213. Joseph Gates, Gates Law Firm — Solid Foundations for Growth: Finances, Community, Trail Skills
Oct 5, 2023
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Joseph Gates, a successful attorney and business owner, shares insights on building a law firm with stable personal finances and a supportive community. He discusses the importance of bar associations and leveling up trial lawyer skills. The podcast also explores starting a law firm during COVID-19, the role of storytelling in communication and depositions, the power of asking questions, sourcing expert witnesses, and the importance of limiting confidentiality in personal injury law.
Building a successful law firm requires a solid foundation of stable personal finances, peer support, and a relentless drive to improve as an attorney and business owner.
To effectively convey empathy and win over jurors, attorneys should focus on telling a compelling story that connects with jurors' emotions, understands their values, and addresses their discomfort with awarding money.
Deep dives
Building a Solid Foundation for a Successful Firm
To build a successful law firm, a solid foundation is crucial. Joseph Gates, owner of Gates Law Firm, shares his experience of starting his firm and emphasizes the importance of stable personal finances, peer support, and a relentless drive to improve as an attorney and business owner. He highlights the significance of bar associations in fueling both professional and business growth.
Crafting a Compelling Story for Jurors
To win over jurors, it is essential to tell a compelling story that connects with their emotions. With jurors often being uncomfortable with awarding money, Joseph advises understanding their values and norms. By focusing on proving the legal elements and addressing the jury's emotional side, attorneys can effectively convey empathy for their clients' suffering and show how the compensation will help make them whole.
Asking Powerful Questions in Depositions
Joseph emphasizes the importance of asking better questions during depositions. He recommends using the simple yet impactful question, 'What else?' to elicit more information. By using this technique, attorneys can uncover additional details and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the case, leading to stronger depositions and trial preparation.
To build a successful firm from the ground up, you need a rock-solid foundation Just three years ago, Joseph Gates opened Gates Law Firm. He built his firm on stable personal finances, bolstered by a community of peers, and powered by a relentless drive to improve his craft.
In today’s episode, Joseph shares the best way to prepare to open a firm and how bar associations helped fuel his growth as an attorney and a business owner. Joseph is continually improving his skills as a trial lawyer. He shares the simple, yet incredibly effective question that has leveled up his depositions. He also makes an impassioned case for limiting confidentiality in personal injury law.
Links
Want to hear more from elite personal injury lawyers and industry-leading marketers?
The questions you should be asking during depositions.
How to source and pay for expert witnesses?
Past Guests
Past guests on Personal Injury Mastermind: Brent Sibley, Sam Glover, Larry Nussbaum, Michael Mogill, Brian Chase, Jay Kelley, Alvaro Arauz, Eric Chaffin, Brian Panish, John Gomez, Sol Weiss, Matthew Dolman, Gabriel Levin, Seth Godin, David Craig, Pete Strom, John Ruhlin, Andrew Finkelstein, Harry Morton, Shay Rowbottom, Maria Monroy, Dave Thomas, Marc Anidjar, Bob Simon, Seth Price, John Gomez, Megan Hargroder, Brandon Yosha, Mike Mandell, Brett Sachs, Paul Faust, Jennifer Gore-Cuthbert