 04:35 The conference features various tracks on media marketing, business operations, personal wealth, personal health, AI technology, and trial skills.
- 05:22 The conference's origins and the decision to make it more fun and interactive with musical guests.
- 06:22 The firm's trial successes and the publication of his book on disc injury cases.
- 06:55 Types of cases the firm handles, including disc injury cases, product liability, wrongful death, and ride-share cases.
- 07:35 Expansion into other states, including Texas and Arizona, and the success in these new markets.
- 08:43 The firm's mission to litigate and try a lot of cases and the importance of having a good team of trial lawyers.
- 09:21 Justice HQ as a membership community for lawyers, offering masterminds, media platforms, and on-demand education.
- 10:10 The community's technology platform, Slack communities, and new software for building communities.
- 10:45 The benefits of Justice HQ, including access to office space, branding, speaking opportunities, and collaboration.
- 12:07 Attorney Share, a marketplace for lawyers to find the best cases and co-counsel, and the integration with major case management platforms.
- 12:18 The family involvement in the firm, including his twin brother, younger brother, parents, and other family members.
- 12:49 The roles each family member plays and the trust and efficiency within the family business.
- 12:23 The pros and cons of working with family, emphasizing the trust factor and the potential for family disagreements.
- 13:42 The importance of having a good relationship with his brother, who manages the firm's finances.
- 14:14 They talk about the importance of family and the balance between personal and professional life.
- 16:35 Attorney Share the platform simplifies case sharing, fee agreements, and referral networks while minimizing lead generation costs.
- 18:12 Lawyers can easily refer cases and find top specialists nationwide through an organized, automated system.
- 19:27 The platform streamlines case referrals, fee sharing, and case tracking for law firms.
- 20:37 The importance of mentorship, build relationships by networking with mentors, peers, and legal organizations.
- 22:32 Focus on a niche, market yourself authentically, and leverage free tools to grow your practice.
- 24:12 Leverage networking groups and local organizations to build powerful connections.
- 25:21 Join small, focused groups for regular discussions on business and personal growth.
- 27:37 Vision for 2025 Law-Di-Gras, having others bring their communities, masterminds, and networking followed by a music festival. Avoiding conference burn out.
- 28:10 Talks about the Bourbon Approved podcast, which started as a fun project and evolved into a networking tool.
- 29:04 The high production quality of the podcast and the interest from guests.
- 29:43 The success of the Bourbon Approved Tour and the connections made through the podcast.
- 30:00 The importance of doing something you love and how it can benefit your business.
- 32:54 The importance of having systems in place to handle increased marketing volume.
- 33:12 The need for intake readiness, customer service, and efficient case management.
- 34:25 The benefits of integrating with Attorney Share and other platforms to track and manage cases.
- 34:43 The importance of specializing in a specific area of law and building a strong network of relationships.
- 38:16 Talks about his preventative health routine, including regular check-ups and liver panels.
- 40:46 The importance of mentoring and helping other lawyers, especially those starting out.
Resources Mentioned
Books:
- Zero to One
- Just One Thing
- Client Centered Law Firm
- You Can't Teach Hungry
- Buy Back Your Time
Websites and Platforms:
- Attorney Share
- Simon Law Group - Justice HQ
- Robert Simon’s Instagram
About Robert Simon:
Robert T. Simon (“Bob”) is a co-founder of the Simon Law Group — aka Justice Team — and acts as the primary trial attorney. Since launching the firm with his twin brother/wombmate/best friend, Brad Simon in late 2009, SLG has grown from a boutique office with just a few people into an 9-figure annual practice recognized by its peers throughout the country, with offices in California, Arizona, and Texas. He’s also been admitted by courts in Massachusetts, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and NewYork to handle large death cases caused by commercial carriers, an area of focus and national notoriety.
Bob grew up in Pittsburgh as the oldest of 5 (tied!), and the son of a loving UPS truck driver and a nurturing stay-at-home mom. It has always been his dream to work with his brothers — Brad and Brandon. Growing up in the trucking world that Bob knows so much, and is passionate about, trucking & bus crashes.
When Bob was a kid, his uncle was suddenly struck by a drunk driver and lost the use of his legs. This accident forever shifted his career trajectory. Bob made it his mission to fight for the injured and the less fortunate. He is known for getting massive verdicts on spine injury cases.
Bob has won Trial Lawyer of the Year several times, as voted on by his peers, in many geographic areas. He speaks on a monthly basis educating other lawyers on best practices and how to achieve the best results for their clients. Bob spends a lot of his time giving back to the community and mentoring other trial lawyers in the craft of consumer advocate law.
Bob co-founded Justice HQ, a fast-growing, collaborative workspace and network aimed at helping lawyers break away from the stodgy firms of old to grow their own solo practices. He recently launched Attorney Share– a platform that facilitates referrals between attorneys, digitizing the archaic referral system. Whether you are looking to streamline the referral process with your existing network of attorneys, find new, trusted, 3rd party vetted attorneys to take on your precious referrals, or looking for new clients to service, Attorney Share has you covered. (Please list us at the top of your Waterfall on Attorney Share!)
Since 2012, he’s tried 50 cases as lead, winning 46, (3 being overturned!) with verdicts and settlements totaling over $100 million dollars annually.
For some lighter fare, Bob can be heard and seen hosting his whiskey-fueled legal talk show — Bourbon of Proof and other shows on the growing podcast hub, Justice Team Network. Justice isn’t the only thing Robert is fighting for. He and his wife, Christine, are fighting to improve the life of foster kids and adoption. Follow their adoption story here. He is now a #GirlDad (times three!) with Remington (7), Penelope (4), and Josephine (1 ½).
About Jay Berkowitz:
Jay Berkowitz is a digital marketing strategist with decades of experience in the industry. As the CEO of Ten Golden Rules, he has helped countless law firms and businesses harness the power of the internet to achieve remarkable growth and visibility. Jay is also a renowned keynote speaker and author, sharing his expertise at various industry events and publications worldwide.
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