Life Beyond the Briefs

Lawyers are leaving significant money on the table by stubbornly handling cases outside their expertise when referrals could generate higher profits per hour with zero risk. This eye-opening episode breaks down the surprising economics of legal referrals through the lens of a recent case where I wrote a six-figure check to an out-of-state attorney for essentially making one phone call. When an att...

What can a law firm learn from a tech startup? In this episode, I sit down with Manny Griffiths , CEO and co-founder of Hona, to talk about how his journey, from selling pest control door to door to building a 67-person legal tech company, is full of lessons for law firm owners looking to grow without burning out. We talk about: The real-world use cases for AI in law firms (including after-hours l...

Every growing law firm reaches a crossroads where the founding attorney can no longer juggle every role. The marketing director decision becomes unavoidable, but timing and selection make all the difference between transformative growth and costly disappointment. When should you hire a marketing director? The answer might surprise you: now, or at least as quickly as possible. A dedicated marketing...

Most entrepreneurs say they’re building for their family… but their calendar tells a different story. In this episode, Brian sits down with Mike McCarthy—real estate entrepreneur, co-founder of GoBundance, and creator of FAMBUNDANCE, a mastermind for entrepreneurial families. Together, they dive into what it truly means to design your life around your values, not your workload. Mike shares how he...

At the year's midpoint, many attorneys find themselves contemplating their career path - distant enough from their last bonus but not yet focused on the next one. This critical juncture prompts the fundamental question: "Is this where I want to be?" Drawing from both personal experience and observations as a firm owner, I explore the delicate art of recognizing when it's time t...

Forget SEO. Forget paid ads. What if the real key to law firm growth is… client happiness ? In this episode of Life Beyond the Briefs , Brian sits down with Brittany Green , co-founder of Best Era Law Firm Consulting , to talk about building a values-driven, relationship-first law firm that actually feels good to run . Brittany went from being a "Client Happiness Director" at a small fir...

The quest for clarity in law firm metrics can feel overwhelming – staring at spreadsheets filled with numbers, wondering what actually matters, and questioning whether you're tracking the right things. But what if you could distill the noise down to just a handful of metrics that genuinely move the needle for your practice? This eye-opening exploration of key performance indicators cuts throu...

Why do clients leave bad reviews even when you win their case? In this episode, Brian chats with Paul Bamert , VP of Marketing at Case Status and a speaker at the upcoming Great Legal Marketing Summit . They dig into the real reason law firms struggle with client satisfaction — and why the legal industry is way behind when it comes to measuring it. You’ll hear: Why communication — not results — dr...

Want to transform your law firm's marketing without chasing endless tactics? Discover the five fundamental systems that create sustainable, profitable growth - regardless of your practice area. Marketing a law firm shouldn't require constant platform-hopping or tactic-chasing. The truth is simpler: five core systems form the foundation of effective legal marketing, and most firms are mis...

Looking to accelerate your law firm's growth? Forget the slow grind of traditional marketing. Firm acquisitions might be your smartest strategic move. In this eye-opening conversation from the 2024 Great Legal Marketing Summit, attorneys Ed Alexander and Jonathan Hawkins—who have closed 24 law firm deals since January 2023—reveal why buying an existing practice delivers faster growth, instant...

Your unique selling proposition isn't about legal brilliance or technical skill—it's about understanding why clients choose you over everyone else, including doing nothing at all. Most lawyers recoil at the concept of creating a unique selling proposition. "We're all the same," they say, pointing to identical services across their practice area. But as this episode reveals...

What if you could transform your law practice by first transforming how you view yourself? In this electrifying keynote from the Great Legal Marketing Summit, renowned mindset coach Lee Milteer challenges lawyers to see themselves as the heroes they truly are. "You've got to decide that you're going to squeeze every ounce of juice out of this life," Milteer declares, setting th...

Technology should empower—not replace—meaningful client connections in the legal profession. At Hona's Disrupt Conference, the prevailing wisdom wasn't about using AI to minimize client interactions, but rather leveraging automation to create more time for genuine human connection. As Josh Sanford of Lexamica powerfully stated, the goal should be to "waste more time on the phone wit...

Tifiny Swedensky shares her expertise as a fractional CMO for law firms, revealing the essential roles, strategies, and metrics needed to build an effective marketing department that consistently delivers results. • The six key roles every growing law firm marketing department needs • Why having a dedicated intake manager is critical for converting leads • How to structure a smaller four-person ma...

What if I told you the secret to delivering exceptional client experiences in your law firm isn't working harder—it's working smarter through thoughtful automation? In this eye-opening presentation from the HONA Disrupt Festival, Brian Glass shares how his Virginia-based personal injury practice achieved 400% growth by combining cutting-edge automation with deep human connection. When CO...

What happens when a burned-out litigator walks away from the courtroom—not to retire, but to build something better? In this episode, Brian Glass sits down with Chicago-based attorney Jonathan Merel, who left a toxic law firm with no business plan, a second baby on the way, and a recession looming—just to prove he could build something human, modern, and meaningful. Sixteen years later, he leads a...

Trial lawyer Brian Glass shares his framework for continuous professional improvement through intentional post-trial reflection and documentation. This approach has helped him learn from nearly 100 trials while avoiding repeated mistakes, and it can be adapted for any profession seeking strategic growth. • Document basic case information including jurisdiction, judge, opposing counsel, and numeric...

Most lawyers chase prestige. Patrick Hagen chased freedom —and found it in a $35K clerkship, a debt-free JD, and a few well-timed LinkedIn posts. Patrick is a business litigator, a father of four, and the kind of lawyer who built his brand not through networking dinners or late-night emails—but by hitting publish on LinkedIn at 5AM. In this episode, he joins Brian to share how walking away from a...

Ever had that client who makes your stomach knot every time their name appears in your inbox? The one whose case you've kept far longer than you should have? You're not alone. Today I'm tackling my number one client tip for attorneys, and it's not what most expect. Forget marketing strategies or case valuation techniques – the most crucial skill is learning to "rip the ban...

Would you hire you? That’s the uncomfortable but powerful question at the center of this episode—and it just might change the way you build your law firm team forever. This week, Brian sits down with Jay Henderson , performance coach, hiring expert, and the brain behind Real Talent Hiring. With over 50,000 assessments under his belt, Jay breaks down what most law firms get completely wrong about h...

What separates thriving law practices from struggling ones isn't always what you'd expect. Drawing from our firm's recent EOS quarterly meeting, I'm peeling back the curtain on the three critical obsessions that drove our personal injury practice to grow by over 400% in just five years. The first revelation might surprise you: most law firms think they have a marketing problem...

What happens when a trial lawyer burns the boats, leaves litigation behind, and builds an entire business by posting on LinkedIn? In this episode of Life Beyond the Briefs , Brian sits down with Tony Albrecht —former litigator, founder of Contender , and the go-to ghostwriter for trial lawyers who want to grow their influence online without sounding like everyone else. Tony shares his personal jou...

Grassroots marketing offers powerful, low-cost strategies that enable law firms to connect authentically with their communities and enhance referral networks. By engaging with local organizations, sending personalized communications, and creating meaningful relationships, law firms can achieve sustainable growth without the need for hefty advertising budgets. • Grassroots marketing as a vital stra...

You’re 20 years into your legal career… and something feels off. Do you stay where it’s safe — or finally bet on yourself? In this episode of Life Beyond the Briefs , Brian sits down with a mystery guest — we’re calling him Mr. X — for a raw, unscripted coaching call. Mr. X is stuck between two paths: leave his firm and build something of his own, or join another practice with the promise of futur...

The digital marketing landscape for lawyers has fundamentally changed, and small law firms are feeling the squeeze. Large multi-state firms have discovered a profitable formula: automate backend processes, offshore what they can, and reinvest those savings into increasingly aggressive advertising campaigns. The result? Client acquisition costs have skyrocketed to $2,400-$3,000 per case – an unsust...