BE THAT LAWYER

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Ashley Robinson, Conrad Saam, and Roy Sexton discuss: The difference between marketing and business development.  Creating a detailed client avatar.  Marketing in a way that is comfortable for you and is where your audience is.  Utilizing AI in marketing appropriately.    Key Takeaways: Marketing shows you the door and business development helps you to talk through...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Alex McLaughlin discuss: Legal tech at every law firm size.  Challenges lawyers are having with and without legal technology.  The evolution of the legal technology landscape.  Utilizing tech for a better work-life balance and to better serve clients.    Key Takeaways: Find the right technology that works for you, customize it to your firm, and get the proper tra...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Gerald Maatman discuss: Investing in yourself for better business development.  The Darwinism of business development.  Finding your passion and purpose.  Utilizing your skillsets appropriately in marketing.    Key Takeaways: In business development, sweat equity pays dividends. You want to get ahead of the problem and deliver value to the clients who end up with...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Eric Gros-Dubois discuss: Eric’s motivations for starting his law firm (and what held him back from taking the first step). Surround yourself with those who are better than you. Working to the highest and best use of your time. Creatively hiring to suit your law firm’s needs.   Key Takeaways: You can delegate a task, but you cannot delegate the responsibility. As...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Margaret Enloe discuss: Narrowing down what you want to pursue and what drives you.  Thinking about change and better habits.  Stepping out of the weeds of everyday work to look at the bigger picture of your business.  Getting a mentor and/or coach to grow in life and business.    Key Takeaways: Better habits start with becoming more self-aware. As you build bett...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Melissa Griffiths discuss: The connection between the brain and body.  The anxieties that we experience today (and why, biologically, they show up in the way they do).  Why lawyers are more prone to stress and anxiety than other professions. How HeartMath can assist in dealing with unwanted emotions.  The single most effective technique people can use when feelin...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Belle Walker discuss: What process mapping is and how it varies from standard operating procedures.  Including client touch points in your process map (not just in the standard operating procedure).  The value process mapping has for a law firm.  Getting started on process mapping for your legal business.    Key Takeaways: When starting a process map, have a star...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Akeisha Johnson discuss: Releasing the people and things that need to be released in your life. Knowing when to charge for the amateur hobby that is getting in the way of your career. Why you should have a coach (and how to identify the right coach for you). Setting performance metrics and evaluating them regularly.   Key Takeaways: Cancel culture does not work,...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Lewis Landerholm discuss: Adapting to the changing law industry.  Having the money conversations and asking for the business.  Questioning and qualifying potential clients.  Creating an org chart for a visual of where you are going (then fire yourself from as many positions as possible).    Key Takeaways: The fear of the unknown often hinders moving forward with...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Steve Seckler, Stuart Baum, Sharon Ve, and Chuki Obiyo discuss: The relationship between business development and marketing.  Content creation to bridge the gap between marketing and relationships.  Trusting your instincts and working with the clients you want to work with. Supporting and cooperating with your competition for wider spread success.   Key Takeaways: F...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Steve Seckler, Stuart Baum, Sharon Ve, and Chuki Obiyo discuss: Finding your why and narrowing your niche.  Building good relationships.  Doing what you like to do to develop business.  How much time you should spend on your business development.    Key Takeaways: Understanding why you don’t like to do something can help you to find new avenues of business developme...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Diane Camacho discuss: Eliminating the doubt, taking chances, and making mistakes. Diane’s experience with starting her consulting firm.  Setting appropriate expectations.  What it takes to be a good leader.    Key Takeaways: You must understand the realization and understand the cost of AR, unbilled time, and the cost of everything happening in your firm. Just b...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Molly McGrath discuss: Hiring right and hiring legal leaders.  Changing your interview process to focus less on the resume and more on the human interaction.  Giving time, attention, and feedback in real-time.  Investing in personal and professional growth to attract and retain team members.    Key Takeaways: You are hiring human beings, not human doings. Employe...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Robert Plotkin discuss: How AI can assist a law firm and the benefits of automating those things that can be automated. Best practices for selecting automation and law firm technologies. Common misconceptions about law firm automation. Creating a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.   Key Takeaways: No matter how much we automate, there will always b...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and John Kormanik discuss: Creating a career that allowed John to have greater impact and geographic independence.  Picking a firm and practice area that aligns with your values and lights you up.  Lies lawyers accept in their profession.  Setting expectations and boundaries in your career.    Key Takeaways: We are all placed on the planet to do incredible things.  I...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Ross Albers discuss: Having the courage to run your own firm.  The hardest thing about starting and growing your own law firm.  Why Ross describes his firm as a personal and professional development company that happens to practice law.  The pros and cons of working at a firm versus being on your own.  What it takes to run a successful business.    Key Takeaways:...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Ken Crutchfield discuss: Limitations of traditional market research in uncharted territory.  How VUCA is affecting the legal industry.  AI, ChatGPT, and how the future of the world is changing.  Technologies lawyers should have or should be considering.    Key Takeaways: You cannot do market research on a market that doesn’t exist.  You can use ChatGPT as a start...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Steve Seckler discuss: Steve’s professional journey from law school to coaching.  Why Steve is well-suited to coaching lawyers, and how to know if a coach is right for you.  Challenges lawyers face in their own personal development.  Results that happen when coaches coach and the players play.  Investing in coaching and changing the way you think about money.   ...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Steve Gordon discuss: Why you should write a book (and how it can help your law firm grow).  Changing your introduction and cementing your place as the expert.  What it takes to write a book today.  Using your book to get the right kind of clients.    Key Takeaways: You can build your network and get referrals by sharing information. Writing a book allows you to...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jesse Frye discuss: Why Jesse started ScaleLegal. Most common gaps in the client experience.  Utilizing your tech stack appropriately and effectively.  3 Tips for improving your client experience.    Key Takeaways: Communication is often one of the largest gaps in the client experience. Consistency in communication is key.  Most tech isn’t customized for lawyers....

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Charles Gillis discuss: The two things that make lawyers most successful.  The single biggest trap lawyers face on their path to being an equity partner.  Challenges on the path to promotion.  Advice to mid-level attorneys looking to build their business.    Key Takeaways: Lawyers need to focus on their higher purposes. If they are taking time to do the time-taki...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Stuart TenHoor discuss: Engaging in the news and media.  The intersection of legal and business.  Marketing yourself in your specialty. Leaving space to receive.    Key Takeaways: Being known in a space is critical. You want to be the name that comes to mind in your industry when a specific situation comes up for someone else.  Sales is not manipulation, it’s per...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Luis Scott Jr. discuss: Leveraging others to help you focus and grow the business. Making the sale in a natural way. Distinguishing yourself from the pack. Delegating without exploiting.   Key Takeaways: When you are engaged in too many things, it is hard to be excellent at any of those things. Niching down within a niche becomes a unique selling proposition. Whe...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Dorna Moini discuss: Automating for affordable options.  Tapping into larger segments of the legal market.  Adopting technology in your practice.  Resources available for lawyers to start utilizing technology for little work and little money.    Key Takeaways: There is a cap to how much people will pay for a service, and you are also limited by time. Thinking of...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Jocelyn Brumbaugh, Jared Correia, and Gyi Tsakalakis discuss: Appreciation marketing, email marketing, and newsletters.  The incremental approach to social media and content marketing.  The business of law and treating your firm like a business.  Being involved in the marketing plan.    Key Takeaways: Send a handwritten note. People get stuff all the time, but a han...