Lawyerist Podcast

You are leading your law firm, but you can’t do everything. In this episode, Stephanie talks with Cameron Herald about what a second in command looks like and how to find one to help you unlock your next goals for your business.   Links from the episode:   The Second in Command by Cameron Herold   Leadership Training Course     If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small F...

Have you been nervous about saying yes to a virtual assistant? In this episode, Stephanie talks with Raquel Gomes and Demetrio Rico, founders of Stafi, about why a VA may be the missing link for your team’s growth, how to get started with the process, and tips to making the relationship a success. Bonus! Listen to the end to learn about an exclusive discount Stafi is offering Lawyerist’s listeners...

When the Oakland As needed to find a way to compete with the high-dollar salaries of other teams, they focused on new KPIs (getting runners on base) and the ideas in Moneyball were born. In this episode, Stephanie talks with Jeff Krause about how lawyers might take a similar approach with their law firm.  Links from the episode:   The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy     If today’s podcast resonate...

Zack talks with Stephanie Villinski and Kara Hardin about how lawyers can manage their mental health. They discuss balancing a striver vs. perfectionist mindset, and how lawyers can use self-forgiveness to help manage their stress and anxiety.  Links from the episode:   Brene Brown Books     If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the fi...

Stephanie checks in with one of the newest members of our profession, Kendall Heward. Hear how Suffolk’s Accelerator program prepared her to think about the business of law differently and how established firms can lean into the skills and talents new attorneys are bringing to today’s small firms.   Links from the episode:    If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Fir...

Let’s bust a myth: Creativity isn’t an innate talent that you’re lucky to have or out of luck if you don’t. And it’s not just about the arts. Everyone is creative, and it comes in all forms. In this episode, author Phil McKinney gives actionable tips on how to overcome the idea that creativity can’t be learned.   Listen to hear tips, formulas, and guidance on how to bring creativity into your day-...

As lawyers, we often negotiate for our clients. But are we able to negotiate for ourselves? In this episode, Stephanie talks with Brandon Bramley, Founder of The Salary Negotiator.   Learn common misperceptions about the salary negotiation process plus tons of tips that both the employee and employer can use to reach a better outcome. No matter which side of the table you’re on, you’ll find helpfu...

In this episode, Stephanie talks with Brian Cuban, author of The Addicted Lawyer. Hear Brian’s story of how he battled addiction to alcohol and cocaine starting in college, then law school, and finally as a practicing attorney.   Brian and Stephanie also explore why a compassionate community is a must for everyone in the profession and three easy questions we can ask each other when we see worriso...

What is holding you back? In this episode, Stephanie and Lawyerist Lab Business Coach, Supriya Venkatesan, discuss limiting beliefs and how they are unknowingly keeping us from reaching our goals.   Learn real exercises you can do to uncover what’s going on in your head and how to retrain your brain to think differently and unlock more success in your life.   Links from the episode:   If today’s p...

The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited doubled down on our Healthy Firm model. But what, exactly, is it? Join us for another stop on our podcast book tour. This week we dive into what it takes to be a Healthy Owner—beyond the traditional concepts of what it means to be “healthy.”   Sara talks with Lab Coach and personal injury firm owner Ryan McKeen about making the decision to build a resilience muscle...

Be honest! Have you ever muttered or thought someone was being “such a Millennial” or “ok, Boomer!” Yes? Then, this episode is for you as Stephanie dives into generational differences with Katherine Jeffery, a generational strategist.   It turns out, these labels aren’t just excuses for behavior. There are real differences in the way each generation was raised that show up in the skill sets and ab...

Learn to manage the data your law firm already creates to make better business and strategic decisions. Zack talks with Joyce Brafford, from CosmoLex, about how internal analytics can drive your marketing decisions, firm growth, and processes.  Links from the episode: Grow Your Law Firm with Data-Drive Decisions 10 Metrics Law Firms Should Track Identify Key Metrics to Determine Your Law Firm's S...

Stephanie talks with our new Lawyerist Lab business coach, Leticia DeSuze, about what is holding most business owners back and how working with a business coach can help. They also explore why it is time to be radically honest with ourselves about what we are—and aren’t—willing to do.    Links from the episode:   If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap Rev...

Business owners often hear the advice: “hire help and delegate!” In this episode, Stephanie talks with entrepreneur Dan Martell about why you should hire to buy back your time.   Learn how small shifts in how you think as a business owner can make big impacts on your business—and your happiness! To start, Dan shares why it’s time for lawyers to let go of their inboxes and calendars. We know why yo...

Kirk Simoneau joins Sara to explore client experience design and accessibility. Sharing his journey from trauma survivor to lawyer, Kirk emphasizes the importance of understanding the client's perspective and creating a personalized and empathetic client experience.   He advocates customizing spaces and communication to clients’ individual needs, but for taking on pro bono work and representing pe...

Learn how MeanPug, a law firm marketing company, manages a multitude of projects, tasks, and workflows within their company. Listen-in as Zack talks with founding partner, Bobby Steinbach, about their project management software journey. And learn how you can use project management concepts to drive efficiency and productivity in your firm. 

Stephanie talks with Eric Webber about the silent addiction of gambling. In this episode, we explore why you can’t go anywhere or watch a sporting event without hearing betting terms. Online gambling has become all the rage, but it is not without potential dangers.   Especially in a profession like law where attorneys have access to client’s money, problems can turn problematic quickly. Learn more...

Think golf is a boring game for old white dudes? Think again! In this episode, Stephanie talks with LJ Finney about why golf is great for networking and business development and so much more!   Golf is about getting outside your comfort zone, mindfulness, self-talk, and being with nature. Use the game to learn more about yourself and how you approach your business problems or use the time to truly...

Zack talks with Marc Cerniglia, founding partner of Spotlight Branding, about building a marketing plan that works for your office. They dig into the 4 steps you can take to make your plan more thoughtful, effective, and evergreen. Additionally, Marc shares some strategies on how you can track your ROI, and how many of the activities you already do can fit into your overall plan.  Schedule a consu...

The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited doubled-down on our Healthy Firm model. But what, exactly, is it? Join us for another stop on our podcast book tour. This week we’re diving into achieving and maintaining Healthy Profits.    In this episode, Sara talks with Lawyerist Lab finance coach, accountant, and small business owner Bernadette L. Harris about making finances less scary, understanding healthy...

Lawyerist Lab member and estate planning lawyer Rachel Allums knows that the client experience isn’t “one size fits all.”   In this episode, Rachel Allums talks with Zack about her deliberate and thoughtful approach to client experience. Learn how she creates a personalized experience for every client by considering their age, family dynamics, comfort with technology, and more.   Rachel delves int...

In this episode, delve into the crucial topic of active violence preparedness with Brink Fidler, owner and founder of Defend Systems, a prominent life safety and security consulting firm in Nashville, TN. Stephanie and Brink talk about why every firm owner should have open discussions and plan for frightening events, and how they can empower their team with knowledge and tools to respond effective...

Stephanie and Joey Coleman, author of Never Lose an Employee Again: The Simple Path to Remarkable Retention, explore the crucial role the employee experience plays in creating a happy and engaged team.   Learn the steps team leaders can take to create a place where everyone LOVES their job. They delve into the power of creating memorable experiences throughout the employee journey—starting with th...

The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited doubled-down on our Healthy Firm model. But what, exactly, is it? Join us for another stop on our podcast book tour. This week we dive into building, enabling, and integrating Healthy Systems in a law firm.  Lawyerist Labster Matt Loker sits down with Sara to discuss using systems and automation to deliver a consistent service to clients. They dive into how task ma...

Zack sits down with Ed Walters, Chief Strategy Officer of vLex and founder of Fastcase, to discuss AI's role in legal research. Delve into why it’s important to demystify AI and debunk misconceptions about "robot lawyers." Learn about using AI in discovery, the importance of choosing the right tools, and the limitations of language models like ChatGPT.  And explore how the industry is working to c...