Shows
Reboot Your Law PracticeTalking with Conrad Saam of Mockingbird MarketingOn this week's episode Oscar and Scott welcome Conrad Saam from Mockingbird Marketing. They discuss the importance of a website to your legal practice, what to look for in a website vendor and what every website should contain. Most importantly, hear the story of how "Zippy the Chicken" was invited to become a "Lawyer of Distinction.2020-06-1750 minReboot Your Law PracticeLong at Short Term Plans for Law Practices During the Covid CrisisThis Episode, Oscar and Scott discuss the potential timelines for law practices to financially recover from this crisis. They discuss short term and long term possibilities along with other informative information about how to run your practice during this crisis.2020-05-2044 minReboot Your Law PracticeThe Long Term Effects of Covid-19 on the Practice of LawOn this episode, Oscar & Scott discuss the probability that the Covid Pandemic will have serious effects on the practice of law until a vaccine is distributed and even beyond. They discuss mindset and how to get yourself and your practice in a position to succeed in this unprecedented situation.2020-04-2448 minReboot Your Law PracticeSome Ideas for your Practice During the PandemicA few weeks into the Covid-19 Pandemic, Oscar and Scott talk about how they are handling their practices and the planning they are doing for the future.2020-04-0827 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 145 Practicing Law in the age of Covid-19After over a year absence, Oscar and Scott "Reboot" the podcast to discuss some of the issues they are facing as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic. They discuss the changes in their practices and give advice on how to position your practice over the next few months.2020-03-2736 minReboot Your Law PracticeThe Impact of Technology on the Practice of LawThis episode Oscar and Scott discuss the impact of technology on how the solo and small practice are looked at by consumers. The ability to hold yourself out as an expert in many types of law is increasingly difficult. Client's want someone who specializes in their specific issue and if your website advertises that you are an "expert" in 7 types of law then the client may well move on to someone else. They discuss how to use your website and other online media to best try and attract the client that is looking for your services2019-01-0924 minReboot Your Law PracticeDealing with Bumps in the RoadAs your practice grows and you enable more moving parts, sometimes these parts break down and you have to deal with a quick painful situation or a long painful situation. This week Scott discusses the stress of creating a new website for his practice while Oscar discusses an associate who left and the options for replacing him.2018-12-0432 minReboot Your Law PracticeLegal advice by Text?Oscar and Scott discuss Text-a-lawyer. Is it a service that can help those that can’t otherwise afford legal advice or is it an ethical mess that distorts attorney client privilege.2018-10-2317 minReboot Your Law PracticeNext Level IdeasWhen Oscar and Scott started the podcast they were truly “Rebooting” their law practices. Now over three years later they discuss the next level planning and ideas that they are initiating for their practices. They touch on speaking in front of groups, evaluating if a networking group is right for you and getting involved in thier local bar associations.2018-07-2425 minReboot Your Law PracticeWebsite RevampAs we know, your website is one of the most important tools you have to give prospective clients information about your firm. Scott gives a status update on the revamp of his website. He discusses the steps his design firm is taking to make the new site a success.2018-05-3022 minReboot Your Law PracticeDon’t Sweat the Small StuffIn this episode Scott and Oscar talk about making sure you are not getting bogged down by handling small matters that do not properly compensate you for your time. Getting properly paid for your time is the key to a successful law practice. Handling small cases or charging really low fees or agreeing to just “write a letter” for a client for $200.00 may bring some cash flow into your business but your time would be far better spent in working on your practice and on your higher paying clients.2018-05-1719 minReboot Your Law PracticeLet This Be the YearPlanning and strategic thinking are important certainly. But at some point, you have to just pull the trigger. Scott and Oscar talk about how as 2018 gets going, this should be the year listeners Do Something! Whether its starting a blog, increase or decrease staffing, networking more, whatever it is. Let 2018 be the year that you take at least one concrete step to implement a change in your practice that will increase business. The hosts discuss some of the steps they are taking this year to improve their practices.2018-02-1423 minReboot Your Law PracticeMake 2018 the Year You Commit to a Networking GroupScott and Oscar have talked about the value of networking in many past episodes. This week they discuss why committing to networking should be on your 2018 New Year’s Resolution list. Whether it’s joining a BNI Networking Group in your area or signing up to become more involved in your local Chamber of Commerce, getting actively involved in some form of steady and consistent networking is essential to practice growth. The hosts also provide tips as to how to get the most out of the networking that you do.2018-01-0225 minReboot Your Law PracticeGetting Your Name Out ThereIn advance of a presentation they are making to the Nassau County Bar Association, the hosts talk about ways to get your name out in social media and the community. Publishing articles; making presentations; blogging; and yes, even doing a podcast are all ways to put yourself out in the universe and the marketplace. Scott and Oscar talk specifics and give do’s and don’ts about the right way to do this so that you provide value to those who receive it which will turn into business.2017-12-1328 minReboot Your Law PracticeLaw Schools Need to Address Financial Reality About Practicing LawScott talks about his recent attendance at a conference sponsored by the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System where the subject was the future of law schools and the legal system. While there were some positive moments where there were discussions about making law school more client-centered; using apps to increase access to justice; and teaching leadership in law school. However, there was a lot of talk about meeting the needs of the unrepresented without any solutions that would help lawyers make that financially worthwhile. Oscar brought up that President Obama’s Student Loan Forgiveness Program ha...2017-11-2931 minReboot Your Law PracticeAttending Practice Management Conferences – Part 1Fresh off his trip to New Orleans, podcast host Scott Limmer discusses attending the CLIO Cloud Conference while there. The conference focused on practice management for lawyers, highlighting of course, CLIO software products. But the hosts discuss the need for lawyers to engage in these conferences to learn about what’s out there for use in their offices and just to connect with similarly situated attorneys. As usual, Scott and Oscar also discuss what practice management and time management tools and strategies worked – and didn’t work – for them.2017-11-0819 minReboot Your Law PracticeWhat Are Your Phones Telling You?This podcast discusses something many of us take for granted – our phones. But let’s face it, this is how our clients come to us; yes they may email us first or message us from a website, but they will always want to call in and speak to someone live. Scott and Oscar talk about what systems they use to not just answer and return calls, but to mine the data and information they can get from the calls being made.2017-09-2722 minReboot Your Law PracticeUsing Technology to Grow Your PracticeWe are all inundated by pop-ups and email messages from various sources telling us how to grow our practices using technology and social media. What’s real and what’s just hucksterism? This podcast focuses on what has worked and not worked for the hosts and what core messages we can take from those ads that are telling us what basic areas we need to focus on to expand our client base and income. Scott and Oscar discuss specific steps they have taken and how they have tailored their social media to attract more of the clients they want. The...2017-09-0623 minReboot Your Law PracticePros and Cons of Free ConsultationsThis episode discusses whether listeners should offer a free consultation to prospective clients or charge for them. Host Oscar Michelen recently started charging for initial consultations while Host Scott Limmer offers free consultations. The hosts engage in a spirited back and forth discussion as to why they chose each particular method and why works for them. Listeners can gain insight from the talk as to which method would work best for their practice.2017-08-2319 minReboot Your Law PracticeProper Marketing for Growth Requires Looking Backwards SometimesOscar gets the discussion going this week talking about what he learned from a review of old files from his prior firm that had been in storage in his house for the past seven years. In talking about it with Scott, he discusses what he should have been able to see about his practice and its marketing efforts had he paid attention. That leads to the hosts talking about the need to be mindful and to analyze what you are doing in your marketing efforts. Don’t just keep trying new things without putting in the effort of looking at...2017-08-1016 minReboot Your Law PracticeKeep Your Eye Out For “The Next Big Thing”This week’s episode finds our podcast hosts both comfortably rested from Anguilla vacations and once again pondering what “The Next Big Thing” is for law practices. Scott and Oscar talk about how the Hollywood industry and Las Vegas both rose out of nothing, filling a void no one saw that was there to be seen. While in some sense LegalZoom and Avvo have done that for the practice of law, there really hasn’t been a “Sea change” in the way law is practiced; these examples tell us however that such an event may be right around the corner. Will...2017-07-2520 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 118 Your Attitude Impacts the Clients Decision to Hire (or Not Hire) YouWhile Oscar is enjoying a well deserved vacation with his wife, Scott goes solo hitting on a number of topics. We first discuss the outreach for “Master Your Law Practice” the networking group we are starting on June 29th. We then discuss how important it is to understand the needs of your clients and how your attitudes affect their decision to hire you. We finish up with a discussion about URL’s2017-06-2021 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 117 Master Your Law PracticeOscar and Scott discuss the networking group they are launching for Long Island attorneys. The 1st meeting of “Master Your Law Practice” will take place on June 29th at Seasons 52 in Garden City. Oscar and Scott discuss the beginnings of this idea and how it has grown into a different kind of legal networking group. They both are looking forward to sharing their experiences with other attorneys.2017-06-1325 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 116 Dealing with Tech and Its ProblemsWe have all gotten used to relying on our favorite tech aides – apps, calendaring programs, phone systems, etc. But what happens to our practices when they fail? In this episode Scott and Oscar talk about recent tech issues they have faced and how they addressed. They offer some insight and solutions to make sure that when a snafu happens your practice can rebound quickly. Two key points: (a) Find a good IT consultant that is available to help guide you when this happens and protect you from reoccurrence and (b) Back up regularly on a hard server and to th...2017-06-0628 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 115 Why Do Big Law Firms Fail? For the Same Reasons as Solo and Small Practices Do!This week Scott and Oscar discuss how the same issues that cause Solo and Small Practices to fail are the same issues that affect Big Law. The top three things affecting Big Law being, below average performance, internal dynamics (no leadership, incompatible goals and lack of planning) and external dynamics (competitive pressure related to firms client base, not having access to new clients. The same issues that are of tantamount importance to solo and small firms2017-05-3125 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 114 Fully Communicate With Your ClientsOscar was invited to Otisville Correctional Institute by the Tribeca Film Festival to be a speaker at the screening of Gideon’s Army, which follows a number of public defenders and their interaction with their clients. Before the movie the inmates had extremely harsh opinions about the attorneys that represented them. After they watched the movie their opinions softened a bit and had a better understanding of the mindset of their defense attorneys. What everyone should take from this is that what representing a client means. That you are advocating, supporting and speaking on behalf of this person. And th...2017-05-2328 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 113 – PART 2 of Our Discussion About Avvo’s Lawyernomics Conference: SEO, branding, and the value of going to professional conferencesScott and Oscar continue their discussion about Scott’s presentation and attendance at Avvo’s annual Lawyernomics conference in Las Vegas. The talk focuses on SEO and recognizing where your practice is at - brand new practices don’t have the same needs and opportunities as mature growing practices. The focus must be on what can best improve your practice. Not everything will work for everybody. The hosts discuss the value of attending professional conferences to keep learning about what’s out there and new ways to develop a consistently successful practice.2017-05-1622 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 111 Give a PresentationThis week Scott and Oscar discuss how giving presentations can be an important part of your practice. Not only do they show that you are engaged in topics that effect your clients and show your authority but are also a good way to network meet other attorneys. Although you may not be able to picture yourself speaking in front of others and may be absolutely terrified by the prospect, it is like any other skill. At first you may be nervous and unsure of yourself but like anything else the more experience you get the more comfortable you will...2017-05-0222 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 109 Addition by SubtractionThis week Oscar and Scott discuss how some clients may be more trouble than they are worth Even though the money a client is paying you might be attractive at first, the amount of work, stress and frustration the case and client may bring may not be worth taking the case If you get caught up in a situation like this, you can’t complain about it being the fault of the client. It is the lawyers decision to take on the client and you must hold yourself responsible for the quality of the clients that are hiring you It...2017-04-1924 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 108 Getting the Most Out of LinkedInThis week Scott and Oscar talk about their experiences with the networking site LinkedIn. While both of the podcast hosts agree that all solos and small firm practitioners should have a Linked In profile, Oscar is the bigger fan of the site. That stems from his practice being largely a commercial litigation practice and Linked In being a social networking tool mostly for business and professional people. The hosts talk about how to get the most out of it by being active on it, and using it to find potential referral partners. It’s just another tool to help ge...2017-04-1118 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 103 Some Quick Examples of Dos and Don’tsScott and Oscar discuss some recent encounters with lawyers that make for good examples of Dos and Don’ts to rebuilding your practice. On the “Do” side – Scott references a lawyer who used social activism to help develop business leads and eventually a successful law practice. On the Don’t side, Oscar discusses a lawyer who was lamenting that his practice was dying and he had no idea where business was going to come from; meanwhile, Oscar had afterwards met a mutual friend of theirs who was a great source for legal work that the “lamenter” never approached because he just didn’t...2017-03-0727 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 102 Balancing Practicing Law and Running a Law PracticeIn response to a listener’s question about how to balance your time between legal work and administrative tasks, the host discuss how they strive to find time to do all that is necessary to practice law and run a law practice – two very different things. While discussing the various methods that they use, Scott and Oscar focus on three important points: · Organization and Planning are Key · Put a System in Place That You Will Actually Use · Don’t Procrastinate and Get Things Done This may mean on occasion extending your day (or night) well past your normal working routine...2017-02-2823 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 101 Your Credibility is EverythingIn today’s world, with all its access to instant information, you must be careful how you tout yourself online. Scott and Oscar discuss a variety of real life cases where lawyers got into serious trouble for overstating their experience or outright lying about their credentials online. If you have no heavy experience to boast of, then build up your accessibility, talk about your commitment to clients, back it up by offering effective and immediate communication. Say something that differentiates yourself and that is valid. Whatever promises or boasts you make online you need to be able to back th...2017-02-2127 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 91- Setting Proper Fees is One of the Hardest Things to Do in Private PracticeGetting properly paid for your time is essential to a successful practice but also one of the most difficult goals to obtain. How do you set the right price? How do you get clients to commit to paying right at the initial consultation? Oscar and Scott discuss what has worked in the past for their practices and provide some concrete tips in dealing with getting retained by prospective clients. You have to be comfortable in quoting fees and finding that right figure for each matter that makes sense to you and your practice. Accessing mentors and referral partners for...2016-12-1328 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 90 – Using Texting and Visual Voicemail to Maintain Client CommunicationIn this episode, the hosts discuss how they use texting and visual voicemail to help maintain client communication. In today’s world, clients expect a much higher level of connectivity and communication with their lawyer. Scott and Oscar chat about how they decided to give clients their cell phone numbers to ease communication and make themselves more productive and how they manage client expectations about contact and responding to inquiries. That leads to a discussion on how using tech to increase client intake. Without a doubt, maintaining a good flow of communication with clients is central to a growing pr...2016-12-0624 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 87 – The Future of Law Practice – What We Learned at Above The Law’s Academy for Private PracticeScott and Oscar were asked to present about podcasting at this year’s Above the Law’s Academy For Private Practice. The hosts talk about their presentation and also discuss their takeaway from the conference. ATL presented many highly-informed and qualified speakers who talked about the place for lawyers in the gig economy; what legal tech works best for small and solo practitioners; and the rapidly changing face of legal practice in the new millennium. All lawyers need to assess their practices and see how it has been and can be affected in the new legal landscape. The host talk...2016-11-1528 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 86 Focus on the Clarity of Your MessageThe hosts talk about Scott’s decision to stop focusing on Special Education Law, one area of his growing practice that he felt tended to “muddle the message” of the rest of his practice. It was not an easy decision as Special Ed Law was an integral part of Scott’s Reboot plan. Nevertheless, as the hosts point out, you should look at the overall picture and message you are sending to potential clients. Also, it’s hard to give up something you have committed to but sometimes it’s necessary to make sure you continue to grow and develop. Par...2016-11-0825 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 83 Keep a Close Eye on What You Say and Do on Social MediaScott and Oscar remind listeners of how things can go viral very quickly on Social Media. They recount examples of how lawyers have gotten in trouble or mocked over social media posts and social media campaigns. Be mindful of who are your friends on platforms like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and remember that they will see what you are posting. The hosts also discuss how taking certain stands on issues of law could come back to haunt and could hurt your ability to get clients in that area. The caution extends to how lawyers present themselves when they get...2016-10-1823 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 81 Some First Steps When Launching a New Solo or Small Firm PracticeWe hear from lots of lawyers and law students asking us about what are the first things you have to do to start a practice. Many think its picking out office space, designing business cards, and choosing letterhead. While those steps need to be taken eventually, Scott and Oscar say that Step One is to have a vision plan about what kind of law you want to practice, where is the work going to come from? Remember that you will likely not have a lot of income in the first three to six months, so what is your budget...2016-10-0425 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 80 Relationships with Referral SourcesOscar and Scott begin this weeks podcast discussing the importance of referral partners being aware of and in agreement with how the referral fee is going to be handled. They then discuss treating that source as more than just an outlet for cases. They advise you to think of any referral relationship you have and take the opportunity to take this person out to lunch and discuss your relationship.2016-09-2723 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 78 What lawyers Need to Know About Social Media Before Going Solo, Part 2Scott and Oscar continue their discussion about New York Matrimonial Lawyer Jolene Louis's ebook, “Things I Wish I Knew About Social Media Marketing before Going Solo.” They dive a little deeper and discuss; - Using Instagram to attract clients - Using Facebook ads to providing information - Using periscope to expand upon a blog post or tour of you office - Importance of managing online reviews Ultimately everything you put out into the social media world should show your value, authority and authenticity.2016-09-1325 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 77 What lawyers Need to Know About Social Media Before Going SoloNew York Matrimonial lawyer Joleena Louis wrote an ebook entitled ""Things I Wish I Knew About Social Media Marketing Before Going Solo."" Oscar and Scott discuss some of the advice she outlines such as; - Using social media to advertise - Not advertising to your followers - Keep social media professional - you are your business - Understanding the balance between staying professional vs. your personal opinion - Does having a large amount of followers automatically give you authenticity - Why Blog?2016-09-0624 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 76 Using a Coach or Consultant to Help Get You OrganizedA recent NY times article about Howard Stern discussed how he used a life coach to change the focus of his show and kind of “reboot” his format to make him more open to a larger audience. Jumping off that as a talking point Scott and Oscar discuss how they used David Allen’s time management book “Getting Things Done” to help organize their practices. Whether you use “GTD” or a life coach or any other system, the important thing is to plan your practice. You have to make choices daily as to what action you are going to take; how much...2016-08-3026 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 75 Can You Find “Joy” in the Practice of Law? Yes! (If You Look Hard Enough)Coming off last week’s discussion about work-life balance, the hosts talk about finding “joy” or “enjoyment” in the practice of law. One of the principles that Reboot Your Law Practice has focused on is trying to find a niche area of practice that you love or which greatly interests you, and targeting your reboot in that area. The hosts discuss an article written by Linda K. Robertson for Slaw, an online magazine which was entitled “Practicing Law with Joy.” Ms. Robertson notes that the top five criteria for happiness at work (not just for lawyers but for workers generally) are...2016-08-2322 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 73 How to Play Nicely With Other AttorneysWhen practicing law you often interact with other attorneys who are drawing from the same client pool that you are, which may lead to awkward interactions. Scott and Oscar discuss dealing with that issue with each other and other office sharing and networking situations between attorneys. The hosts feel that it is human nature to be territorial but feel there are more positives in working together then pushing other attorneys away. They recommend always go into situations like this with your eyes open and try to ward off issues before they begin.2016-08-0922 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 72 Adjusting to the New Paradigm Part 2 – Web Presence and NetworkingScott and Oscar continue their discussion about lawyers having to adjust to the new paradigm. Oscar mentions a friend who needed to refer a family member to a lawyer and who was flabbergasted that their family member had chosen lawyer they found over the internet. It raised a discussion about how lawyers need to be aware that some folks still frown upon using the Web to locate counsel. So we need to make sure our websites are professional and explain why we may be the right choice regardless of how our clients found us. The hosts also discuss personal...2016-08-0222 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 71 How to Develop your Legal WebsiteThe most important piece of advise that Oscar and Scott can give to an attorney or firm creating their legal website is to be intimately involved in the process. You can not just pay “a website guy” and let them create what they think your website should look like. No one but you knows what is valuable to your potential clients, the answers they are looking for, the tone that needs to be taken. Scott detailed the process of creating the website for his Student Defense practice area. He discussed his role as the project manager and the work that...2016-07-2625 minReboot Your Law PracticeEPISODE 70 Lawyers Need to Adjust to the New ParadigmThings have been changing in the field of law for some time now but lawyers seem to be stuck in the past. As a group, lawyers tend to be conservative and slow to change. But if you are trying to survive and thrive in this new paradigm, you need to adapt your practice to the changing ways and the new competition. Scott and Oscar talk about how to make sure you are aware of what the issues are and how your practice needs to change and adapt. Clients today have certain expectations before they even meet you through their...2016-07-1924 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 69 For Clients and Counsel Alike: Commenting Online Can Be Fraught With DangerThese days everybody’s got something to say about everything. And social media gives the whole world a platform to show off their knowledge and their stupidity. Scott and Oscar tell some cautionary tales about when they or their clients got caught up in online comments and statements that they regretted. The hosts also talk about the need to think before you text or email as these digital messages are permanent and can be taken out of context. Here are three rules to remember before engaging in digital or online communication: - Rule 1: Don’t Say Anything: The first and...2016-07-1224 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 67 A Listener Asks: “Would We Do Law School Again?” We Answer With A Resounding: “It Depends”In response to a listener email from a law student who asked “Would the podcast hosts go to law school if they could do it all over again?,” Scott and Oscar give the proverbial lawyer’s answer “It Depends.” They discuss their answer to that question in detail and also talk about the state of the current marketplace for lawyers. The hosts point out that they would definitely go to law school again at the same price and with the same student loan debt they did when they went, but would have to think hard about taking on $250K in debt to...2016-06-2821 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 66: Don’t Just Practice Law – Get Paid For It!It’s the hardest thing about the practice of law as a solo or in a small firm – getting properly compensated for your time. But it’s also the secret to having a quality practice that you don’t resent. In this episode, Oscar and Scott discuss some of the reasons why clients balk at paying and what lawyers can do to make sure that the bills you send out come back with checks. While it once again boils down to maintaining the two core principles at the heart of what we always talk about – authenticity and value – the hosts offer...2016-06-2132 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 65: “Caveat Legem Disciplus!” (Law Students Beware!) and Lawyers too!This episode focuses on what law schools do to manipulate their rankings and appear more worthy to incoming law students. Scott and Oscar talk about schools who pay for high rankings in “Best of” lists that may appear on internet searches but have no true substance behind them. Some lower tier schools are not allowing their students at the bottom of the class to even take the Bar exam to hopefully inflate their Bar passing rates as well. The hosts point out that many of these tools, trick and tips are also used by legal marketers to try and conv...2016-06-1422 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 64 Opportunity Doesn’t Always KnockOscar opens the show telling a story about how he happened to run into a long-lost relative while traveling in Chile. He came across his relative because he was engaging some local folks in conversation and one thing led to another. The hosts talk about lawyers need to keep their eyes and ears open for opportunity. You make your own luck – by having an open mind and always having a business-oriented perspective, opportunities will come your way. Take the chance- reach out to people, set up meetings, have lunch, coffee, - run ideas by them, ask them about their bu...2016-06-0720 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 63 Don’t Market Without a FocusThis week we discuss the need to focus your marketing dollars and strategy carefully. The hosts get into the nitty-gritty about how Pay Per Click and Facebook Ads and other common legal marketing tools work – and don’t work. By talking about their experiences, both good and bad, Scott and Oscar give out useful tips and strategies for making the most out of whatever marketing plan you decide upon. Like everything else, careful planning initially is key. Think about who you want to target and what words or phrases are those targets most likely to be responsive to. Also make...2016-05-3118 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 60: Maintain a relationship with your law school!!!No matter how long ago you graduated, you can get help from your Law School Career Services Office. They can help you with emails, cover letters. updating your resume and understanding networking. This week is Part 2 of our interview with Elizabeth Dambriunas, the Associate Director of Alumni Advising at the Office of Career Planning at New York Law School. Elizabeth talks to Oscar and Scott touch on the following; - Attorneys need to have an understanding of the legal market - Attorney’s can’t put all their hopes on their 1st job. Learn and grow...2016-05-1023 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 59: Need Career Guidance? Your Law School’s Career Services Office Can Help You!This week we welcome back Elizabeth Dambriunas, the Associate
Director of Alumni Advising at the Office of Career Planning at New
York Law School. Elizabeth talks to Oscar and Scott about the
following topics;
- the changes in the job market for new law school graduates
- the best steps that a law student, who has a specific career
path in mind, should take while in law school to help their chances
of practicing in that area.
- actions that could be taken by an attorney who would like to
move practice areas...2016-05-0322 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 56 What We Learned From YogaPodcast Host Scott shared his experience from a yoga retreat that he went on with his wife this past weekend. He was struck by the genuineness and authenticity of the instructors and how applicable it was to the practice of law. The hosts reflect on how their earlier episodes focused on work-life balance and the need to find time to contemplate your attitude and your law practice. One’s attitude totally affects how one views their work. Scott said the main theme of the weekend that he took away was the need to connect to yourself and others. The ho...2016-04-1218 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 55- Better Watch Saul! What we can learn about law practice watching AMC’s hit show “Better Call Saul”Since the early days of TV, there have been many lawyer-themed shows. From “Perry Mason” to “L.A. Law” to “Boston Legal” to today’s “Grinder.” But rarely has a show focused on a character like Saul Goodman in AMC’s “Better Call Saul” a spinoff of “Breaking Bad.” In it, Bob Odenkirk plays a small time criminal defense solo practitioner who goes into and then out of Big Law while trying to get his own practice going. In this podcast, Scott and Oscar talk about many of the issues the show raises about lawyering itself. The various episodes highlight the good and bad d...2016-04-0526 minReboot Your Law PracticeEPISODE 54 Are On-Line Law Schools an Answer? What Do They Mean for the Practice of Law?Scott and Oscar discuss the future of legal education as we see the advent of online law schools. The discussion revolves around an article calling for more online law schools to address the imbalance between the debt caused by law schools and the reality of the job market. The hosts also discuss lawsuits brought against law schools by law students who can’t get jobs and blame the inflated job placement numbers posted by law schools that entice them to enroll. The show then focuses on how the important thing to take away from all of this is that th...2016-03-2924 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 53 – Does Pre-Packaged Legal Marketing Work?If you have been practicing law for a few years, chances are you have gotten emails or mailers encouraging you to become a member of a number of sites that will promote your name and give you leads for legal work. The two biggest purveyors of this pre-packaged marketing are FindLaw and Avvo but there are a myriad of others. The hosts discuss their personal experiences with some of these companies and the benefits and downsides of joining them. Scott and Oscar all discuss companies that - for a small fee- will declare you one of the “10 Best Lawyers” in y...2016-03-2227 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 52 Sage Presence Part 2 – PresentationsScott and Oscar continue their discussion with Sage Presence founders Peter Machalek and Dean Hyers by delving into presentations. Presentations are a vital way to meet potential clients and referral partners. The guys at Sage suggest a number of ways to make yourself comfortable to do these: First of all, pick a topic that you are very knowledgable about and in which you can develop valuable information to provide to your audience. Then try to populate the session with people who know you and former clients. Remember that you need to provide value to the group so leave time...2016-03-1521 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 51 Coaching for LawyersThis week Oscar and Scott talk to Dean Hyers and Pete Machalek from Sage Presence. Sage Presence coaches professional service firms on how to market themselves by focusing on their message and their communication skills. They discuss a wide range of topics including;- having to move away from the stereotyped version of a “salesman”- how being in introvert can be an advantage when networking,- the potential benefits of giving the “right” value- building your business on giving presentationsYou can check out Sage Presence on the web athtt...2016-03-0823 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 50 Our Continued Discussion with Tom Bolt of the ABAScott and Oscar continue their chat with Tom Bolt of the ABA’s Law Practice Division. The focus turns to specific thing that law students, new lawyers and lawyers in transition can do to help develop a practice in this new economy. The hosts discuss with Tom the role technology plays to both support and place stress upon new, developing practices. Tom’s position offers him unique insight into what is happening in the legal marketplace across the country. He concludes the discussion talking about the Law Practice Division’s four core focus areas: marketing, management, technology and finance. We wou...2016-03-0119 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 49 We talk to Tom Bolt Chair of the Law Practice Division of the ABA2016-02-2322 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 48: Discussing The Achievement Habit by Bernard RothScott and Oscar have long advised listeners that law firms and solo lawyers can learn a lot about business development by listening to experts outside the legal field. In this episode they discuss The Achievement Habit by Bernard Roth. The author talks about the need for people to go after what they want and realize that they are in control of their own lives and businesses. The book admonishes its readers to “Stop Wishing, Start Doing and Take Command of Your Life.”
The hosts talk about how to implement the advice Roth gives in his book to a...2016-02-1622 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 47 - Access to Justice….in Law School and BeyondThis week Oscar and Scott talk about two different aspects of “Access to Justice”. First, they discuss Access to Justice in Law Schools. While giving law students much needed real life legal experience, the hosts wonder if serving this population will actually allow a student to make a living after graduation.
They also discuss a Law Firm that is marketing to this underserved population by offering free documents and information on their site and a unique pricing plan for clients.
The hosts discuss these different initiatives and believe this kind of out of the...2016-02-0925 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 46 Creating Conversation During Networking OpportunitiesThe key to a successful networking opportunity is being able to create a conversation that holds the interest of the others at the event. Scott and Oscar relate stories they were recently involved in around meeting lawyers and law students at events that offered great opportunities to make connections and maybe even develop some business. They offer suggestions and some “do’s and don’ts,” to help guide the listener through these opportunities. Step 1 is to be engaged – listen to what the other person has to say and build off of that; Step 2 is to personalize your story to match the...2016-02-0218 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 45 Take Control of Your MarketingA Facebook legal marketing ad sparks a conversation about why you cannot abdicate the responsibility for your law firm marketing. Many legal marketers will try to tell you that some lawyers are simply just not meant to be entrepreneurs and therefore they must rely on professional marketers to build their practices. The podcast hosts discuss that it can sound very enticing to not have to worry about this aspect of your business and let someone else worry about driving business to your practice. But it can be dangerous placing all of the marketing decisions and content in a third...2016-01-2620 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 44 Protecting Your Firm’s InformationScott and Oscar discuss how a solo or small firm practitioner has an obligation to protect the practice’s electronically stored information and digital media – including the firm’s website material and of course client data. The hosts discuss examples of how the both have dealt with cyber-attacks; hacks; and “ransomware” that have hit their practices in recent months. It’s important in today’s digital world to make sure that you stay current on the current risks that exist and the software and knowledge that can help fix your system if you get hit or even better avoid them in the fi2016-01-1924 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 43 Outsourcing Office Tasks or Do It Yourself? Which is Best?Time management is the biggest issue for solo or small practice lawyers. We have to be lawyers, mangers, paralegals, accountants, marketing experts, all at the same time. The podcast host talk about using the new “gig’ or “share” economy to help take some of the load off of you so that you can spend more time on job #1 – developing and growing your practice. In today’s economy more people are looking for this type of work and there are plenty of sites where lawyers can find the extra help they need on a case-by-case or project-by-project. The host talk about the th...2016-01-1221 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 41: Even More Thoughts on a Client Centered PracticeThis episode focuses attention on a topic the hosts have talked about before – developing a client-centered practice. By recalling things that have happened in their practices, Oscar and Scott discuss steps they have implemented to make sure they are always mindful of their clients’ needs and expectations. As lawyers, it can be easy to fall into the habit of believing that you know best how to handle the attorney-client relationship. But the hosts remind listeners that from the outset, it is the clients’ goals that matter most. For example, the first step is making sure that from the first meetin...2015-12-2220 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 40 - Negative Client Reviews and Social Media Posts
The use of Social Media can be a great asset to your practice but you need to be aware of the pitfalls. This week join Oscar and Scott as they talk about how negative online client comments can affect your practice. They discuss how to combat negative or untrue comments. It some situations engaging the opposing party may be recommended, in some situations, creating new content will be what is needed.
The hosts have previously (and will continue) to discuss having a more client centered practice and they believe that doing so will minimize negative reviews and maximize positive reviews.
2015-12-1521 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 39 A Quest Called Tribes – The Need to LeadThe podcast hosts were both influenced in their businesses by Seth Godin’s book Tribes: We Need You to Lead. In his book and in Ted talks on the subject Seth Godin discusses that a tribe is “any group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea.” This podcast talks about how Seth’s ideas can be applied to building your law practice by thinking of yourself as the leader of a tribe that will follow you by writing and talking about certain topics from a consistent, strong viewpoint. Scott and Oscar br...2015-12-0823 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 38 What happens in Vegas – Lessons learned from an attempted development of a niche practiceDevelopment of a niche practice has been a key focus of Reboot your Law Practice since its inception. Podcast host Scott Limmer talks about his attempts to develop a practice in Cannabis Law. At a recent trip to a Cannabis Convention in Las Vegas, Scott realized it was time to pull the plug on trying to start that niche area and move on to something else and devote more time to his current practice areas.The hosts talk about what Scott learned in the process and why it’s important to know when to walk away from som...2015-12-0122 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 37 What’s the right amount to budget for marketing?This week Oscar and Scott discuss how to decide how much to put into your marketing budget. While industry surveys report that law firms average between 1.5-3% of gross revenue for marketing, Oscar and Scott discus how the numbers can be deceptive. Firstly, the surveys usually involve big law firms so the numbers will not be applicable to solo or small firm practitioners. Before deciding how much to spend, you have to decide who your target audience is and where can you reach them. Spending money on marketing without a precise game plan as to what kind...2015-11-2422 minReboot Your Law PracticeEPISODE 36 Remember – To Thine Own Self Be True (especially on the web)Oscar & Scott talk about the importance of remaining authentic to yourself and your practice in all of your social media outlets. Starting with your website, don’t pretend to be something you’re not or make promises you can’t keep. Your site is usually the first thing that will pop up when prospective clients search your name on the Internet. The hosts talk about some issues they discovered in lawyers’ websites and online communications that must be avoided at all costs. Examples include using a picture of someone other than yourself and giving wrong information on a substantive law issu...2015-11-1723 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 35 Scott Reads a Few Business BooksThis week we talk about tried and true big business ideas that you can use for your solo or small practice. Scott read a few business books and he and Oscar talk about how to apply the methods he learned about to your practice.They discuss the following booksThe E Myth by Michael Gerberhttp://www.amazon.com/The-E-Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses/dp/0887307280The E-Myth discusses the differing, oftentimes conflicting, roles of a business owner as he must take on the duties of the entrepreneur, technician and manager of their small business. Scott and Oscar agree...2015-11-1023 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 34 Transitioning to a New Practice Area – Oscar Michelen’s experienceIn this episode the podcast hosts talk about developing and transitioning into a new practice area. Scott has Oscar take listeners through how he made a transition into a new practice area when his main practice field –criminal defense - began to decrease. Oscar explains why the need arose and how he adapted and developed as he transitioned. The podcast hosts apply lessons learned from this experience into tools listeners can use and apply to their own practices.2015-11-0325 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 33 - Scott reports on the Above The Law - Academy of Private Practice ConferencePodcast Host Scott Limmer recently attended Above the Law’s Academy of Private Practice Conference and reports on some valuable insight and information he obtained at the conference. First and foremost, Scott mentions that lawyers have to get comfortable with the current and coming tech boom affecting lawyers and their practice. This has been a running theme on the show and the ATL APP conference just further solidified the need for practitioners to get up to speed – not just with tech for the office and staff but tech such as branded portals that put up clients’ needs and seek legal...2015-10-2721 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 30 - Hiring an associate. When and How?This week Oscar and Scott discuss how solo and small practices can decide on when its time to bring on a new associate. Hiring another lawyer is a big commitment and not just because of the additional salary. It means you have to evaluate your space, your malpractice coverage and your time.There are some steps you can take before hiring a lawyer to make sure you are ready:- Will a non-lawyer addition help? Can you start by just adding a part-time paralegal or secretary to help with some of the administrative or lower level...2015-10-0620 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 29 - How Scott is Developing a Niche PracticeJoin 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?...2015-09-2917 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 28 - Sam Glover from Lawyerist.com joins usThis 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...2015-09-2226 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 27 - I Got a Website, Now What?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 disc...2015-09-1522 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 26 - Mentoring and CoachingEpisode 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 v...2015-09-0818 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 25 - Vital Steps to Take When Starting Your Own Legal PracticeLeaving 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...2015-09-0121 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode 24 - How to Distinguish Yourself and Your PracticeIn this episode, Scott & Oscar discuss how to distinguish yourself and your practice. They discuss the similarities between marketing and selling salsa and marketing and selling your self and your legal services. Suggestions include; evaluating what you like about the services and professionals you use, understanding the goals and expectations of the individual clients, and truly listening and understanding what the clients need from their perspective.
While clients ultimately want results, they also want service. You need to listen to clients, understand their issues and treat them as you would want to be treated. You must communicate with you...2015-08-2526 minReboot Your Law PracticeEPISODE 23 - Cathy Reisenwitz on Law and TechnologyIn 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 unchan...2015-08-2115 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode #22 - The Need to be OrganizedThe 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 techn...2015-08-1131 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode #20 - Client Perspective with Guest Matthew ChanThe 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 ult...2015-07-2852 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode #17 - Establishing a Niche Practice, Part 2Episode 17 Developing a Niche Practice – Part 2 The hosts continue their discussion of how to add a niche practice of law to your business. They remind listeners that it may take time to grow, it will not happen overnight. Scott and Oscar give some specific details of how to start such a practice. It starts with setting goals and creating a business plan. Selecting the right area is key and it may take more than one attempt to find the right niche. It’s best to look at areas that you already have a potential to get busi...2015-07-0728 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode #16 - How to Develop Your Legal BlogScott and Oscar talk about legal bogs and how to develop one for your practice. In today’s marketplace, a legal blog provides content to your website and also allows clients to see how you write and take positions on areas of law. The hosts provide talking points for you blog and give advice on how to create a worthwhile legal blog that will be looked at favorably by clients, prospective clients and other lawyers. Quick tips include:
(1) Make sure the articles express your voice and viewpoint. Bland generic, boilerplate articles will not generate the interest or at...2015-06-3023 minReboot Your Law PracticeEpisode #15 - Establishing a Niche PracticeOne thing lawyers in small or solo practices can do to help revitalize their current practices is look to developing a practice in a niche area of law. Scott and Oscar discuss specific lawyers who have developed such practices in a variety of legal fields – steroid law; bicycle accidents and representing pet owners. They also discuss how adding niche areas to their own practices helped increase their cash flow and provide a steadier revenue stream. The hosts provide pointers on how to develop such a practice and how adding a niche area of law cannot only enrich your business bu...2015-06-2321 minReboot Your Law PracticeEPISODE #13 Adjusting to the Marketplace – How low should you go?Scott and Oscar talk about the current state of the legal market and various solutions offered by websites and pundits. But all the solutions reflect that this is not the same legal system and marketplace from 10 years ago. Many young lawyers are finding that they are being offered very low salaries and question whether they should take the job – is it the right thing to do? The hosts recommend biting the bullet and taking the job but also discuss that finding a way to generate your own business is still the best safeguard against a volatile marketplace. Wh...2015-06-0924 minReboot Your Law PracticeEPISODE #10: The Importance of a Positive Outlook and Being Ready for BusinessIn this episode, Scott and Oscar talk about why lawyers need to keep a positive outlook and a high energy level particularly when meeting clients for the first time. Personal insights from Scott and Oscar along with specific pointers are discussed for how to develop the right attitude to bring in business and develop your practice. Key Points include -
1. Knowing you do good work and that you can provide value 2. Planning for the initial client meeting3. Associate with positive like-thinking people4. Remember law is flexible - you can learn and develop a...2015-05-1921 minReboot Your Law PracticeNetworking is all about Building RelationshipsThis week Oscar and Scott discuss the true focus of networking and the following topics; - preconceived notions about the "slick networker" - How Building Relationships are the key to success - Types of networking: General & Targeted - How easy it is to get started - Networking: Not a necessary evil, a necessary effort. 2015-05-0519 minReboot Your Law PracticeEPISODE #7: Examples of Change in the Law Marketing ParadigmScott and Oscar discuss some recent articles and emerging issues that reflect the change in the legal marketplace. They speak about the need to realize the changing landscape of the legal field in general and the marketing of legal services specifically. Lawyers seeking to develop their practice must adapt to the new expectations of consumers in the legal field. 2015-04-2821 minReboot Your Law PracticeEPISODE #1: Reboot Your Law PracticeEPISODE #1 - Intro to the series: In this episode, Oscar and Scott talk about their backgrounds, their law practices and what led them to develop this podcast. Both hosts discuss how their prior practices began floundering after long periods of success and how they had to retool and reboot their own businesses. Topics discussed this week include: - The current state of the legal marketplace - What solo and small firm lawyers need to start thinking about to succeed under current conditions.2015-04-1213 minReboot Your Law PracticeEPISODE #3 - The Need to be AuthenticOscar and Scott discuss how Authenticity is the first core element needed to help reboot your business. Using personal experiences, the two hosts discuss how their passion for particular fields of law helped to revive their practices.
Topics on this weeks show include:
- The need to look inward to assess what it is about the practice of law that initially interested you- How your “authentic self” needs to be projected in client meetings and interactions and your social media. - How being authentic in your practice also leads to bein...2015-04-1223 minReboot Your Law PracticeEPISODE #4 – How Providing Value is a Key to Business DevelopmentOscar and Scott discuss how Value is the second core element that you need to focus on to improve your law practice.
Topics discussed during this weeks episode include:
- How being authentic leads directly to providing value to your clients and your referral partners. - How Scott came to realize the importance of authenticity and value and how he embraced them to reboot his law practice. - The need to provide value not just to clients but to your networking group and other referral partners.- How to consistently...2015-04-1223 minReboot Your Law PracticeEPISODE #5 - Preparing to NetworkThis episode focuses on the importance of networking which both hosts feel is the lifeblood to developing a vibrant and successful practice. They discuss what networking is and how they became involved with it. The hosts talk about how it is vital to engage in networking to develop your practice and referral sources.
Some topics discussed during this episode:
- Preparing your “personal self” to network- Putting the time in to develop the confidence to discuss yourself and your practice in a positive way in social and networking situations.- Scott...2015-04-1226 min