New Solo

Guest: Dean Blachford just hanged his solo shingle eight weeks ago. But he didn’t jump into solo practice blind. Instead, he reviewed New Solo’s back catalog and sought advice from host Adriana Linares. He joins Linares to share his crash course on striking out on his own. Five Categories of Must-Listen Episodes:  5) Inspirations from famous people What New Solos can Learn from Han Solo New Trends in Practice Management Implementing the Right Processes with Ernie Svenson 4) Building a marketing plan  Back to Basics: Smart Marketing for New Solos – Part 1 Back to Basics: Smart Marketing for Solos Part 2 From Clicks to Clients: The Law Firm Marketing Funnel Explained CRM: Using Client Relationship Management in Your Law Firm CRM Value: How Lawmatics Enhances Client Experience Up Your Marketing Game with Newsletters 3) Planning for proper financial management Money Management 101 for Solo and Small Firm Professionals Oh, The Messes We See 2) Nailing down a collections strategy Marco Brown’s Ei

Guest: Rachel Allums took a nontraditional path to law practice, first working as a receptionist and paralegal before reading for the California Bar. She benefited from years of firm management experience, leveraging these skills when she launched her estate planning practice one year ago. Topics: What it’s like being a legal unicorn Flipping the script by learning to be a lawyer before learning to think like a lawyer Battling inertia to make practice management changes that benefit clients Launching a firm during a pandemic Scaling and managing an influx of clients Cultivating relationships through preferred provider deals Managing client expectations with forthright, transparent communication Yes, print advertising still works! The Tech Stack: Clio Grow/Clio Manage for client intake and management Quickbooks online for bookkeeping  HotDocs document automation from AbacusNext  Lawyaw for online legal forms New Insights (brought to you by Nota): Veteran practitioner Starlett Massey answers litigation ass

Guests: Taly Goody is a personal injury lawyer, and Michelle Fonseca-Kamana exclusively practices lemon law. Both immersed themselves in social media, successfully leveraging the platforms as free marketing channels. Topics: Using social media to market a practice Their process for creating videos “The Power of Planning” Why they use YouTube and Facebook and not LinkedIn or Twitter Repurposing their videos for multiple social media platforms What makes a good video? What makes a bad video? Tools mentioned: Ring light for atmosphere Canva Pro for backgrounds and Instagram Reels InShot App to add text Videoleap Editor App to repurpose reels New Insights (brought to you by Nota): Eric Ganci answers Robert Southwell’s last question:  “Who are the trial attorneys you thought were most effective? And what made them a particularly good litigator in the courtroom?” Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio.

Guest: Sarah de Diego, the founder of De Diego Law, built such a strong client base that it made location irrelevant for her practice.  Topics: Building a virtual practice Tax advantages of moving to Puerto Rico How to communicate with partners and staff Favorite tech tools No website? No problem New Insights (brought to you by Nota): Eric Ganci answers Robert Southwell’s third question.  RS: “What are some suggestions you have as far as learning a little bit and educating yourself on the voir dire process for young attorneys?” Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio.

When Peggy Gruenke’s business CPN Legal takes on projects with lawyers to implement new accounting technology and processes, she often finds a mess to clean first. Many firms don’t have adequate finance and accounting habits or make the mistake of hiring bookkeepers without experience working with law firms. Those mistakes, if not cleared up, can put law licenses in jeopardy. Host Adriana Linares has Gruenke walk through best practices in setting up a business, from getting an EIN to deciding whether to incorporate as an LLC or a partnership. These steps help in determining the types of law practice management and accounting systems to choose. The two also discuss the negatives and positives of various practice management and accounting tools on the market. And in this episode’s New Insights segment, brought to you by Nota, Eric Ganci returns to answer Robert Southwell’s second question - what are the must-have trial prep reference materials new attorneys should be keeping close at hand? Previous episode refe

Legal tech coach Adriana Linares unveils a new format for New Solo with a new ask-the-expert segment, pairing a veteran practitioner with a new solo. First, Linares welcomes guest Brad Reese to review his firm’s shift to a cloud-based practice management solution, from taking the plunge to dealing with serial complainers during implementation. An associate at the firm, Reese, took on overseeing the tech transition, including evaluating options, making a selection, and following through with implementation. As they walk through the migration steps, Linares shares tips for firms evaluating cloud-based options that work best for their needs. And kicking off our New Insights segment, Oregon solo Robert Southwell asks veteran Southern California lawyer Eric Ganci about when to opt for a bench trial over a jury trial. Brad Reeser is an associate of Mason, Mason, Walker & Hedrick in Newport News, Virginia. Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, and Abby Connect.

Distinguishing themselves from the field by becoming exceptionally valuable to clients in ways others can’t is one way Seth Godin says lawyers can aim to build successful practices. Godin, an entrepreneur and author of 19 books, speaks with host Adriana Linares and Clio CEO Jack Newton about how lawyers can think more innovatively about marketing, positioning, and offering clients solutions. Repeating a point he made during his Clio Cloud 2020 keynote, Godin says clients don’t wake up with a billable-hour problem. They wake up with real problems. He says lawyers can better serve their businesses and their clients if they position themselves to solve those specific problems. There’s no issue of scarcity, he says, noting the world is replete with problems. The three discuss practical advice for BigLaw “refugees” who hang their shingles, from making the leap and surviving the “dip” to embracing the technology that makes client interactions run smoothly. Jack Newton is CEO and co-founder of Clio. Seth Godin is an

Even in law school with a career track in mind, promising lawyers don’t really know where they’ll land. Legal Innovators Chairman Jonathan Greenblatt talks with host Adriana Linares about modern career paths and their inevitable shifts because of challenges and unexpected opportunities. Greenblatt points out what he believes are fundamental flaws in BigLaw hiring and training junior talent and how his startup is creating alternatives for firms and corporate law departments while ensuring young lawyers from diverse backgrounds get on-the-job training. He and Linares talk through four good habits for developing a successful career: Go where opportunity takes you, network, develop mentors, and make yourself indispensable. Jonathan Greenblatt is a co-founder and chairman of Legal Innovators. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Lawclerk, ROSS, and Alert Communications.

From client management to website development and networking, Florida bankruptcy lawyer Kelly Roberts has intel to share fresh from her own startup experience. Roberts tells host Adriana Linares that she often gets calls from lawyers wanting to establish a bankruptcy practice like hers. Many times they have a practice launch approach that she believes is the opposite of what it takes to be successful as a solo. But even Roberts is starting to experience growing pains so Linares offers advice on next steps for building a team while documenting processes and procedures before making a first support staff hire. Kelly Roberts is a bankruptcy lawyer based in Florida. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Lawclerk, ROSS, and Alert Communications.

Since the pandemic caused courthouses to close and law practice to shift almost entirely online, practically overnight, Lawclerk has seen demand spike. The provider of on-demand virtual associates has doubled in size since the beginning of the year. That’s double the number of projects, and an increase in the value of projects overall, Lawclerk’s co-founder tells host Adriana Linares. So why the growth spurt? Garman says that even though some firms were cutting back, solo and small firm practices started to focus on their most important work but needed to find a way to support their lower-priority matters. So while lawyers were spending time on their best clients and best prospects, they were sending matters more often to freelance associates through Lawclerk. [Disclosure: Lawclerk is a sponsor of the New Solo podcast.] The pandemic created a real-time test of Lawclerk’s model. It demonstrated that it could adjust to assist its core market of lawyers who need occasional associate support without creating addi

What does a law firm’s client intake process have to do with its advertising campaign? Everything. Law firm digital marketing expert Jason Marsh won’t even work with firms that don’t have their intake process nailed down. That’s because you can’t have a successful campaign without being able to sign a client successfully. Marsh tells host Adriana Linares that the intake process’s job is to stop a potential new client from searching for another lawyer. So before small firms begin ad campaigns, it’s critical to understand the entire customer journey from web click to being qualified as a lead and being signed as a paying client. Marsh and Linares discuss the client acquisition funnel and what lawyers need to know to create successful ad campaigns. Linares pins Marsh down on the average cost of a typical solo or small firm ad campaign. Jason Marsh is the founder of digital marketing agency MARSH8 Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Lawclerk, ROSS, and Alert Communications.

In this bonus episode, host Adriana Linares and her guest Neil J. Squillante share insights and industry trends featured in this year’s TechnoLawyer Top 10 Product Awards. Selected based on reader interest, honorees this year include an impressive mix of products for lawyers to better manage and market practices, track cases, conduct research, increase efficiencies, and feel like you’re practicing in 2030. Follow this link to read TechnoLawyer’s announcement of this year’s list, which includes links to full product reviews. Neil J. Squillante is the founder of TechnoLawyer, an award-winning email newsletter network. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Lawclerk, ROSS, and Alert Communications.

Legal marketing expert Conrad Saam returns for Part 2 of his conversation with host Adriana Linares to explain why for many lawyers SEO has become the “back cover of the Yellow Pages.” It’s expensive and not right for everyone. So when do you need to work on SEO? Linares teases out some tips: How to evaluate if it’s worth spending money on search engine optimization. Whether your last name should be part of your website URL. Which website platform is a good fit for your practice? How to determine if a marketing agency is right for you. In case you missed it, follow this link to listen to Part 1 of this discussion.  Conrad Saam is president at Mockingbird Marketing. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Lawclerk, ROSS, and Alert Communications.

Marketing is an essential business tool, but many lawyers lack the expertise needed to leverage it in their law firms. Expert legal marketer Conrad Saam joins Adriana Linares in this 2-part series to discuss simple, effective marketing tactics for attorneys. They define the basic marketing terms all lawyers should know and offer practical advice for going out on your own. Conrad Saam is president at Mockingbird Marketing. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Lawclerk, ROSS, and Alert Communications.

Building a better LinkedIn profile can help you increase professional connections, but why should you really care about this platform? Adriana Linares hears tips and tricks from Dennis Kennedy and Allison Shields from their book, Make LinkedIn Work for You: A Practical Guide for Lawyers and Other Legal Professionals. They share how effective participation can help you gain more visibility in your peer community, increase your referrals, and find new professional opportunities.  Adriana would love to take listener LinkedIn questions and have Dennis and Allison back for a future episode! Send your questions to newsolo@legaltalknetwork.com.  Dennis Kennedy is an information technology lawyer and legal technology pioneer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Dennis is also the co-host of the Kennedy-Mighell Report podcast. Allison C. Shields, Esq. is the President of Legal Ease Consulting, Inc. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Lawclerk, and ROSS.

Good leadership is invaluable to law firms when they face a major transition, and transitions abound as the profession navigates issues brought forth by the pandemic. Adriana Linares talks with David Holmes about his passion for leadership and his personal experiences as managing partner at the Farr Law Firm. He shares insights on how patience and encouragement can help you as a leader nurture a culture of positivity in your law firm. David Holmes is a business lawyer and managing partner at the Farr Law Firm. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Lawclerk, and ROSS.

Many bar associations have struggled to maintain operations during the pandemic, but the San Diego County Bar Association was ahead of the curve during COVID closures. What did they do differently? Host Adriana Linares talks with Jill Epstein and Keith Fisher of the SDCBA about how they managed the transition and the technology that has helped them successfully continue operations. Jill Epstein is executive director of the San Diego County Bar Association. Keith Fisher is deputy executive director of the San Diego County Bar Association. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Lawclerk, and ROSS.

Adriana Linares and Brett Burney offer a comprehensive list of useful tips and tools for bettering your technology use in the age of remote work. Recommendations in this episode: TextExpander, TextExpanderForLawyers.com NetDocuments G Suite Office 365 Microsoft To Do Analog Attorney Field Notes  GoldFynch PST Viewer TunnelBear AppsInLaw.com eDiscovery Buyers Guide Logikcull GoodNotes Notability PDF Expert iAnnotate GoodReader MacSparky.com iPhoneJD.com LexTechReview.com ErnieTheAttorney.net Also, check out Adriana and Brett’s recent conversation on Legal Talk Today. Brett Burney is principal of Burney Consultants LLC. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio's Daily Matters, Nexa, Lawclerk, and ROSS.

As we move deeper into the COVID-19 crisis, many lawyers and firms are still scrambling for solutions for the shift to remote work. Adriana Linares focuses this edition of New Solo on giving struggling lawyers the guidance they need to succeed in this transition and serve their clients with excellence. Adriana welcomes David Holmes, Henry Herrman, and Greg Lambert to discuss their experiences with remote work in firms of differing sizes, specific tool recommendations, and how they have transitioned their firms during the pandemic. David Holmes is a business lawyer and managing partner at the Farr Law Firm. Henry A. Herrman is the founder and sole shareholder of Herrman Law Firm. Greg Lambert is the chief knowledge services officer at Jackson Walker. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Lawclerk, and ROSS.

A new client or matter comes into your office. You need to open the matter, work the matter, and, ultimately, close the matter. Are you doing those steps the best way? New Solo host Adriana Linares sits down with guest host Liz McCausland and guest Ernie Svenson to discuss how Ernie helps lawyers develop systems to avoid disorder and waste. Learn how to use your time better, get more meaningful clients, and use the best tools for the job. They also discuss Ernie’s upcoming 2-day Small Firm Bootcamp being held in New Orleans on May 7th and 8th. Liz McCausland started her career as a civil litigator and now does bankruptcy and mediations in Orlando, Florida. Ernie Svenson is a New Orleans lawyer and regular industry speaker who has been running the Ernie the Attorney blog since 2002. Ernie also hosts the Law Firm Autopilot Podcast. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Lawclerk, and ROSS.