Great Practice. Great Life. by Atticus

Steve's good friend, Tim Caldwell, joins him on a journey from Olympic slopes to rural courtrooms - a living testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and lifelong learning. As a successful lawyer who once competed in the Olympics, Tim's extraordinary story draws a striking parallel between the thrill of sport and the pursuit of legal success. Steve and Tim's conversation dives headfirst in...

Unlock the secrets of building a thriving law practice with Steve's latest guest, Vinnie Bonazzoli, a veteran lawyer coach with over two decades of experience. In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Vinnie's insights will shatter every preconceived notion you've ever had about your legal practice, empowering you to see growth opportunities where you never thought possible. He explains how...

Ever wonder how you can balance a demanding career with parenthood, adapt to life's challenges and still come out on top? Want to take a deep dive into the world of law through the lens of an award-winning special needs planning attorney? Join Steve as he engages in a riveting conversation with nationally recognized attorney, author, and special needs planning expert Michele Fuller. On this episod...

As a dear friend and accomplished attorney, Mark Wight has always astounded Steve with his strength and tenacity. Despite operating in a smaller community of Meridian, Idaho, Mark's practice has flourished against the odds, transcending the typical limitations of a competitive legal market. Mark's journey is a testament to the power of maintaining a growth mindset, and his ability to appreciate pr...

How often do you truly ask for what you want? How often do you advocate for yourself in your professional life? Join Steve on a transformation journey as he sits down with Dia Bondi, a fearless communicator and expert in making meaningful and powerful asks. From her unique experiences in auctioneering to her ongoing work in closing the gender gap in the legal world, Dia's wisdom will surely leave...

Prepare to supercharge your communication skills with Dia Bondi, the mastermind behind Dia Bondi Communications, who has empowered countless leaders to transform their communication abilities. In Steve's interview with Dia, she shares her unique methodology for developing a potent leadership voice, which promises to revolutionize how you negotiate, communicate, and make your mark - regardless of y...

As Steve sat down with James Joseph, a globally acclaimed matrimonial attorney, his personal journey of battling cancer while building a successful law practice will leave you deeply inspired.  James' remarkable courage, resilience, and relentless pursuit of growth, even during a year-long sabbatical for recovery, is a testament to his indomitable spirit. His exploration of his own strengths and w...

What if the relationships you have today are the compass guiding your future success? In a riveting conversation with Jake Thompson, author of "Compete Every Day," Steve uncovers how the right teammates can shape your trajectory, both personally and professionally.  In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Jake shares his unique approach to self-competition, cultivating resilience, and measu...

When hardworking estate and trust attorney Kimberly Lee took a risky 30-day trip to South Africa in January, it was the busiest time of the year for her practice. But this incredible adventure taught her the power of taking time off and the courage to embrace Not Yet Projects. In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Kimberly opens up about her journey, how she prepared for the trip, and how...

Have you ever felt like you're not quite connecting with your clients, team members, or even colleagues in the legal field? In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve continues his conversation with Valerie Peterson, where they discuss the vital role that relationships and relationship skills play in growing your law practice. They dive into the importance of fostering connections with y...

What does it take to transition from a solo practitioner to the CEO of a multi-million dollar organization? Join us as we welcome Valerie Peterson, the new CEO at Atticus. She shares her incredible journey from caring for her great aunt with dementia to becoming a leading elder law expert. Get ready to learn from Valerie's experiences and discover how to build a successful practice and an even bet...

Is your relationship feeling the strain of unmet expectations and poor communication? Don't worry. You're not alone. Join Steve as he chats with Glenn Finch, a communication expert with over 20 years of experience teaching communication skills to couples in the military and around the world. Together, they explore the importance of strong communication skills for building resilient relationships,...

Lawyers like to stick with what they think works in their practices--even if they could be doing much better by making small changes. This includes how they approach marketing. But if it's done right, changing your marketing strategy can completely change how your practice attains--and retains--revenue. Content marketing is a type of marketing that can lead to referrals and more reliable income st...

How would your life change if you could take three months of the year off? Where would you go? Who would you spend time with? The secret to taking significant time off every year is the team you hire to support you. With the right team in place, what sounds impossible to pull off becomes entirely possible. But the catch is that you have to trust them and give them the freedom to run the business w...

Developed just after World War I, the military developed DISC profiles to identify which personality types would return from war shell-shocked versus those who didn't seem to be affected much. They created a series of questions to develop personality profiles, and by the 1960s, corporate America seized on this idea. Today, DISC profiles are used in all sorts of work environments. In particular, a...

Rebooting your law career can feel like an impossible mountain to climb--especially if you've already established yourself in your community. But it's probably time to make a significant change if your practice isn't giving you the joy or freedom you believed it would or should. If you're an older attorney, making the shift may not make sense. But if you don't want the latter years of your career...

It's easy for attorneys to get stuck in the work grind. They often have difficulty taking time off for themselves, and when they do, they think about work. They live and breathe their practices. None of us are designed to work seven days a week. Taking time off can increase your productivity and creativity and make you a more interesting person to talk to. Unfortunately, when you're stuck in a cyc...

Many people don't want to hear that you can't have it all: a thriving law practice, a great family life, time with friends, and more. The truth is that you'll have to sacrifice in one area of your life to give more to another area. Life has seasons, and it's up to you to decide which sector deserves more attention in those seasons. It's no secret that learning to balance a family with a successful...

Team leaders and operations directors can be invaluable to law firms, and they can take your practice from zero to hero. With the proper tools and training, they can reduce the tasks on an attorney's plate and keep the office running smoothly. When a lawyer develops a good working relationship with their team lead, they can trust that the work is still getting done while they're occupied with othe...

Finding a niche for your law practice can be lucrative for your firm. But law schools don't focus on many topics that could transform into these specialized law subjects. Instead, it may be up to you to self-educate on what you find yourself drawn to. How do you decide on a niche? The first place to start is figuring out where your interests lie. Did you want to be a doctor in high school but coul...

As I'm sure you are well aware, we are in a tough economic spot here in America. Many of my colleagues are feeling the pressure from the current economy. You might be feeling it too.  Because of this, I wanted to take a few episodes of the podcast to talk about and help you think about your practice in the context of protecting profitability and income. In this episode, I'm going to tell the story...

Non-lawyers who conduct initial meetings with prospective clients can be a secret weapon for law firms. They save the attorneys time, money, and hassle. And they don't give out legal advice for free. Empowering team members to take over initial meetings with prospects is something many lawyers need help embracing. However, transitioning a trusted team member into someone who can take initial meeti...

Having a trustworthy team around you and your business is invaluable. If you've grown your practice, you probably have an office manager on staff who handles putting out the fires around your firm. But a great office manager may also be someone you can transform into a team leader. A team leader is a proactive member of your team who can be a part of solving problems rather than putting out fires...

Dealing with high-conflict individuals is part and parcel of the legal world. Having the skills to deal with them effectively without escalating the conflict can be invaluable. Practice is the best way to get experience managing conversations with high-conflict people. But how do you get that practice when your brain's response moves into fight or flight? Getting the proper training is where it al...

We've all met them, and most of us have worked with one of them. It's not uncommon to quit a job because of them. Who are these people who are so difficult to work with that we'd rather quit a job we otherwise like than deal with them? They're high-conflict people, and they can be impossible to please. They tend to point the finger at others for their problems, and those who have to deal with them...