Crushing Chaos with Law Firm Mentor

No one likes to be seen as a Scrooge, but with everything that’s happened this year how do law firm owners approach the idea of Holiday bonuses? In today’s episode we are going to look at how to answer this question not from an emotional perspective but from a financial management perspective.  In this episode we discuss:   The mindset of giving a holiday bonus. Basing your decision by the metrics...

When it comes to hiring for your law firm there are three elements you need to consider: when to hire, who to hire and how to hire. Today we are going to be looking at all three elements and some ways you can take the chaos out of the hiring process.  In this episode we discuss:   Considering your business model before you hire. Knowing when it makes sense for your business to hire. Weighing monet...

If you want your law firm to generate more revenue where do you start? Many lawyers try to work harder to generate more leads in the hopes that generating more leads will turn into more clients, which will turn into more money. In today’s episode we're going to talk about how that’s the worst approach to making more money and what the one approach you need to take to double your revenue in one...

Too many lawyers stand in their own way of making their law firm a success. In today’s episode, my guest Ken Hardison and I will talk about what you are doing to impede your firm’s success and what you can do about it starting today. In this episode we discuss:   The top 3 barriers to growing a law firm. The key to hiring and retaining your team. The cost of making a bad hiring decision.   The res...

In 2021 law firm finances will be the new sexy, or at least they should be after everything that happened in 2020. In today’s episode I have invited my guest Shawnna Weber to talk about ways you can crush chaos in the areas of bookkeeping and billing. In this episode we discuss: How to know it’s time to outsource some of the billing and bookkeeping. Recognizing the value of your time and determini...

One area that many lawyers struggle in is hiring the right person for the right position for your firm. Often this struggle stems from focusing solely on aptitude and not considering key characteristics you need to look at for every position you fill in your firm. Today we are going to explore these three characteristics and what you can do to hire rock stars for your firm. In this episode we disc...

One of the questions I’m asked frequently is how do you create an efficient and effective client intake system? And how do you hire someone who can handle this so that you can convert more of your client intake calls? Today we’re going to talk about client intake and what you need to do to improve your sales process.  In this episode we discuss: The three components of the ideal person to do your...

We set business goals at the beginning of the year with every intention of meeting them. But life can get messy and this year things got VERY messy. In today's episode I am going to teach you 3 strategies you can use to get your business back on track. These are concrete strategies that you can not only use right away but that you can work on RIGHT NOW as I outline them for you.  In this episo...

Are you busy or are you productive? There is a difference between the two and while being productive can help you to be successful and generate revenue, being busy can actually hamper growth. In this episode we discuss: Focusing on being productive, not just busy. Being intentional in all the work that you do. The acronym FOCUS : F irst define, O rganize, C ommunicate, U se your discretion, S yste...

What could you accomplish if there were no limits? As lawyers we tend to be grounded in reality, which can actually limit what we can achieve in our practice and in our lives. Today I want to show you how a different thought framework will allow you to make decisions which can help you achieve growth in any economic climate.  In this episode we discuss: Having a fixed mindset versus a growth minds...

Law firms have been behind the curve when it comes to adapting to the idea of remote staffing. But with the onset of COVID, we’ve had no choice but embrace this concept. Now we are faced with the question “How do we make this work?” In this episode we discuss: Creating community in an entirely virtual firm Article – what to do in a pandemic  The impact of economic downturn on the legal industry Bu...

As attorneys, we don't always think of our practice as a business but it is, in fact, the most valuable asset we have. It is important to understand the value of a practice and the right way to exit your business if you feel it is time for a change.   In this episode we discuss: Creating enterprise value while planning an exit strategy What is enterprise goodwill How it’s all about cash flow T...

We all know that closing new business can be challenging in the best of times - especially for those who do not consider themselves to be engaged in "selling" during the new prospect consultation process.  We want to seize upon every possible advantage in helping prospects to choose to hire us.  For that reason, most business owners understand the value of generating referrals. But what ex...

Today on the podcast you can catch Allison appear on Maximum Growth Live with hosts Seth Price and Jay Ruane, with special guest Nalini Prasad! Seth and Jay interviewed the Law Firm Mentor, and we "talked shop" about business growth for law firms. The Law Firm Mentor provides business coaching to help law firm owners stop the chaos and get to a level of efficiency that will give them a dra...

Most law firm owners fear growth.  Or, more accurately stated, they fear growing their law firms because of the looming "RISK" they perceive inherent in adding bodies to the building.  They fear the risk of losing time.  The risk of losing clients.  The risk of losing money.  The risk of losing their reputations.  And, most certainly, they fear the risk of malpractice, grievance or BOTH. W...

The issue of collecting money from clients plagues many small or solo law firms. The intricacies of protecting your attorney/client relationship while ensuring your firm stays afloat are difficult to navigate. In this episode of the Crushing Chaos with Law Firm Mentor podcast, I break down three tactics to help your law firm collect money. From engaging in tough conversations with clients to everg...

Did you know that many business owners do not have a business plan? The complexities and nuances that go into building a firm and business planning in general are more important than you might think. In this episode of the Crushing Chaos with Law Firm Mentor podcast, executive coach and business consultant, Kathy D'Agostino, shares her knowledge and 25 years of experience to help you grow and...

In the time of COVID-19, countless business owners have pivoted from operating their businesses out of traditional brick and mortar locations to operating primarily online. While many businesses have made this transition to best serve their customers during these uncertain times, Law Firm Mentor client Bridgette Bennett excelled by following our advice by implementing very specific and strategic t...

When you start a law firm, the hurdles and challenges of running a business and surrounding yourself with a team that can support you can be overwhelming. Sometimes the most important step you can take is asking for help and investing in your business. I am joined by Nicole Hull, Esq., a former Law Firm Mentor client, who applied a few basic steps to her business to create more money and more free...

You may or may not know this already, but there are a lot of misconceptions that people have about owning a law firm as a business rather than just doing well in your practice. There is a lot that goes into lawyering and there is a lot that goes into owning a law firm. The lawyering part you know already, but owning a law firm and knowing the cold hard truths of what it really takes to be successf...

Someone asked me the question, “how can I determine if my law firm is a real business?” You might be thinking, well, of course, if my doors are open and I’m selling legal services, I’m a business. But there really are some very fundamental differences between a law firm that can be very professional, providing services with the expectation of payment in some manner and a real business.  In this ep...

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of lawyers are having a hard time adjusting to life in this post-pandemic era. The pandemic has leveled the playing field leaving solo attorneys and law firm business owners of all sizes in the same boat of economic uncertainty. As a solo attorney or business owner, nothing can be left to fate if you want your business to thrive. Now is the time to adapt...

As most law firm owners are making the shift from a partially or fully integrated virtual firm, most come to a halt when it comes to hiring virtual employees. If you have never experienced working with a virtual assistant then many questions may arise, such as: how much should you pay, what expectations are acceptable, or how to evaluate the performance for someone who isn’t physically present. Wh...

I wanted to take some time to address the issue that I think a lot of law firm owners are struggling with right now in light of what's going on in our country. And that's the issue of communications and in particular communications around touchy subjects.    There are a lot of ways that we can address traumatic events that happened but how can you communicate these events both externally t...

Tough times lay ahead for a lot of business owners and their clients. Some clients may be behind on payments due to the current economic situation, leaving business owners struggling with billing collections. These last few months have posed a burden on us all. How can you and your business survive?  In this episode, we speak with Elizabeth Miller, Owner and Founder of Managing the Business of Pra...