Life & Law: Your Practice. Your Life. Your Terms.

You have a business plan for growth that you've been taking regular action on. Despite that, you're not achieving your goals (and truth be told, you're not getting anywhere near the results you want given how much you're doing). Why is that? Today on the podcast, I'm covering the most common missing link that causes this issue and (best of all) how to fix it. Because next year, you deserve to slay...

Are high levels of stress just part of the job? Is it the "nature of the beast" (as they say)? Spoiler: no. Listen to this reply of one of my first episodes to discover: - The science of stress, - How lawyer training exacerbates our stress, - Where most stress originates from (that will probably surprise you), and - How to reduce, better manage, and even prevent stress. The post #216: The Real Tru...

How many billable hours are you losing each week, month, and (gasp) year because you aren't tracking your time contemporaneously? Do you often write your time down (not reporting all the time spent working)? You're losing billable hours (you really shouldn't be losing at all). And you recapture those hours by: (1) shifting your mentality around billing (and what's even billable, plus why), (2) tra...

What do law firms really want to see from you to get promoted to partnership? How much expertise do you need in your practice area? Do you need to be running deals (or mostly, getting the work done at a high level)? And what about business development (what do they truly expect)? I get asked these questions a lot (including recently from a senior counsel attorney hoping to get promoted within the...

You know networking is necessary to grow your book of business. But how do you know where to go and who to target? Today, you learn the answers to these questions. Inside of today's episode, we cover: - How to identify the right people to network with (that you already know). - How to figure out where to network. - My simple networking framework (for anyone not sure what to say/do when networking)...

You know someone in a personal context, who you think could be a great referral partner. But how can you possibly ask them when you’ve never once talked business? Would it be too pushy to ask? How do you even begin that conversation? You’ve been introduced to a potential referral partner by a colleague, and have lunch scheduled for today. You’ve never met and have only traded a few niceties via em...

When revenues dip, billables drop, or client intake slows, most lawyers assume the fix is to do more (of whatever you've been doing). But what if the problem is what you've been doing (or how you've been approaching it)? Doing more of what you’ve been doing won’t fix a thing. Before quickly stepping into action, take a moment to identify whether the problem is a math problem or a mindset problem....

The most common complaint I hear from lawyers working to grow their business? Lack of time. Which is why I brought on today's guest. Learn how to be more strategic when growing your book of business so that you optimize your business development ROI and improve your results (even as a busy mom, like today's special guest). The post #210: Case Study On Growing Your Book (Even As A Busy Mom) appeare...

Join me for an insightful conversation with Emily Logan Stedman, lawyer well-being advocate and Big Law partner. Inside of today's interview, Emily shares candid insights on lawyer mental health, the challenges of becoming (and transitioning to) partner, and how to build a sustainable law practice without burning out. Listen now for a realistic, transparent, and supportive perspective on how to su...

One of my newsletter subscribers asked how to strategically choose their marketing activities. After all, there are a lot out there (many of which could work for anyone). How do you know which ones would be best for you (now)? Another subscriber asked about ways to expand reach with high-end clients (without being salesy). Although these questions are separate (and were asked by two different peop...

Have you ever thought about doing something else? To NOT use your law degree? Maybe you want to start your own business. Or leave the working world for a time. Yet you don't because... What if you decide it's a mistake? What if you can't come back? What then? We get into this with today's guest and her refreshing mindset around leaving law (and then coming back into the practice after being out of...

You’re closing a deal or in the middle of a case that’s dominating your time, when suddenly a colleague barges into your office needing your expertise. Right after that, your biggest client calls with an “emergency” (that might not be a true emergency but does need to get done soon, and they’re your biggest client, after all). And you’ve already blocked off the afternoon to take your son to get hi...

Think you can't be a rainmaker because you're not outgoing enough or aren't interesting enough? Want to be a rainmaker, but think it's something for later, when you've got more experience, have more time, or just down the road when you're more ready? These thoughts are the real reason you're not yet a rainmaker. And today we dive deep into why they're holding you back and how to overcome them. Bec...

How do you use LinkedIn? If you're like most lawyers, you're probably using it to check out what other people are doing (and maybe repost a colleagues post or make an announcement every so often). Which means you're losing out. Because LinkedIn is more than typical social media. It's also a powerful networking platform for building relationships and having meaningful conversations. Listen to today...

A lot is going on in the world, and within our country, that’s unsettling (to say the least). Some of this is even impacting lawyers and law firms. Before going any further, the answer to your question is… Yes, I’m going “there”. But note: it’s probably not quite what you think. We keep saying we need better political leaders. But what if our political leaders aren’t the real problem? And what if...

Let’s talk about law firm politics—The unspoken stuff that affects your compensation, your promotions, and your power inside the firm. Truth: learning how to navigate certain sticky, political situations is a necessity if you want to move up. But that doesn't mean you must sell your soul to "play the game", either. Listen to today's Life & Law Podcast episode to learn how to effectively advocate f...

Join me and special guest Janet Falk for legal marketing tips you likely haven't heard before. Inside of today's episode, you'll learn: - How to rethink the buyer's journey (and why it's more about confirmation than anything), - The 5 main ways to market as a lawyer, and - Why not shy away from media attention (but instead, seek it out). Janet has a wealth of experience from which to learn (so do...

A warning before making a lateral partner move: Most law firms are better at selling the dream than they are at delivering it. That isn't because they're misrepresenting anything, but more about the fact that most lawyers and law firms aren't great at: - Setting clear expectations, - Identifying whether an attorney is truly a fit, or - Running worst-case scenarios (that could upend the best of pla...

Do you know why people buy any product or service (including your legal services)? Psychology. We narrow down, make initial gut decisions and convince ourselves through emotions. Feelings (not rational thinking). Yes, we use rational decision-making later in the game - but that comes last. This is why it's important to understand the psychology of sales. Join me to learn about 3 sales psychology p...

Adoption of generative AI has been pretty slow within the legal community. And I must admit: I couldn't really see a good use of AI for lawyers. Until Mariette Clardy-Davis changed my mind. Join us today for an informative conversation about how lawyers and law firms can utilize generative AI (and why use it in the first place). The post #198: AI for Lawyers (What To Know, Do & Not Do) appear...

You're bored. You often feel as if you're going through the motions. Practicing law just doesn't motivate you any longer. Is it time to stop practicing law altogether or do you just need to shake things up a bit (by making a change to your industry, place or clients)? Listen to today's Life & Law Podcast episode to learn the tell-tale signs that you need a change, and how to determine your next st...

To my lawyers who cringe when thinking about networking with friends for business… It need not feel awkward. It’s not about making a “pitch”. And no, you aren’t taking advantage. In this week’s Life & Law Podcast, I’m sharing: ⇒ How to shift your mindset around networking (in general and when it comes to networking with friends); and ⇒ My simple 3-part framework for how to network with friends for...

Great law firm client management isn’t always about keeping clients happy. Sometimes, the smartest move is to let a client go. Which is why today I'm breaking down: ⚖️ The 5 big signs it’s time to let go of a client; and ⚖️Why this move actually strengthens your practice. And before you read any further, a quick note… Yes, you’ve probably got one of these clients. 🎧 Listen now to Episode 195. You...

Lawyers beware: the size of your book doesn’t accurately represent the strength of your practice. When building your legal practice, you might be making some common mistakes that could haunt you later on. Listen to learn about three hidden weaknesses that could haunt you later on and how to ensure you don't make these common mistakes yourself. The post #194: Building Your Legal Practice (Watch Out...

Leadership isn't a skill most lawyers learn about until forced to (on the job). This is probably why I get so many questions from lawyers about how to be an effective leader. And why I wanted to bring today's guest on to talk about the qualities of a good leader. Join me and fellow lawyer, podcast host, and law firm owner, Brian Beckcom, for an insightful discussion about what makes a good leader...