The Free Lawyer

In this podcast episode, Gary interviews Jonathan Hawkins, a lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia, who specializes in representing lawyers and law firms in business matters. Jonathan discusses his professional journey and current practice, providing insights into common issues law firms face, the importance of partnership agreements, and tips for lawyers thinking of starting their own firms. He also touches...

Have you felt you are working hard, so busy, with too many things on your desk, keeping all the balls in the air? Do you think you got nothing accomplished? I know I have. Busyness is harmful to our business and ourselves. We all know it is no fun to be stuck in the busyness quagmire, nor does it foster our professional success. So how do we escape the busyness trap? In this episode, I will explai...

In this podcast episode, Gary introduces Eric Fong, a trial attorney known for his impressive results and compassionate approach. Eric shares his professional journey, including stumbling into the field of law as a public defender. He discusses a challenging case involving a convenience store robbery and how he uncovered a complex corporate structure behind it. Eric and his partner prepared the ca...

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” -Theodore Roosevelt Do you ever do this? You see someone proficient, better than you, at something you want to achieve, and you compare yourself to them. We want to be better in our profession, so comparing ourselves to the best makes sense. How does that work out for you? How does it make you feel? In today's world, where social media and other platforms allo...

In this podcast episode, host Gary introduces Daniel Callahan, a highly successful trial attorney, and discusses his career and achievements. Daniel shares insights on being a successful trial attorney, emphasizing the importance of putting clients first, being prepared, and having confidence. They also discuss the challenges trial attorneys face, the role of creativity in trial work, and the sign...

Do you ever feel stressed at work? Do you often feel overwhelmed by pressure from all sides? And do you need to figure out how to manage it best so you can enjoy fulfillment in your professional life? We face many high-pressure situations and demanding workloads that can lead to stress and burnout. We work long hours in a competitive environment, handling emotionally challenging cases. This consta...

In this podcast episode, host Gary welcomes Steve Fretzin, a renowned business development expert for lawyers. They discuss the importance of lawyers developing their own book of business and personal brand. Steve explains that being a great attorney is no longer enough to attract clients and that having control and freedom over one's career is crucial for success. He shares strategies for law...

This episode is dedicated to empowering lawyers to overcome perfectionism and achieve professional success with confidence and balance. We dive deep into the tools and strategies that can help you break free from the grip of perfectionism and embrace a more fulfilling legal career. Last week in episode 127, we shed light on the perfectionism trap that many lawyers find themselves entangled in. We...

In this episode of the Free Lawyer podcast, host Gary welcomes guest Tony Albrecht, who shares his journey from practicing lawyer to helping lawyers brand and market themselves. Tony discusses his experience in insurance defense litigation, his decision to take a sabbatical and travel, and his eventual move to Canada. They delve into Tony's reasons for not wanting to become a partner in his la...

Do you ever find that you fret over your past mistakes? Or are you very worried about making new mistakes? Are you ever extremely concerned about your family or colleagues' high expectations? If so, you may be struggling with perfectionism. Perfectionism can create problems, from procrastination to severe anxiety and stress. As lawyers, pursuing excellence and attention to detail is a fundamen...

Do you feel like you're stuck in a law firm with no room for growth or advancement? Do you struggle with communication and trust among your colleagues? Wendy Merrill, a coach and consultant who specializes in helping law firms improve their profitability and impact, has some valuable advice for you. In this podcast, Wendy shares her professional journey and explains how she helps small to mid-...

Do you spend a lot of time thinking about the future and wondering how something will work out? Will you win that case? Will you make partner? Will that new client you just met with engage your services? Will your son or daughter get into that college they dream of? As lawyers, we spend valuable time planning for the future, analyzing our options, and strategizing the best course of action. But we...

Have you ever faced a difficult situation that broke you down? In this podcast, litigator and author Mike Bassett shares his experience of being trapped by a client, with devastating consequences, and how he rebuilt his career and reputation. The most valuable lesson from this episode is the importance of having a support system and taking care of oneself as a lawyer. Mike emphasizes the need for...

Today's podcast is dedicated to helping you break free from the shackles of people pleasing and embrace your authentic self. Last week, in episode 121, we discussed the signs of people pleasing and how it affects. Today, you hear the solution. In today's episode, we'll explore the incredible gifts of letting go of people-pleasing and share practical tools to help you on your journey. W...

In this podcast episode, host Gary interviews Dena Lefkowitz, an attorney and author of "Winning in Your Own Court: 10 Laws for a Successful Career Without Burning Out or Selling Out." Dena shares her journey into law, the demanding nature of law school, and the bad habits it can create. She emphasizes the importance of learning the "laws you don't learn in law school" and...

Have you ever been asked to do something for someone, said yes, and then resented that you had to do it? Has someone ever complained about something, and you said, "I'm sorry," when you did not think you did anything wrong? If so, you may suffer from what is commonly called "people pleasing." It is not bad, but it can lead to frustration, resentment, and losing connection w...

Today's podcast episode features Megan Senese, a legal marketing and business development expert, discussing the challenges lawyers face in building a book of business. We learn how to be lawyers, and then learn we have to build a book of business. We are often confused and unclear about how to do that. This episode will help. Megan shares her professional journey and talks about her new busin...

So many of us struggle with this problem. Our partner keeps giving us more work to do. The court schedules unexpected hearings. Our clients call, asking us to help resolve a crisis. We are constantly interrupted by staff calls and emails. We have so much work to do and seemingly so little time that we feel overwhelmed and stressed. What to do? How do we manage this daunting workload? Have you ever...

Want to learn how to connect with your jury? And how to present better at your next conference? Then here is the answer! In this episode of "The Free Lawyer" podcast, Gary interviews public speaking coach Meridith Grundei about her journey as a performer and how she became a public speaking coach. They discuss the importance of building confidence as a speaker, the role of mindset in man...

Do you ever feel unfulfilled by your practice? Do you struggle with the belief that you are inauthentic in your practice? Do you ever suffer from burnout? So many of us have. Often the problem is that our practice needs to be aligned with our values. We can create tremendous success and genuine personal freedom by aligning our practice with our values. How do we do that? In this podcast episode, I...

In this podcast episode, Gary interviews Kerri Coby White, an expert in helping law firms grow and be more successful with less work. Kerri shares her professional journey and how she built the Law Firm Growth Machine, which takes all the little annoying things that every attorney needs to do and sets it all on autopilot. She emphasizes the four fundamental aspects of growing a law firm, including...

What was your motivation for becoming a lawyer? Was it to make a lot of money? Or was it to serve and help others? Very few of us became lawyers to make a lot of money. Primarily, we did it to be of service to others. We encountered onerous billable hour requirements, demanding clients, competition, and complex work requirements. The pressure and stress wiped out our sense of fulfillment. How can...

In today's episode, Gary interviews Lesa Koski, an attorney turned mediator who handles family law in a unique way. Lesa shares her passion for doing divorces differently and helping couples fashion their own solutions using skilled empathetic mediation. She discusses the challenges she faces as a mediator, particularly when one party is not willing to participate. Lesa emphasizes the importan...

How well is your law firm doing? Which of your attorneys is most profitable and contributes most to your success? How satisfied are your clients? What kinds of matters are most profitable? What is the cost of acquiring a new client or a new matter? What client development activities are most successful? These are all fundamental questions that many law firm partners do not know the answers to. Yet...

Stephanie McDonald joins us today with a unique story of transformation and growth. Stephanie is an employment law attorney with her firm in Canada. She took charge of her career and developed a practice that aligns with her values. Stephanie shares her insights on: -The challenges of toxic law firms today, where there is a lack of compassion and self-awareness -The benefits of listening to your i...