Shows
Solo Practice University® Guest LecturesHow Do You Name Your Law Firm? With Difficulty. – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaWhat's in a name? Everything. How do you build your brand with your solo/small firm name? What limitations are there for law firms? Many! This is a very interesting discussion and, as always, we have fun as we teach. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2020-06-3000 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesSolo/Small Firm Practice in the Age of Pandemics – Guest Lecture with Jared Correia2020 is proving quite the year and we're only in the 2nd Quarter! What we are experiencing now is unlike anything we have seen in our lifetimes. Yet, life must go on and so must your practice. But how do you practice in the age of pandemics? Jared and I discuss the changes, the modifications, both technical and emotional. How do you pivot your marketing so as not to be insensitive but more human? What technology must you use now? How do you handle it all without falling apart? We answer these questions and more so join us. You'll be glad...2020-05-1400 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWhat Are The Ethics Surrounding Delegation of Legal Work – Guest Lecture with Cynthia SharpIn order to grow, solos will need to delegate legal work to paralegals, administrative staff, free lance lawyers and associates and any vendor you hire on your behalf. Even hiring a marketing firm! But do you really know the ethics surrounding delegation of work you are ultimately ethically responsible for as the the owner of your law firm? This is a critically important topic. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2020-03-0400 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesIs the Billable Hour Finally on Its Death Bed? Who Knows? Maybe Jared Correia Does! Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaIs the billable hour in its final death throes? If so, how do we deal with this while we build our practices? Of course, people have been saying this since last century. Listen and learn Jared's unique take on this perennially hot button issue.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2020-01-1400 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWhat Clients Want: Managing Legal Consumer Expectations in 2019-2020 – Part 5 – Guest Lecture(s) with Jared CorreiaJarred and I have recorded five free guest lectures covering the vast topic of What Clients Want: Managing Legal Consumer Expectations in 2019-2020. It is nearly five hours of us discussing in depth how to be successful. Here is Part 5. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2019-12-0500 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWhat Clients Want: Managing Legal Consumer Expectations in 2019-2020 – Part 4 – Guest Lecture(s) with Jared CorreiaJarred and I have recorded six free guest lectures covering the vast topic of What Clients Want: Managing Legal Consumer Expectations in 2019-2020. Here is the 4th installation. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2019-11-2500 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWhat Clients Want: Managing Legal Consumer Expectations in 2019-2020 – Part 3 – Guest Lecture(s) with Jared CorreiaJarred and I have recorded five free guest lectures covering the vast topic of What (Clients) Want: Managing Legal Consumer Expectations in 2019-2020. This is a great 6 part lecture series. enjoy Part 3 - Listen and Learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2019-11-1300 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWhat Clients Want: Managing Legal Consumer Expectations in 2019-2020 – Part 2 – Guest Lecture(s) with Jared Correia(You can listen to Part 1 here.) Jarred and I have recorded five free guest lectures covering the vast topic of What (Clients) Want: Managing Legal Consumer Expectations in 2019-2020. It is nearly five hours of us discussing in depth: How Legal Consumers Find Law Firms What Legal Consumers Want Marketing Requirements for a Modern Law Firm […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2019-11-0600 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWhat Clients Want: Managing Legal Consumer Expectations in 2019-2020 – Guest Lecture(s) with Jared CorreiaJarred and I have recorded five free guest lectures covering the vast topic of What (Clients) Want: Managing Legal Consumer Expectations in 2019-2020. It is nearly five hours of us discussing in depth: How Legal Consumers Find Law Firms What Legal Consumers Want Marketing Requirements for a Modern Law Firm Intake Procedures/Forms How Modern Law […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2019-10-2800 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesHow Do You Navigate Growing Pains Within Your Law Firm? Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaThere is a rhythm to growing a solo/small firm practice. Usually, around year three you finally feel comfortable and then it happens. You are swamped and you realize you need to grow. You are in a bit of a crisis. Listen and learn and we will share how to navigate the inevitable growing pains, not just in year three, but every other growth spurt you will experience.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2019-10-0800 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesThe Impact of the Current Boom in Legal Tech Investment on the Solo/Small Firm Lawyer – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaToday Jared and I discuss the multi-millions being invested in legal technology, all of which is aimed to change the practice of law. How does this investment impact your practice? Is the tail wagging the dog? Are investors telling you how to practice based upon the technology they create? Listen and then share your thoughts.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2019-10-0100 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesStarting a Solo Practice in Rural America – Guest Lecture with Gary BauerDo you want to start a solo practice in a rural America? Do you want to learn how to be successful, understand the way to do it right?Who better to present a jam-packed guest lecture on this subject than Gary Bauer, lawyer and Chairman of the General Practice Solo Concentration for twenty years at WMU Cooley Law School. Gary feels very strongly there is so much potential for young (and not so young) lawyers to lives quality lives serving the legal needs of those in rural areas. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2019-05-2100 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAre You Tech-Competent and Compliant With the New Rules? Guest Lecture with Jared Correia:Technology competence and compliance are more important than ever today and new rules have been put into place which you must observe. Who better to discuss how to fulfill your obligations than Jarred Correia. Listen and learn as we talk about the challenges and the solutions to this 21st century mandate for successful practice.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2019-05-0900 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesSolo By Design – Guest Lecture with Professor Gary BauerGoing solo with intention and doing it the right way is going solo by design. Who better to present a jam-packed guest lecture on this subject than Gary Bauer, lawyer and Chairman of the General Practice Solo Concentration for twenty years at WMU Cooley Law School. Gary and I are kindred spirits. His information is purposeful, thoughtful and complete. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2019-04-2300 minSolo Practice University® Guest Lectures6 Steps to Client Mastery – Part 3 – Guest Lecture with Cynthia SharpWe welcome back Cynthia Sharp, ABA/GP Solo Rock Star for her third and final podcast on The 6 Steps to Client Mastery which now walks us through the processes (and soft skills) necessary to handle difficult clients, get your fees, conclude the matter and turn your happy clients into lifetime referral sources. This is not to be missed. Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2019-03-2500 minSolo Practice University® Guest Lectures6 Steps to Client Mastery – Part 2 – Guest Lecture with Cynthia SharpOur series of guest lectures with ABA/GP Solo Rockstars continues and the inimitable Cynthia Sharp continues sharing her brilliant 6 steps to client mastery. And she is THE master in combining those intangible soft skills with the critical processes needed for guaranteeing a uniform and successful relationship with your clients. Attorney Sharp details how this relationship starts from before your clients become clients right through to those same clients becoming an endless source of referrals. You will learn that process is the key to success. It is great to get the masters of the game sharing their wisdom with all...2019-02-2600 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesThe Rise of Grass Roots Online Lawyer Communities – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaWhile not too much in the main stream media, there is a grass roots movement of on line lawyer communities unaffiliated with traditional legal organizations. I bet you belong to one and don't even realize you are part of a movement! Why is this happening and where are they congregating online? Should you belong to one? Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2019-02-1200 minSolo Practice University® Guest Lectures6 Steps to Client Mastery Part I – Guest Lecture with Cynthia SharpAnd so begins our series of guest lectures with ABA/GP Solo Rockstars. First up is the inimitable Cynthia Sharp sharing her brilliant 6 steps to client mastery. And she is THE master in combining those intangible soft skills with the critical processes needed for guaranteeing a uniform and successful relationship with your clients. Attorney Sharp details how this relationship starts from before your clients become clients right through to those same clients becoming an endless source of referrals. You will learn that process is the key to success. Join us for Part 1 of this extraordinary guest lecture.Written by...2019-01-2900 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesThe Virtue of Virtual Receptionists – Guest Lecture with Maddy Martin from Smith.aiListen and learn about what potential clients and current clients are really looking for when they reach out to a lawyer for the first and every time thereafter. If you don't know what they want you can be losing business you never even knew you were losing; losing clients you never realized were vulnerable to leaving. I promise it is 43 minutes very well spent.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2018-11-0817 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesStarting a Solo Practice in 2018 vs 2008 – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaWhat is so different in starting a law firm in 2018 vs 2008? There are so many differences: not just in technology but the economy, marketing and financial management. Join us in this very interesting discussion. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2018-10-0900 minSolo Practice University® Guest Lectures21st Century Methods for Onboarding Clients – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaHow do you onboard modern clients in the 21st Century? In today's podcast you will learn about what clients value. Do they want speed, responsiveness, mobile access? Do they want intake options such as online forms, chatbots, text messaging? How do you create and respond to the client's journey from finding you through resolution? You'll learn all this more today. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2018-06-2500 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesCan Entrepreneurial Lawyers Fail and Survive…Even Become Successful? Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaWe ask the single most important question - can lawyers fail and survive and go on to thrive? Our position, failure is not a bad thing. What matters is what you do after your failure. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2018-01-2300 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesPlanning A Soft Relaunch of Your Firm is Great During Holidays – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaWhile recorded over the summer, the sentiment remains the same over any stretch of downtime. It is great to plan soft relaunches of your firm during slow periods. Soft relaunches can include the announcement of a new employee, new website design, rebranding, any number of changes in your firm that give you a new marketing opportunity. So, listen and learn. (Oh, and enjoy Jared's heavy breathing. He gets excited for these podcasts!!)Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2017-12-1100 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesHow to Shop for Legal Technology Solutions – Guest Lecture with Chelsey Lambert of LexTechReviewIn an ever-expanding pool of Legal Technology Solutions, how do you pick the right technology for your solo/small firm? How do you address the mandatory need for cybersecurity to prevent hacking and protect your clients' data? How do you protect your livelihood in a catastrophe? Chelsey's knowledge will leave you a little breathless. Listen to this jam-packed podcast before you download her incredible her free100 page 2017 Legal Technology Buyer's Guide .
Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2017-11-0900 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesHow To Get Started Creating a Virtual Law Practice – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaIf you've wanted to create a virtual law practice, or 'virtualize' your law practice incrementally, this is the guest lecture for you. Learn how to get started (and the rationale why) in this nearly hour long podcast filled with invaluable information.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2017-07-1100 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesMaking the Transition – Guest Lecture with Katie MacKillop from LEAPYou know you need to transition over to more automation in your practice. You read the benefits. Lawyers you know can't say enough about the time-savings. You watch them accessing their entire office from their smartphone with a tinge of jealousy but you can't seem to move off the mark.
Now you've got the added pressure of the clients demanding it, plus asking for lower costs for your services and you are getting squeezed. Rules of Professional Conduct and ABA Opinions are putting further pressure on you labeling you 'incompetent' if you don't get up to speed on all of...2017-05-3000 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesMarketing Your Law Firm For Free – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaWhat if you had to market your law firm without using any money? Literally: no money, at all.
It turns out that you can develop a vibrant marketing plan without spending one cent. This guest lecture you will learn practical marketing tactics that you’ll be able to employ. Join us as we lay out specific networking and content marketing strategies to apply to your no-cost legal marketing. Learn how as Jared Correia and I discuss in this lively guest lecture.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2017-04-1700 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesThe Ever Evolving Law Firm Fee Structure – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaIn the late 90's and definitely into the 21st century, the law firm fee structure is morphing and changing under tremendous pressure from clients and the economy. But where do new solos (and some not-so-new) lawyers go to learn about the what fee structures are out there? Jared and I discuss the pressures and those very fee structures. Join us!Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2017-02-0600 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesDealing With The Emotions Surrounding a Grievance – Guest Lecture with Karen CaffreyHave you ever been grieved? The odds are you will. You've planned for the actual process of addressing the grievance, maybe. But odds are you've not planned for the emotions of being grieved and how it will impact you moving forward. Join us as we talk more in depth about the root of the emotions surrounding a grievance, how it can negatively impact you and what you can do to work through them in a positive, pro-active way.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2016-12-0500 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWhy You Should Be Content Marketing – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaHow important is content marketing? It's actually incredibly important in today's marketing environment for new (and seasoned lawyers). Join us as we discuss what content marketing is, why it's important, what are the fastest, easiest, and cheapest ways to get good quality content into the universe, and what you should be writing about. As always, it's highly informative. Join us!Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2016-10-1700 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesHow To Stop Worrying About Money. Guest Lecture with Karen CaffreyHow do we stop worrying about money? In this guest lecture we focus on the particular emotional issues of solos and their relationship to money, those who are out on their own without a steady paycheck. There is also a psychology about money which is fascinating, how we live in judgment of others and how it impacts our actions and emotions day-to-day. Why do we worry when we are somewhat comfortable? Why will we share our most intimate feelings about various topics but feel the most vulnerable talking about money, feel the most shame if we don't seem to measure...2016-10-0400 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWhen Are You Most Vulnerable to Malpractice? – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaWhen are you most vulnerable to a malpractice claim, when are you least? What are the ugly malpractice monsters are rearing their heads going forward? Are you safer as a a newbie or a more seasoned professional? The answers may surprise you. But most importantly, they'll inform you to help you with your practice going forward. Join Jared and I as we discuss these surprising landmines from our unique perspective.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2016-08-2900 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAre You ‘Rest’ Impaired? Guest Lecture with Karen CaffreyToday, psychotherapist and JD, Karen Caffrey and I take a deeper dive into understanding the psychological ramifications of not taking a vacation (meaning rest) and our own inability to even recognize we need it which compounds the harm. Join us for this highly informative adventure and maybe you'll come out resolving to take some much needed time to rest and repair. We'll explain why and then show you how.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2016-08-2200 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAre You An Imposter? – Guest Lecture with Karen CaffreyNearly 40% of all high-achieving people experience an observable phenomenon called ‘Imposter Syndrome’ - that feeling that you are a fraud, that you’ve fooled the world into believing you are capable and knowledgeable. And most people have experienced moments of this. This lecture is a more in-depth, companion piece to the blog post: Are You Suffering From Imposter Syndrome?. Learn more as we do a deeper dive into this important topic.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2016-08-1500 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesServing the 21st Century Client Through Technology – Guest Lecture with Nicole BlackNicole Black is the tech evangelist for MyCase. But long before she enjoyed her new position, she was a tech geek and advocate for tech in the legal space. The 21st legal consumer is different and their client service expectations are very different. If you don't know how to reach them, they are going to move on to the lawyer who does. Today, Nicole and I discuss reaching the 21st century client through technology. Learn how to be the lawyer the 21st century legal consumer will come to again, and again.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2016-07-1300 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesEmbracing with the ‘F’ Word – Guest Lecture with Karen CaffreySociety as a whole encourages suppression of feelings. The legal profession, as a micro-culture, further encourages lawyers to suppress their feelings. What happens when feelings are suppressed to such a degree? This is a very powerful 32 minutes. We discuss lawyers and how they deal with (and don’t deal with) feelings in the practice of law. […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2016-05-0900 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesIs Emotional and Physical Isolation As a Solo Killing You? Guest Lecture with Karen CaffreyIsolation will literally kill you. Yet many lawyers don't even realize they are isolated. They also don't realize there are many forms of isolation that are insidious and destructive. There is professional, personal and social isolation and you may not even understand you are isolated. Isolation is a mental health risk. Today we dig in to raise awareness in the legal community. These are very real and serious issues that have long term impact on your physical and mental health. And if this resonates with you at all, please seek out help. There are ways to manage this risk in...2016-04-0500 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesHow Tech Efficiencies Can Help You Avoid Malpractice Claims – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaThere is so much technology out there which can improve your practice. However, what are the major technologies you should be investing in and why? Jared and I talk about two types of technologies in this podcast: document automation and assembly software and case management software, not just a recitation of how they can improve […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2016-03-2900 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesThe Power of Networks Is Not Just For Commercial Legal Companies Anymore – Guest Lecture with Tony LaiAmazon transformed the retail industry by networking small businesses together. It eventually replaced the individuality of each small business with it's own 'brand', Amazon. Eventually, small businesses were able to reduce their overhead further by cutting out their physical real estate, cutting employees and simply marketing and selling their goods through Amazon. This on-demand online company is a 'networked platform' and meets the customer where they are. Imagine a network for lawyers that has nothing to do with a commercially branded company, but through bar associations, or through certain law schools or an AmLaw 100 firm. Imagine a network for solos...2016-02-2900 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesMastering the Sales Re-Cycle – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaDo you think a signed retainer agreement is the beginning or end of your marketing to gain a client? The beginning or end of the 'sale'? Today we talk about the reality that once a client retains you it is just the beginning of the sales 're-cycle' - the continuing process of re-affirmations that the client made the right choice in selecting you as their attorney. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2016-02-2200 min
The Legal ToolkitMarketing Your Firm Through Branded NetworksThe last 10 years have seen a 75% rise in legal costs, which compares to a 20% increase for other fields. It’s estimated that there are one billion dollars worth of unrecognized legal needs in today’s market. Even when legal needs are recognized, it’s common for potential clients to see their problems as prohibitively expensive. As a solo practitioner or law firm, you might be wondering how to tap into that potential billable revenue. As it turns out, your answer could be branded networks.
In this episode of Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia and Solo Practice University founde...2016-02-1932 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWill You Survive the Commoditization of Legal Services? – Guest Lecture with Debra BruceDebra says she's always felt like Paul Revere trying to make lawyers understand what is transforming the law profession but it's been challenging. In this guest lecture she share her thoughts on the subject and how you can survive commoditization. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2016-02-0100 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesHow To Develop A Service Pyramid to Deliver Stellar Client Service Every Time – Guest Lecture with Christina BurnsChristina Burns is the Director of Client Happiness at Ruby Receptionists. Ruby's understanding of customer service is so deep, their results so stellar, it is why this company is growing by leaps and bounds and you will only find they receive glowing reviews. Christina understands, and Ruby Receptionists lives and breathes, customer service. They have developed a Service Pyramid which is at the core of their client service. Today, Christina will teach you how to implement your own Service Pyramid to improve your clients' experience with your law firm. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2016-01-2600 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesEmbracing Change – Guest Lecture with Smokeball’s Chelsey LambertToday we have a highly informative guest lecture with the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Smokeball, one of our partners in helping you build your solo/small firm practice. Our conversation focuses on change, fear of change, and how to get through the process of change in order to reap the rewards on the other side. It includes assessing the current state of your law firm, how to align your attitude and vision, commit to the reward, and benchmark progress. One thing you will not hear is 'change is easy'. It's not. But it is necessary and it...2016-01-1100 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesGrabbing the Brass Ring in Solo Practice – Guest Lecture with Scott O’SullivanBecoming a solo and building a solo/small firm practice is a different journey for everyone. However, Scott O'Sullivan, a personal injury lawyer in Colorado and also faculty at Solo Practice University, has graciously shared how he has grown his practice from a one man shop in a shared space to a 10 person firm and owning his own office building in eight years. It's not a story of magic pills and luck. It's a story of hard work, learning from mistakes, creativity, patience, persistence, and being fiscally responsible. It's a podcast you don't want to miss. Listen and learn. ...2015-10-0600 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesHow To Get Lawyer-to-Lawyer Referrals – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaDo you understand the financial power of building lawyer networks for referrals? Do you understand the importance of being a traffic hub for business, even legal matters you don't handle? Do you know how to talk with other professionals to garner referrals? Referrals for many lawyers are their lifeblood, a way to keep the pipeline filled with clients to serve. Jared and I discuss the importance of referrals in this guest lecture and we'd love for you to listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2015-09-2100 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesA Must Listen Podcast: Insuring the Money Machine – Guest Lecture with Larry DykesThis is a MUST listen podcast. I'm a firm believe in insuring the 'money machine. If you are not insuring the 'money machine' you are making a major mistake. Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2015-07-2700 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesLegal Analytics for Solos and Small Firms – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaLegal Analytics, at first blush, is about as exciting to the busy solo as watching paint dry. But the truth is it is the secret to a successful practice. I know most of you immediately want to say, ‘I have no time for this.’ But you need to make time for it. Jared and I […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2015-07-0600 min
Discover Your Talent–Do What You LoveHelping Lawyers Go SoloFounder and CEO Susan Cartier Liebel of Solo Practice University, heads the only online educational and professional networking community for lawyers and law students who want to create and grow their solo/small firm practices. She's a wife, mother, mentor, avid traveler and all around curious about life and the planet we inhabit. With ten years in business before law school, Susan noticed her schoolâs complete lack of support for the 50 percent who would likely become solo practitioners. Law is the one license that allows you to be self-employed, yet students are being taught how to be employees. 2015-06-1000 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesHow To Make Speaking Work As A Marketing Strategy – Guest Lecture with Denise Hedges and Barbara MencerYou may have considered speaking as part of your marketing strategy but were not really sure how to go about it. More likely you are afraid you won't be an effective speaker. Well, we found THE best experts on this subject who not only know the value of speaking to increase business but can also teach you how to actually present. You will learn to not only speak well and energize your audience, but to speak effectively. Speaking effectively means converting your audience into clients and/or great referral sources. Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2015-04-0600 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWhy Lawyers Need to Get With Encryption – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaEncryption is now part of your professional duty to safeguard your clients’ data. Encryption is a very techno-scary word for many lawyers. It’s intimidating, actually. But even if it is, it doesn’t mean you can bury your head in the sand, not if you are going to represent your clients responsibly. Encryption is critical when […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2015-03-2300 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesHow to Create Teams for Legal Matters as a Solo – Guest Lecture with Ryan McKeenRyan McKeen of the McKeen Law Firm is back with us again. This time he shares how he can take on larger matters by creating legal teams for cases on an 'as needed' basis.
This is a must-listen to guest lecture because there is a 'no man's land' between being an office of one - you - and growing into having full time staff and permanently increased overhead. Ryan shares smart and highly effective ways to grow and be profitable during the journey through 'no man's land'. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2015-02-0900 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesBuilding A (Much) Better Law Firm – Guest Lecture with Kathleen PaukertWhen Kathleen Paukert first contacted me to discuss her book The Fulfilled Lawyer, my initial thought was this was another perspective on work/life balance. However, once we started to dig into her law firm’s business model I saw the future! I saw the future for solo practitioners who want to work within a collective of […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2015-01-2200 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesOnline Security Basics for Attorneys – Guest Lecture with Deborah Gonzalez (Part 2)As promised, here is the second part of this important and fascinating guest lecture with Deborah Gonzalez discussing online security basics for attorneys. If you’ve not listened to Part 1 yet, you can do so here. The audio is about 48 minutes. Listen directly below Deborah Gonzalez, Esq. is an attorney and the founder of […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2015-01-1300 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesOnline Security & Risk Basics For Attorneys – Guest Lecture with Deborah Gonzalez (Part 1)Quite simply, this is a mind-blowing guest lecture from one of our most thought-provoking faculty, Deborah Gonzalez. This guest lecture exposes the deep and dark underbelly of the online world, the full, often-ignored exposure you have when you not only conduct business online, but are online for pleasure. This jam-packed two part guest lecture will […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2015-01-0600 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesThe Paperless Office – Guest Lecture with Ernest SvensonI had the pleasure of finally meeting Ernie Svenson (after years of ‘knowing’ him online) and today Ernie is going to talk about the virtues, professionally and financially, of going paperless and how he did it. Frankly, anyone starting a practice today should be paperless from the start and everything done to grow the practice […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2014-12-1500 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesFrom Big Law To Solo – Guest Lecture with Ken LevinsonHow do you leave a Big Law firm or medium-sized firm when they’ve been your training ground from the start of your legal career? How do you do so ethically, responsibly and in a positive way while still keeping your clients? How do you resolve all the potential issues (and there are many)? How do […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2014-12-0100 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesSavvy Solo – Guest Lecture with Haley AustinLast May, Clio ran a #Clioday contest asking lawyers how they used the time they saved because of Clio law practice management solutions. After much fanfare, a winner was picked. Haley Austin. I watched her video (which her daughter filmed and edited and you can see below) and really wanted to do a guest lecture […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2014-11-0300 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesThe Impact of Social Media on the Legal Process – Guest Lecture with Omar Ha-RedeyeOftentimes, when we discuss social media it is in the context of how every lawyer should be using it for marketing. Not this time. Today we have Omar Ha-Redeye (who also teaches a course at Solo Practice University) discussing social media in the context of the legal process. Let’s face it, if you don’t know […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2014-10-2800 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesLegal Value Firm: Guest Lecture with Joe DonniniOur guest speaker today has a biography which simply does not do him justice. Joe Donnini is the founder of Legal Value Firm, a name you are going to be hearing a lot more of because here is a lawyer, entrepreneur and one very, very smart law school adjunct professor who has finally pieced together […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2014-10-0700 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWork/Life Balance or ‘Just Life’? Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaToday Jared and I discuss the elusive work/life balance equation. We differ and yet we agree on how solos and small firm practitioners are adapting to the changes in practice, and how to manage time. And it is both managing time and remaining focused on what you are doing in the moment, not multitasking. Join […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2014-09-0800 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesThere’s No Way to Game the System – Demystifying SEO – Guest Lecture with Conrad SaamHow do we create a web presence that actually works to bring in clients? Well, this guest lecture may actually surprise you as no one is going to sell you a high-priced web site or bedazzle you with fancy Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ‘tricks’. Why? Because you can create a good website on your own […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2014-07-2100 min
New SoloStaying Motivated While Starting A Solo Law PracticeStarting a solo law practice can be invigorating, frightening, and exciting at first. But after the adrenaline and excitement of starting a solo practice fades, how do lawyers stay motivated? Unlike working in a large firm, an attorney's personal life and solo practice become interconnected, causing unique and often unexpected challenges. Many lawyers experience inner turmoil that requires a different resolution than a well thought-out business plan or financial planning.
On this episode of New Solo, Adriana Linares interviews consultant Susan Cartier Liebel about how to stay motivated throughout the process of starting a solo law practice...2014-06-2528 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesThe DIY Solo – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaJared receives countless questions from new solo lawyers and solos who have been in practice for decades but need advice on law practice management. We like to ask Jared what’s on lawyers’ minds as we have several times before. If you are a new lawyer in Massachusetts or a paying member of the Massachusetts bar, […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2014-05-0500 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWhen Do You Need A Therapist To Help With Life?Here we go, again, talking about that taboo subject: Being a lawyer and admitting you need help. You don’t have to necessarily be depressed or even anxious. But sometimes you just need an objective set of ears to listen and guide, help you sort through stumbling blocks, identify patterns of behavior or just validate your […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2014-04-1400 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesGuest Lecture with Nora Bergman and Liz LamarI have a confession. When Nora Bergman and Liz Lamar first came on board as faculty teaching an in-depth Lean Six Sigma for Solos course at Solo Practice University, I thought I already knew what Lean Six Sigma was. I was so very wrong. The name is a little off-putting but since all major successful […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2014-03-2400 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesManaging the Process of Change – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaToday’s guest lecture is all about change – managing the process of change. It is a grab bag of topics based upon the most frequently asked questions Jared has received these past months…and they all seem to revolve around how to make the necessary changes within one’s practice to compete effectively in the 21st century. […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2014-03-0400 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesBuilding a Law Firm Culture Which Honors Women – Guest Lecture with Mayanne DownsThis guest lecture is a little off the topic of solo practice but I had to speak with this incredible woman because she speaks to why so many women go solo, to create their own culture of one that allows them to work as they need in order to have a life. I have to […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2014-02-2500 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesHow Do You Set Legal Fees? – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaAs a new lawyer one of the most daunting tasks is setting fees for your services. Many lawyers won’t tell you why they charge what they charge when asked. Every jurisdiction has a different idea of ‘reasonable and customary’. If too many lawyers discuss their fees the bar will sometimes fear antitrust issues. Seriously. Plus, […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2013-12-0900 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesLandmark Cases, Technology and the Rise of the Solo. Guest Lecture – Carolyn ElefantEver wonder how a solo can represent like the Big Dogs? We asked Carolyn Elefant, a sole practitioner who is currently working on a potentially precedent setting case which even she admits would not have been possible just seven or eight years ago. The reason it’s now doable is the ability of the solo to […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2013-11-0400 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesGoing Solo Upon Passing the Bar – Guest Lecture with Katie Kizer and Amanda GrahamWhen I first read and listened to Katie and Amanda’s interview in Crain’s 20 in their 20s I was intrigued. So, I contacted them and asked them to share their story with Solo Practice University. Here are two exceptional new lawyers committed to representing those charged with or convicted of crimes. They are also passionate […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2013-09-2300 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWork from Anywhere – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaYou want to be that remote lawyer, the one who had an office in downtown Boston when the Marathon bombings rocked our world but didn’t have to miss a day of work because she had full access to her entire desktop from a remote location. You want to be that lawyer who can conduct business […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2013-09-0900 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesGuest Lecture with Tyler CoulsonI first met Tyler Coulson in April, 2013 when we both spoke at Catapult2013 in San Francisco. He is both smart and funny but most interesting to me is here is a man who went the BigLaw route, left voluntarily after 2 1/2 years and then in March, 2011 embarked on an 8 month walk-a-thon […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2013-08-1900 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAre You Having Relations With Your Clients? – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaWell, it got your attention didn’t it? The broader question is how do you effectively communicate with your clients before, during and after representation. This is a huge area to cover from a marketing perspective, your ethical obligations, and technological challenges. It’s even bigger when you consider you are a solo/small firm practitioner. But Jared and […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2013-05-0600 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesGuest Lecture with Nicole Bradick of CustomCounsel, LLCIn January of this year while presenting a the Maine Bar Association Mid-Year Meeting, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Nicole Bradick, the founder and President of Custom Counsel, LLC. What struck me about what Nicole is doing is it represents a 100% win for solos. There is absolutely no downside. Truly, a 100% win for […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2013-03-1100 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesThe Ethics of Using Social Media As A Client Communications Tool – Guest Lecture with Jared CorreiaJared receives countless questions from new solo lawyers and solos who have been in practice for decades but need advice on law practice management. We like to ask Jared what’s on lawyers’ minds as we have several times before. In Jared’s newest guest lecture, we follow up on his previous guest lecture, You Know Everything […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2013-01-2800 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesBuilding A 21st Century Practice – Guest Lecture with Ryan McKeenRyan McKeen of the McKeen Law Firm shares his experiences building a 21st century practice. After seven years with his previous law firm, Ryan struck out to take on new challenges. While those seven years at his previous firm were great when it came to learning the law one thing struck Ryan. When he started […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2013-01-1400 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesE-Discovery: Learning to Do It Right – Guest Lecture with E-Discovery expert, Steven Teppler“Being a wizard on your computer or being able to put together amazing projects on Garage Band does not mean you can ethically or responsibly handle e-discovery.” Every lawyer needs to understand what e-discovery is and the process of e-discovery, or increasingly risk exposure to malpractice for failure to do due diligence for your client. This […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2012-12-1000 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesDigital Asset Management – Guest Lecture with Deborah GonzalezEveryone dies. Often unexpectedly. But there is power in dead hands. We are the country with the greatest control of our assets after death. However, most never consider, let alone manage, their digital legacy. How do we handle, bequeath (or destroy), our digital immortality from medical information to our life story on facebook? This is […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2012-11-2600 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesYou Know Everything There Is To Know About Social Media…Or Do You?Jared receives countless questions from new solo lawyers and solos who have been in practice for decades but need advice on law practice management. We like to ask Jared what’s on lawyers’ minds as we have several times before. This time, it’s social media. Yes, I know you think you know everything there IS to […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2012-10-0100 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesGuest Lecture with Jared Correia – Tech for New (and Not So New) LawyersJared receives countless questions from new solo lawyers and solos who have been in practice for decades but need advice on law practice management. We like to ask Jared what it is on lawyers’ minds and (no) surprise…it’s technology, cloud securiy, google, and law practice management software. However, you might be very surprised by what […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2012-05-0800 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: New Solo Attorney FAQs with Jared CorreiaNew Solo FAQs with Jared Correia Often times new solos are afraid to publicly ask the important questions about starting a solo practice because they are concerned others will mock them for not knowing what is often considered basic. Jared Correia hears these questions all day long, often times two and three times in the […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2012-01-1000 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: Savvy Solos with Omar Ha-RedeyeSocial Media is amazing for meeting fascinating people. Over these past few years I’ve had the opportunity to connect with Omar Ha-Redeye through our mutual blogging and then increasingly through Twitter. Omar and I recently went from online to offline and got to know each other a little better. It was then I learned of […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-11-0800 min
The Legal ToolkitGlobal Economics & Your Law PracticeDoes global economics affect your law practice? The, perhaps surprising, answer is a resounding ‘Yes’! On this month’s show, host Jared Correia, Law Practice Management Advisor with Mass. LOMAP, welcomes to the Legal Toolkit Susan Cartier Liebel, the Founder & CEO of Solo Practice University®, to address the effect that global economics and changing demographics have on attorneys and their practices. Susan and Jared discuss the present economic downturn in the context of the history of the United States, talk about why it is so important for the modern attorney to apply a client-centric viewpoint and consider potential growth opportunities in a co...2011-09-1329 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: What’s New in Bankruptcy Law with Daniel GershburgDaniel Gershburg is a bankruptcy and real estate lawyer practicing in New York. He will teach a course about bankruptcy law at Solo Practice University®. SPU’s newest faculty member and I discussed the changes in the bankruptcy laws and how they will be affecting your clients and your practice. If you haven’t met Daniel Gershburg […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-06-2800 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: Savvy Solos with Spencer AronfeldDuring his 20 years in private practice as a solo, Spencer Aronfeld has enjoyed powerful courtroom victories over Walt Disney World, Wild Oats, P.A.C. Construction, Fedan Tire, and Todel Apartments and has gained international recognition as a lawyer for the people. One of the reasons I LOVE doing these Savvy Solos interviews is I get […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-06-2100 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: Savvy Solos with Lurie Daniel-FavorsLurie Daniel-Favors is a consumer rights and bankruptcy attorney in New York. She is the founder of Daniel Favors Law Group P.C. On June 1, 2011 Lurie celebrated her second anniversary as a solo, just 2 1/2 months after enrolling at SPU on the very first day SPU opened (she has said we’ll never get […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-06-1400 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: What’s New in Special Education Law with Jennifer LavianoAttorney Jennifer Laviano is in private practice in Connecticut. She teaches a course entitled “Introduction to Special Education Law” at Solo Practice University®. Jennifer and I had an animated discussion about the good, the bad, and the ugly of special education law and she identified two trends. The bad: Learn about how the 2004 reauthorization […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-06-0700 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: What’s New in Value Pricing with Ronald BakerRonald J. Baker is an author and speaker with the mission, “To, once and for all, bury the billable hour and timesheets in the professions.” He teaches a course called “Value Pricing for the Legal Profession” at Solo Practice University®. Talking with Ron is like getting a masters class in economics. With more than eight […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-05-3100 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: What’s New – Construction Law with Chris HillChristopher G. Hill is a construction lawyer in Virginia. He teaches about effective risk management, collection and contract drafting techniques for construction professionals, along with some practice-building advice, at Solo Practice University®. Chris and I talked a couple of months ago about what is new in the construction law practice area so for those interested […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-05-2400 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: What’s New – Child Custody with Katherine FryeKatherine Frye is a North Carolina attorney and board certified specialist in Family Law. She teaches a course called “Child Custody: Start to finish…is there an end?” at Solo Practice University®. Katherine and I talked at length about the following: Technology and Family Law The impact of Facebook & other social media on the demise […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-05-1700 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: Meet Savvy Solo Judy YoungJudy Young is a talented and accomplished corporate law attorney with tested expertise in commercial transactions, intellectual property contracts, commercial and business litigation, licensing and distribution, labor and employment law, negotiation, arbitration, dispute resolution, and other fields directly relevant to her counsel for the winery and hospitality industries. Judy and I discussed her journey since […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-05-1200 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: Good Enough Is The New Perfect – Hollee S. TempleHollee S. Temple is a journalist-turned-lawyer-turned-professor at West Virginia University College of Law and co-author of the book, Good Enough is the New Perfect. Hollee and I had a terrific conversation about the challenges facing professional women when it comes to working and raising a family. This book is not the same old saw about […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-05-1000 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: What’s New – Appellate Practice and Procedure with D. Todd SmithD. Todd Smith is a certified specialist in civil appellate law. He teaches a course about appellate practice and procedure at Solo Practice University®. This interview is approximately 52 minutes. Listen directly below. http://spucdn.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/dtoddsmith-mar11-2011.mp3Download (.MP3) Todd and I enjoyed nearly an hour of discussion on what is new in appellate practice and procedure. This is […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-05-0300 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: What’s New – Entertainment Law with Gordon FiremarkGordon Firemark is an attorney whose practice is devoted to the representation of artists, writers, producers and directors in the fields of theater, film, television,and music. He teaches a course on how to create and build an entertainment law practice at Solo Practice University®. The interview is about 55 minutes long. Listen directly below. http://spucdn.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/firemark-feb9-2011.mp3Download […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-04-1900 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWhat’s New – Macs in the Law Office with Victor MedinaVictor Medina is the managing partner of a small law firm run entirely on Mac computers and Apple products. The interview is about 49 minutes long. Listen directly below. http://spucdn.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/medina-feb11-2011-whats-new-milo.mp3Download (.MP3) Victor and I had a terrific conversation about Macs in the Law Office (I’m slowly converting over to Macs – just one old gadget […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-04-1200 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: Social Media & Networking For Businesses (Part 3)Toby Bloomberg teaches about social media and networking for businesses at Solo Practice University® in a series of Guest Lectures. This lecture was recorded February, 2011. You can listen to her previous guest lectures here (Part 1) and here (Part 2). Toby Bloomberg is passionate about helping people (not companies) create initiatives that leverage the […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-04-0800 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: Using the D.A.F.T. System to Organize Work FlowAndrea Cannavina is a legal virtual assistant helping law firms and other service based businesses upgrade to a digital workflow so everyone can work securely from anywhere. Those who know Andrea know she will help you with a click of her keyboard. Before you’ve ever finished the sentence, ‘Can you help me with…? she’s figured […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-04-0500 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesAudio: The Non-Trad Law Grad – Jeff RutledgeWe got such a terrific response from current students and new grads who could relate to the non-trad law grad status. There are so many more than we realize and their experiences are very unique. I decided it would be fun to talk with Jeff about his experiences. This is a must-listen lecture for all […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-04-0100 minSolo Practice University® Guest LecturesWhat’s New – Personal Injury with James ReedJim teaches “Personal Injury 101: The Nuts and Bolts of Handling Accident Cases” at Solo Practice University® and he recently joined me for an hour long conversation about “What’s New” in Personal Injury Law. Jim and I had a very, very interesting discussion in areas beyond personal injury law which I think everyone should listen […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel2011-03-2900 min